Low birth weight, premature birth, mental and physical abnormalities among infants whose mothers practice pica during pregnancy.High blood pressure, high levels of sodium salts in the blood, and abnormal liver functions such as those resulting from consuming large quantities of baking powder.Infestations of parasites such as tapeworms resulting from consuming dirt or feces.Damage to teeth and gums from chewing abrasive materials such as twigs or metals.Nutritional deficiencies, such as the interference of soil with the absorption of iron, zinc, and potassium in the digestive system.Inadequate protein or energy-intake from consuming things like coffee grounds or oyster shells in place of real food.Obesity from consuming too many calories, such as eating laundry starch.Obstruction of the bowel or airways from consuming or choking on indigestible materials such as hair.Poisoning, such as lead poisoning from eating chips of old paint or soil that has old paint in it.If pica is a result of stress, treatment may involve talk therapy or family therapy and the development of coping skills, such as learning stress-reduction techniques or finding a safe substance to chew on instead. If pica is a result of inadequate supervision, treatment may involve educating the family and teaching children to distinguish between food and non-food items, and addressing housing and economic needs if possible. Doctors may treat the medical problems first, assess potential causes of the disorder such as nutrient deficiencies, and then develop a treatment plan that may involve changes to diet and nutrition as well as therapy. A meta-analysis of studies of the prevalence of pica during pregnancy estimated that 27.8 of pregnant women reported experiencing pica. Treatment for pica varies based on what substance the person has consumed and how it has affected the body.

Therefore, it’s important to monitor and treat the condition as early as possible. Most women have an eating crisis when they are pregnant, but these crises usually happen for foods such as ice cream and pickles. The word pika comes from Latin and means magpie, a bird that eats everything it finds. However, it may also lead to medical complications such as intestinal obstruction, bowel problems, weight loss, broken teeth, infections, or poisoning. In most pregnancies and Pica syndrome, they have a desire to eat non-food items such as dirt and chalk.

Pica syndrome during pregnancy