Why does taste change occur during pregnancy? Pregnancy food habits

Often during pregnancy, due to hormonal changes in the body, the senses work in a different mode, and sometimes even the sight and smell of previously beloved dishes becomes simply unbearable. Many people cannot stand the smell of boiled meat or chicken, someone looks at their favorite sushi with disgust, and someone does not want milk at all.

At the same time, new taste preferences arise, combinations of products that a woman could not even think about before pregnancy, not to eat like that. There may be attacks of irresistible attraction to previously completely unloved products, there may be a desire to eat everything in a row, indiscriminately, or there may be a desire for a combination of foods that do not match in taste - salted herring and sweet honey, for example.

Sometimes there may be a persistent aversion to all food, especially in the presence of toxicosis. Tales of exotic and unusual desires can be very funny. And often by changing desires in nutrition - when “pulling for salty”, one can even assume pregnancy from others.

Riot of hormones

The main reason for such taste preferences and changes in eating habits, scientists and the doctor call the effect on the body of a pregnant woman of hormones that are produced during pregnancy in completely different concentrations. Especially important in terms of taste is the hormone progesterone. Progesterone is one of the main pregnancy hormones, it is produced by the corpus luteum of pregnancy in the area of ​​​​the released egg in the ovary, and then the forming placenta also produces progesterone.

Its influence is especially strong in the first months of pregnancy, especially in terms up to 16-18 weeks. In this period, the main portions of progesterone are produced precisely by the ovary, while the placenta is only being born and formed, and as it matures and the onset of hormonal function, after 16 weeks, the ovary gradually loses its hormonal functions. Then the eating habits become less exotic.

As a result of the influence of progesterone, the successful introduction and attachment of the embryo to the uterine wall is formed (this process is called implantation), and due to its action, the muscle fibers of the uterus are in a relaxed state, which prevents the rejection of the fetal egg and prevents pregnancy from being interrupted. In addition, due to the action of progesterone, the mammary glands are prepared and, in the future, normal lactation is formed in the woman who has given birth. In addition to directly affecting the reproductive organs of a woman and pregnancy, progesterone can also have a fairly pronounced effect on the entire female body as a whole.

It is important to remember that changes and some transformations take place in the whole body of a woman, which are directly or indirectly aimed at ensuring that the mother's body can support the course of pregnancy and can create the most optimal conditions for the growing fetus for growth and development, and then a safe birth. .

Progesterone, secreted by the body in elevated concentrations, plays a key role in the development of these processes; under the influence of progesterone, the formation of a special area of ​​hypersensitivity nerve cells, which is called the "dominant pregnancy", begins in the brain area. This nerve center regulates the work of the entire pregnant body. He directs the work of internal organs and systems, adjusts their work so that the mother's body can protect the unborn baby from all sorts of harmful influences - stress, toxins, infections, etc. But it is precisely due to the formation of the “dominant of pregnancy” that at the same time a change in taste preferences occurs, sometimes paradoxical desires in food arise.

The mechanism of defense reactions

Scientists also emphasize that a change in taste preferences and especially exotic desires of the mother are also a kind of protective reaction that can be aimed at protecting your body and the body of the unborn child from harmful substances penetrating with food. Or (which happens more often) the process is aimed at stimulating the intake of nutrients into the body with food - protein, vitamins, microelements. Such changes and protective properties explain the manifestation of aversion to coffee, cigarettes, spices or fast food. These foods and substances are not useful, they can lead to miscarriage or threaten pregnancy. That is why the “dominant of pregnancy” includes protective mechanisms and rids the body of harmful products and substances.

Maybe your body is missing something.

Many expectant mothers really want to eat sweets, chocolate, sweets and muffins during pregnancy. This is no accident, and is due to the fact that more energy and more calories are needed to carry a baby and feed him, which are abundantly found in sweets and pastries. In addition, there is a lot of glucose, which nourishes the brain and gives a good mood. The well-known craving of pregnant women for salty foods is also explained by the fact that during pregnancy there is a lack of minerals, which the body tries to compensate for through nutrition. The body especially suffers from a deficiency of sodium and potassium, which are precisely found in salty foods. With the development of pregnancy, the volume of blood circulating in the vessels increases, the balance of fluids and mineral components changes, and supplies need to be replenished.

Increasing the need of a woman's body for vitamin and mineral components is one of the leading reasons for the development of peculiar taste desires and addictions during the development of pregnancy. Due to the fact that the fetus actively grows and develops in the woman's uterus, it consumes only those nutrients that are delivered to it with the mother's blood. If any substances are not enough, the mother's body begins to use up its "strategic" reserves. Then the mother's body sends signals to the brain in order to activate the appetite and desire to eat foods such as citrus fruits, strawberries, a variety of other fruits and foods rich in minerals and vitamins. Usually such desires arise in the late afternoon or at night, since it is at this time that the work of those parts of the nervous system in which the “dominant of pregnancy” is formed is activated, and then it takes command of all processes.

Due to all this, in the first trimester of pregnancy, a woman develops a kind of intuition for the foods that she most needs in this period of time. The body strives to cover the growing needs for nutrients, microelements and vitamins, which will externally manifest itself in peculiar desires for nutrition.

Sometimes there may be quite inexplicable, paradoxical desires in nutrition. In some cases, women experience a peculiar taste of metal in their mouths, which usually occurs when there is a deficiency of iron in the diet. This can provoke the development of a rather unpleasant complication of pregnancy - anemia, a decrease in hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the tissues and exchanges gases in the body. In the presence of anemia, there is a deterioration in blood circulation and the supply of oxygen to tissues both in the mother herself and in the fetus, which is experiencing a state of hypoxia.

The presence of anemia leads to threats of bleeding, abortion or chronic fetal hypoxia with a violation of its development. At this stage, it would be quite expected to connect to the “pregnancy dominant” process with the activation of the desire to eat boiled meat, apples and pomegranates, but with anemia, not everything is so simple, and usually expectant mothers in this state experience instead of the desire to eat these products, disgust for him. But there is an irresistible desire to eat lime, chalk or raw vegetables, clay or earth. While this phenomenon has not been studied in terms of its mechanisms, such problems of the body can be compensated by taking specially designed mineral and vitamin complexes for pregnant women. All components are specially selected in them in quantities that will cover all the needs of both the mother herself and her baby.

Reasons for the psychological plan

Often, changes in taste preferences during pregnancy, in addition to purely physiological reasons, are based on a purely psychological basis. They occur due to special changes in the emotional and psychological state of the expectant mother. Everyone knows that along with the body itself, during pregnancy, psychological changes take place, emotionality and attitude towards others and oneself change. And sometimes taste changes occur not because of the needs of the body, but because of psychological changes, the influence of emotional stress. L

Any pregnancy, even if it is very expected and desired, is a stress for the woman's body and psyche, there is a change in lifestyle, social role and family relationships. Not all pregnant women can easily and quickly cope with such changes, they experience irritability and emotionality, tears and resentment for no reason, and a need for attention from others. Often, dietary changes are a way of “stress eating”, a way to get increased attention from loved ones, especially a spouse.

Most often, changes in taste preferences are the result of a whole complex of influencing factors, both psychological and physiological. Therefore, it is necessary to be condescending to such whims of pregnant women.

How to deal with such desires

For the most part, with a sudden desire to eat something unusual or tasty, it is quite possible to go on about a pregnant woman and treat herself to these foods if they are not dangerous to health. So, if you want chocolate, you can eat a small piece, not a whole bar. Restrictions in terms of consumption of such products relate only to their quantities. If you have a desire to eat two bars of chocolate or a plate of strawberries (not yet in season), you should still limit yourself in desires, since too many potentially allergenic foods can lead to the development of an allergic reaction in both the mother and form a tendency to them same in a child.

With excessive salt intake, strong thirst arises, which leads to a sharp change in the water-salt metabolism in the body. In this case, the woman will drink more, which will provoke swelling and poor health. When eating a large number of buns and cakes, the pancreas is loaded and the consumption of more calories than the body can process, which leads to the formation of excess weight. Some mothers show a desire to drink beer or try various exotic delicacies with artificial preservatives and colors, food chemistry. But all these substances will have an extremely negative impact on the development of the fetus and can lead to defects and deformities. If such a desire arises, it is not worth indulging him, and you need to replace these harmful products with something close, but more useful. Beer can be replaced with natural kvass or black bread, harmful lollipops with juicy fruits.

When should you see a doctor?

If the emergence of taste addictions and fads in food begins to interfere with your usual daily routine, if thoughts about eating some foods crowd out all the others, if there is a strong desire to eat completely inedible foods, it is important to consult a doctor and exclude hidden pathologies that require treatment .

It is especially worth paying attention to such desires as cravings for eating chalk, clay, iron or earth, this may indicate a deficiency of minerals in the diet, the doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe you the necessary drugs.

And in order to minimize the processes of changing taste preferences, it is worth eating varied and tasty during pregnancy, setting the table beautifully, so that there is a desire to try all the products and dishes. From time to time indulge yourself with sweets and pickles, but do not get carried away with them, a balanced and nutritious diet is important.

(4 Votes)

Pregnancy is a special state for a woman when a new life develops in her body. Often this is accompanied by the appearance of not too pleasant sensations that can occur at different periods of bearing a child. You just need to experience them and not give yourself up to vain experiences. Many at this time are concerned about nausea, belching, heartburn or bloating. This is quite acceptable, taking into account all the changes taking place in the body.

Many women also pay attention to the appearance of an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth. When this occurs for the first time, the pregnant woman tends to think about the causes of this condition. But the opposite situation also happens - these sensations periodically arose earlier, but the woman did not pay attention to them. Why this happens and what needs to be done to eliminate an unpleasant symptom, the doctor will tell you. But a woman herself can guess about some moments of its development.

An unpleasant taste in the mouth is certainly a problem that worries a woman. But it is not always necessary to give this increased attention.

The reasons

A foreign taste can haunt a woman from early pregnancy. There are many explanations for this: physiological changes in the body or various pathological disorders. But before you look for any diseases in yourself, you should think about whether this is not a normal phenomenon. First you need to consider the possible causes of this condition and exclude the most unfavorable of them. So, the appearance of an altered taste in the mouth during pregnancy can be triggered by such factors:

• Physiological restructuring of the body.
• Diseases of the digestive system.
• metabolic pathology.
• Diseases of the oral cavity.
• Deficiency of vitamins and microelements.

It is possible to determine what actually caused the incomprehensible aftertaste only after a comprehensive examination of the pregnant woman. But some deviations in the state of health are not always detected. In this case, they talk about the normal reaction of the body to bearing a child.

Why there are certain sensations during pregnancy, only a doctor can determine.

Symptoms

If we consider in detail the problem of altered taste, we must take into account all the points that may indicate its origin. First of all, you should find out what preceded the appearance of such a symptom: it is often associated with the woman’s diet or certain aspects of her lifestyle. It is necessary to establish the characteristics of such a manifestation, because the taste can be completely different:

1. Sour.
2. Gorky.
3. Sweet.
4. Metallic.

This symptom is often accompanied by other manifestations: heartburn, belching, discomfort in the abdomen. It can change over time, be constant or intermittent, pronounced or weak. It all depends on the condition of the woman at the time of the examination and the characteristics of her body.

Differential diagnosis will help determine the origin of any symptom.

Physiological restructuring of the body

Pregnancy proceeds against the background of hormonal changes in the body and changes in the functioning of various systems. Unfortunately, this is not always a pleasant experience. Even before a woman is aware of her condition, one of the most common signs is a change in taste. But this can also be considered in the context of early toxicosis, when nausea and vomiting are disturbing in parallel.

In the second and third trimester, when the fetus grows rapidly, the uterus begins to rise and squeeze the surrounding organs. The woman begins to feel sour belching, heartburn, a feeling of fullness after eating. This is due to increased pressure in the abdominal cavity and relaxation of the sphincters. The contents of the stomach, in which there is hydrochloric acid, actively penetrates into the esophagus and leads to a change in taste in the mouth. And this is not a sign of pathology.

In addition to feeling sour in the mouth, a woman may be bothered by the taste of bitterness. This condition appears due to the penetration of bile into the stomach against the background of reflux (reverse reflux) from the duodenum.

Physiological changes during pregnancy, as a rule, do not have such pronounced manifestations as in pathology.

Diseases of the digestive system

Often, an altered taste in the mouth indicates certain diseases of the digestive tract. Such a pathology can be suspected by the symptoms that bothered the woman even before pregnancy, since when carrying a child, an exacerbation of chronic diseases is often observed.

For example, if a woman has a sour mouth, this may indicate gastritis, stomach ulcers, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In turn, many of them are accompanied by:

• Pain and heaviness in the abdomen.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• heartburn.
• Belching of sour or air.
• Constipation.

When talking about a feeling of bitterness in the mouth, it is necessary to pay attention to the work of the gallbladder, because this can be a sign of biliary dyskinesia, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis. In this case, the appearance of pain in the right hypochondrium is characteristic, sometimes jaundice and loosening of the stool occur. A sweet taste may indicate liver problems with hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Diseases of the digestive system require timely treatment. This is the only way to eliminate unpleasant symptoms.

Pathology of metabolism

Diabetes may cause a sweet taste in the mouth. This is due to an increase in blood glucose. But this is a rather rare symptom of the disease. Most often, the pathology is accompanied by such symptoms:

1. Thirst and dry mouth.
2. Excretion of large amounts of urine (polyuria).
3. Skin itching.
4. Reduced vision.
5. Increased weight or, conversely, weight loss.

Diabetes can be detected by a simple blood sugar test and a carbohydrate tolerance test.

Diseases of the oral cavity

Unpleasant taste and smell from the mouth is a common symptom of dental diseases and ENT pathology. This is observed with the development of inflammation or impaired sensitivity of the receptors of the tongue. Such symptoms are characteristic of stomatitis, tonsillitis, gingivitis and even caries. A sweet taste may appear due to purulent processes in the oral cavity or upper respiratory tract, sour or salty - with inflammation of the salivary glands.

Do not neglect the treatment of dental diseases. Although this is often unpleasant, it will prevent much bigger problems in the future.

Deficiency of vitamins and microelements

Most often, a change in taste can be traced with a lack of iron in the body. Moreover, this is typical for the depletion of its tissue reserves, which is observed with a rather long deficit of this element. This condition will inevitably lead to chronic anemia, which is not uncommon during pregnancy and is accompanied by such signs:

• Weakness, fatigue.
• Dizziness.
• Paleness of the skin and mucous membranes.
• Changes in hair and nails (brittleness, fragility).
• Atrophic changes in the tongue, esophagus and stomach.

A metallic taste can occur when bleeding from the gums, which may be the initial symptom of a vitamin C deficiency in the body.

Treatment

To eliminate sour or any other taste in the mouth, it is necessary to focus on the results of the diagnosis. After a medical and additional examination, it is possible to plan therapeutic or preventive measures, which should have an exclusively individual focus.

Only a specialist will tell you what to do to a pregnant woman to eliminate unpleasant taste sensations.

Diet

Dietary recommendations are of great importance. Proper nutrition will be the key not only to the prevention of many diseases, but also to the normal course of pregnancy. To do this, a woman must consider the following principles:

1. The regularity of meals, the usefulness and variety of the diet.
2. Exclusion of spicy, smoked, fried and fatty foods.
3. Advantage over products in boiled, stewed or baked form.
4. Limit sweets, pickles, cabbage, legumes.
5. Sufficient intake of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs.
6. Give preference to cereals, dairy products, lean meats and fish.
7. Refusal to drink alcoholic beverages and smoking.

Proper digestion will help walks in the fresh air, light morning exercises and a good mood.

Diet for a pregnant woman is important. Don't ignore your doctor's nutritional advice.

Medical therapy

The basis of traditional treatment of many diseases is the use of drugs. This is the simplest and most effective way to cope with the disease. However, a pregnant woman should remember that the independent use of any medication can turn into a danger to the fetus. Therefore, you can take medicines only as directed by a doctor.

Based on the situation, it may be reasonable to use the following groups of medicines:

• Prokinetics.
• Antisecretory.
• Enzymes.
• Hypoglycemic.
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Iron preparations.
• vitamins.

In dental and ENT pathology, much attention is paid to local treatment with the use of antiseptic and antibacterial agents.

Unpleasant taste sensations can pester a woman throughout the entire period of pregnancy. To minimize or completely eliminate them, you need to contact specialists in time.

Maria Sokolova

Reading time: 18 minutes

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During pregnancy, many expectant mothers suddenly feel that their usual taste preferences have changed, and what previously caused disgust begins to attract, and the beloved and familiar begin to disgust. The same can be said about smells. Periodically, expectant mothers have completely outlandish desires. One suddenly finds her favorite coffee disgusting, and she greedily throws herself at raw meat. Another spoon scoops up and puts coffee grounds in her mouth, biting it with a raw potato. The third goes to lick the soap. The fourth flies for hamburgers and fast food breaded wings, and the fifth drinks condensed milk with beer, and chips with baked milk.

What can this be talking about, and is it worth fighting with such desires?

Strange desires of pregnant women: reasons

Poll of sociologists: what do you want the most?

Sociologists who conducted research in this area were primarily interested in questions about concentration of changes in taste preferences and the appearance in the diet of women of products that have not been consumed before. According to the results of the survey, it turned out that the most unexpected desires of expectant mothers are plaster, soap and cigarette ashes. Foods that appeared in diets included raw onions, hot peppers, licorice, ice, blue cheese, horseradish, raw potatoes, and pickled apples. Thus, all products that expectant mothers crave have a sharp, pronounced taste.

Expert opinion:

A strong desire of the expectant mother to put something unusual in her mouth, as a rule, means signal from the body about the lack of substances and trace elements necessary for the baby, which are not present in the usual food in the right amount.

It should be remembered that the use of such, even insanely strongly desired substances, as chalk, plaster or soap, can lead to very negative consequences. They contain harmful impurities. With increased cravings for such objects, it is worth seeking help from doctors so that they, in turn, prescribe drugs to replenish the substances necessary for the body.

The strange taste desires of expectant mothers - what do they mean?

There are many reasons that provoke the expectant mother to use certain, previously unused products. And, of course, only a doctor can reveal the true causes, after examining for a lack of nutrients and for the presence of certain diseases in the body. Certain taste desires can tell a future mother a lot about her state of health. Adequate and timely measures taken will help her eliminate health problems and save her baby.

Of course, in this case we are talking about acute obsessive desires that haunt the expectant mother every day. And such a desire, such as, for example, to eat a slice of cheese in the morning, is unlikely to indicate serious problems in the body.

progesterone and pregnancy

The main "instigator" of such problems in the body of the expectant mother is the hormone progesterone actively produced during pregnancy. This hormone contributes to the preservation of the baby in the womb , and the beginning of its production is the moment when the fetal egg attaches to the uterine wall. The production of progesterone occurs until the thirty-eighth week.

With the onset of hormone production in the body sequential biochemical changes in smells, tastes and even tearfulness of the expectant mother begin . Progesterone has the function of “adjusting” the program for replenishing scarce elements . If there are any, then the pregnant woman instantly receives a signal about this problem in the form of an acute desire for a certain product or substance. The same hormone improves the absorption of the right foods and is a stimulant for the rejection of unsuitable foods.

Cravings for sweets and salts in the first trimester

Want some salty? Unbearably drawn to pickles, chips and fast food? Such a need of the body in the first trimester may be associated with its protective functions.

Toxicosis occurring early in pregnancy causes fluid loss in the body . To prevent dehydration, the body requires foods high in salt, which help retain water and maintain a water-salt balance.

But for sweet most often during pregnancy pulling skinny girls . In this way, nature signals to them that it is time to get a little better and gain the missing kilograms. In this case the beginning of pregnancy is accompanied by acute desires for sweet, fatty and starchy foods . But you should not rush to satisfy the whims of the body. Sweet foods cause both a sharp decline and a rapid rise in blood sugar. And for this reason, before you pounce on the cake stand, you should think about foods that are rich in proteins (like eggs and meat). But with regard to sweets: it is better to choose a product that is not too quickly absorbed and charges the body with the necessary energy. For example, muesli.

Taste preferences and psychology

The psychological reason for the “whims” of a pregnant woman is a sign for a man and a future father. It is quite possible that with such whims a woman is trying attract his Attention . Moreover, this does not always happen consciously. Requests - “make me something tasty”, “buy me something like that” and “bring me something that I don’t know myself, but I really want” can be caused by an ordinary attention deficit.

The presence of the future father and his participation in the difficult everyday life of the expectant mother, harmony in the family is the key to a favorable pregnancy.

To fulfill or not to fulfill the whims of the expectant mother?

In this case, everything depends on the adequacy of the whims and, of course, on the possibilities.

One calls for wild strawberries in February, the other sniffs the exhaust fumes leaning out the open car window. It is clear that the second option will not benefit the baby, and the first is nothing more than a whim, like snowdrops in the middle of winter.

If the dad-to-be and relatives of the pregnant woman can afford to ride at night looking for a certain type of orange, smoked meat or papaya with passion fruit, then why not?

Dangerous oddities in the desires of expectant mothers

Pretty rare, but, alas, observed olfactory desires of pregnant women to smell hairspray, acetone or gasoline vapors should be clearly controlled by expectant mothers. To indulge them, of course, is dangerous. It is harmful for both mother and baby. In a situation where such desires become too intrusive, they should certainly be reported to the doctor.

The reason for such oddities may be changes at the neurochemical level in the processes of inhibition and excitation. It is their body, perhaps, that is trying to put it in order, forcing the expectant mother to inhale volatile substances that affect the functioning of the brain. With the help of drugs prescribed by a doctor, you can improve the metabolic processes in the brain without indulging your oddities.

Draws on harmful (alcohol, fatty, etc.) What to do?

First of all, discuss with the doctor your strange taste preferences.

How to avoid weird taste quirks during pregnancy:

Reviews:

Julia:

In the first trimester, most of all I was drawn to sausages, fish with mayonnaise and sausage. Now only for sweets. I accidentally dug out a bag of caramels in the nightstand, cracked it without thinking. 🙂 And I also got hooked on the chocolate Picnic with walnuts. Too bad it doesn't happen everywhere. Therefore, you have to take a lot at once. 🙂

Inna:

I remember eating coffee grounds like a crazy woman during pregnancy. It's the spoons. I didn’t drink coffee myself, but I ate the thick for everyone. Just awful, the way they looked at me. 🙂 Just gave birth - immediately the desire was gone. And I always wanted chalk. I even crushed and ate eggshells. And raw potatoes. I plan for soup, and once, imperceptibly, a couple of slices. 🙂

Maria:

And I heard that if you are terribly drawn to sweets and, then, perhaps, there are problems with the liver and bile ducts. Can . You need to do gymnastics, and everything will be ok. And the desire for meat, bigger and fried, is a lack of protein. And the baby simply needs it, so you need to urgently lean on protein-rich foods. But vitamin C is most in sauerkraut. 🙂

Irina:

And I smell sunflower oil all the time. The husband laughs, calls him a drug addict. 🙂 And you can’t drag me right by the ears. Still pulls on salty, pickled mushrooms and eggplants. From the sweet immediately gag reflex. It's time to go, get checked for problems in the body. 🙂

Sofia:

After the third month, my daughter-in-law began to crack jam with fried potatoes, vegetables with a bunch of mayonnaise and ice cream drowned in a jar of jam. 🙂 A friend constantly licked her lipstick. 🙂

Anastasia:

And with my daughters, fast food has become the main problem. 🙂 As I walk by - that's it! Gone. Fried potatoes, nuggets... But it turns out that you just need to go to the doctor... 🙂 And I still want doshirak all the time. I’ll pour boiling water over it, I won’t even wait until it’s brewed, and I pounce. I leave the green peas there and fill everything with mayonnaise. 🙂 The family looks at me with horror, but I enjoy it. 🙂

Mila:

With the first child, I really wanted beer and sprats in tomato. It's just unbearable! There is a guy with a bottle, and I'm already drooling - at least ask him to give a sip. 🙂 And the sprat in the tomato - generally cracked in boxes. And with the second daughter there were already more aesthetic desires. The first half just wanted oranges. Husband, the poor fellow, broke after them sometimes in the middle of the night. 🙂 And the second half I just chalk everything. I gained 20 kg during pregnancy (I gave birth to 70 kg). A month after giving birth, she returned to her usual 50 kg. 🙂

If you liked our article and have thoughts about it, please share with us! It is very important for us to know your opinion!

The influence of hormonal changes in the female body on taste and olfactory preferences during pregnancy - recommendations from an obstetrician-gynecologist.

If a woman complains that she used to love coffee, but now the smell makes her sick, she used to go out every half an hour to smoke, and now she runs past the smoking room, her first answer will be the question: "Honey, are you by any chance pregnant?" And how do doctors explain such a sharp change in the perception of smells and taste?

Exotic culinary habits of future mothers and a sharp change in their tastes have been noticed for a long time. Who has not heard jokes about a husband who, almost in his pajamas, runs at night to look for peaches or pickles for his pregnant wife ... A passionate fan of pickles during this period can turn into an inveterate sweet tooth, and a lover of chocolates, ice cream and jam suddenly wants to eat everything salty and spicy. According to a survey conducted by the food company Cow & Gate, it turned out that more than 60% of pregnant women experience an irresistible attraction to mixing completely incompatible products. Among them are lemon with salt and pepper, ice cream and chips seasoned with mustard, and many other combinations.

"If we talk about smells, then the whole first trimester I could not stand kitchen smells at all, especially sharp ones, such as the smell of fried onions. And in general, my sense of smell became so acute! .."

"And during pregnancy, I was addicted to sniffing ... soap! Ordinary baby soap, I really want to eat it! And still (to my daughter), when I open a new bar of soap, I will definitely lick it a couple of times ..."

"The beginning of my pregnancy was at the end of spring - the beginning of summer, when everyone opens the windows. The sense of smell has become so acute that I could easily tell what dish is cooked in each apartment - from the first floor to the twelfth."

"I used to like perfumes with heavy floral aromas. And in the first months of pregnancy, I hated them and fell in love with light, fresh smells ..."

Let's try to figure out why and where all these addictions come from. There is no unified and coherent theory in this regard. Here are some of the most popular points of view.

Under the sign of progesterone - the dominant of pregnancy

The theory that “blames” progesterone for all the whims of pregnant women is the main one (all other theories generally say the same thing, but in other words).

At the beginning of pregnancy, the so-called dominant pregnancy, which contributes to the readiness to endure and give birth to a child, and also provides the psychological mood of a woman.

The dominant of pregnancy is a focus of excitation in the brain that occurs in a pregnant woman after the egg is attached to the mucous membrane, due to the constant flow of signals from the uterus to the brain. At the hormonal level, the dominant is supported by increased production of progesterone.

The hormone progesterone is synthesized by the ovaries, placenta and adrenal cortex. From the moment the fetal egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, increased production of progesterone begins, which contributes to the preservation of pregnancy (suppresses the activity of the smooth muscles of the uterus; acting on the central nervous system, supports the formed dominant of pregnancy; stimulates the preparation of the mammary glands and growth of the uterus; suppresses the reaction of rejection of the fetal egg). The content of progesterone in the mother's blood grows unevenly, increasing by 2 times, and then gradually increases.

A decrease in the level of progesterone indicates the presence of a pathology of pregnancy and requires replacement therapy; an increase in the level of the hormone indicates the presence of renal failure (violation of its excretion). The production of progesterone completely stops only with far-reaching changes in the placenta, for example, with.

It is the active elevated level of progesterone that can be attributed to the most fundamental changes during pregnancy, and it is he who triggers the cascade of biochemical changes in the body. He also launches the so-called "search engine" to find in the mother's body the necessary resources of the endocrine and autonomic nervous system 1 to ensure the development of a normal pregnancy. In other words, this hormone determines what is normal and what is deficient, and builds a "program" in order to eliminate all deficiencies. As a result, the mother's body is given a command to satisfy the deficit, causing the desired need. For example, with a lack of calcium, there is a desire to eat chalk, with a deficiency of ascorbic acid and green vegetables, with a lack of B vitamins, a desire to drink beer. At the same time, the search engine makes sure that the woman does not eat anything that will be harmful to her or the child. It is for this that changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract that facilitate the process of rejection of inappropriate food at the moment and prolong the process of processing suitable food.

1 The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system responsible for the functioning of internal organs.

Possible failures

However, things are not always so simple. In cases where there are hidden metabolic disorders in a woman’s body, the “search engine” command can be paradoxical, i.e. one that, instead of eliminating the deficit, contributes to its strengthening. The result is a vicious circle. For example, there is not enough iron in the body, and a woman, against the background of severe anemia (a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin), has a specific metallic taste in her mouth, but at the same time she develops an aversion to meat, although it is the consumption of meat that could at least partially help solve the problem of disturbed iron exchange. In such cases, the only way out is vitamin and mineral complexes. Although sometimes they can have aversive olfactory reactions. Why such a phenomenon occurs is still a mystery that science has yet to unravel.

Before that, we talked about addictions that generally do not threaten the life of the mother, but in the early stages of pregnancy, some women have a desire to eat inedible foods: chalk, clay, sand, lime, earth. Some people are very attracted to the vapors of gasoline, acetone and other volatile substances. Such occurrences are fortunately rare. Should such cravings be satisfied? Of course, such desires should not be satisfied. And they are called again by the "team" of the same "search engine". If such desires are persistent, it is important to visit a doctor, because. they are caused by neurochemical changes in the body. It is likely that vapors of such harmful substances somehow affect the functioning of the brain: the body reacts in this way to an altered balance of excitation and inhibition processes. But in no case should a future mother be satisfied with such a desire, because harmful vapors can have a disfiguring effect on the developing fetus. The doctor in such cases corrects the situation by prescribing drugs that improve metabolic processes in the brain (glycine, glutamic acid, vitamins).

So, it is the hormonal restructuring of the body that greatly affects taste preferences (desire for one and aversion from the other). According to world-renowned M.D. Michel Glisman, "These eccentric hormones that rush through the body in the first three months of pregnancy cause quirks of taste."

Nausea and vomiting are a defensive reaction

Samuel M. Flaxman and Paul Sherman have stated that nausea, vomiting, and altered taste cravings during pregnancy serve a beneficial function: it is a natural mechanism for protecting the mother and fetus from food-borne illness, as well as protecting the fetus from harmful substances that can negatively affect the formation of its organs and tissues. Their findings help explain why many pregnant women initially develop an aversion to meats, certain vegetables, and caffeinated beverages, and prefer foods with a mild flavor. According to Sherman, food aversion also forms a defense against toxins produced by microorganisms and other teratogenic (defective) fetal development) substances.

At the same time, in the first three months of pregnancy, the cells of the embryo differentiate and begin to form structures. These developing structures and organ systems—arms, legs, eyes, and central nervous system—during a critical stage in the formation of new life, can be adversely affected by teratogenic substances contained in certain plants; their components can also have a negative effect on the course of pregnancy: for example, parsley can cause uterine contractions, provoke. It is no coincidence that the body of a pregnant woman often refuses spices.

The vagaries of intuition of a pregnant woman

It is known that the tastes and desires of a pregnant woman change. Nature provided the expectant mother with the so-called "pregnant food intuition." Modern dietology, medicine and biology do not have complete information about the absolutely proper nutrition of a pregnant woman. Only the basic principle is known: food should be varied, as healthy as possible and contain a minimum amount of processed and artificial products. In the first trimester of pregnancy, there is an active restructuring of the body and its adaptation to a new state. Now the child expresses his needs through his mother, demanding microelements, vitamins and nutrients that are useful for him. Both the mother and her family will have to reckon with this, providing passionately desired products. However, here, as nowhere else, a reasonable approach is appropriate. Listening to your desires is important, but satisfy them in reasonable quantities.

So, no matter what is hidden behind such strange addictions of pregnant women, you need to listen to them and sometimes really think about what kind of deficit our "whims" are trying to eliminate. Scientists admit that some cases of taste preferences cannot be explained. And in any case - do not force yourself to eat what is considered "good" for you if you do not feel like it.

What to do if you really want something harmful and not at all drawn to something useful?

1. When taste and smell addictions scare, drive you crazy, or prevent you from living a normal daily life, see a doctor.
2. If you really want something, then bon appetit! But remember about reasonable doses and the reasonableness of needs. For example, if you want to eat sand, then, of course, you should not do this.
3. Be picky about trying new things. Then it is unlikely that you will get poisoned by something or "earn" an allergy. To begin with, try to find out the composition of such an attractively smelling product.
4. It is important to always remember that quirks or whims are your own business, they should not become a reason for resentment, tears, or even depression. Your loved ones are not to blame for not guessing what you wanted for lunch today: try to talk about your addictions, discuss them - and there will be more understanding.
5. Pregnant women are sometimes hard to please, so try to treat yourself with humor: that will help the best!

Elena Pechnikova
Obstetrician-Genecologist, Moscow

Discussion

And we are 13-14 weeks. Tired of everything. Appetite is gone and I feel bitterness in my mouth. Even the pills stopped helping ((we hope it will be better by the second trimester

13.10.2018 14:04:02, Nadira

For the first months I had nausea, but without vomiting, I was drawn to meat, I took a half-kilogram piece, cooked (that's exactly what I wanted boiled!) And there was enough to eat 1-2 times. And from the 6th month, I became indifferent to meat, in general, but now I’m drawn to sweets, the confectionery departments are just torture, I just relaxed - in 4 weeks I gained 3.5 kg on marshmallows in chocolate and on bread with jam, I barely stopped, now I’m trying instead of confectionery, there are bananas and persimmons, I can also eat tons, though I’m afraid of a lot of persimmons, it’s not very good for the intestines. And also sauerkraut and green tomatoes... a dream (but my kidneys are dearer to me!)

04.12.2008 21:11:28, Tasha

I'm pregnant for the first time ... I began to read on websites about the needs during pregnancy - who eats silk !!! who eats chalk! a day or a jar of pickles or a tomato while drinking all the pickle! I'm in shock! And my husband even more!

07.11.2008 20:47:39, Ekaterina

I’m on my 9th week =) and now I have almost no appetite ((but you can’t starve either ... I think for a very long time about what I can eat, but there aren’t many options.
while I struggle with it. And I often feel sick ... this is my first pregnancy :) but very welcome! ;)

10/11/2008 11:49:03 PM, Valya 09.10.2008 05:27:07, Olga

And from the very beginning of pregnancy I wanted all sorts of things, but most of all sweet. Now it’s been five months already, but I’m still strongly drawn to sweets, I just can’t, it can be anything, even honey with tea, or just tea with sugar. I dream that I eat sweets. Once in three months, I so wanted pickles that, I remember, I ran to the store, and then I ate a whole one and a half liter jar in 10 minutes.

09.10.2008 05:26:43, Olga

I'm 6 weeks old, I have taxicosis, but not strong. it happens that you really want melon, watermelon or sauerkraut :-) with mashed potatoes (already salivating), and it happens that even the thought of food turns back! I spoke with the doctor, he advised me to eat fractionally, carry chocolate (glucose) and something sour in my purse. To be honest, it doesn't help much. but the urgent fulfillment of my culinary desires saves not only me, but also my family from attacks of weakness, nausea, whims, etc. :-))))

09/07/2008 17:40:55, Maria

And in the first trimester I didn’t want anything, although there was no strong nausea, I ate only dryers with tea.
In the second trimester (it was hot) I wanted dried fish. And caviar from this roach was the most delicious candy!
In the 3rd trimester, I really wanted tangerines and persimmons. Moreover, only the crust was eaten from the tangerines, the zest was given to the husband))) Every evening for the past 3 months, she ate a kilogram of both, the husband went home from work and bought.

and I feel sick, but do not vomit. I don’t have any special addictions yet, I have 5 weeks. I don’t have much appetite either. in the first pregnancy, too, I didn’t want anything special, only the pungent odors are annoying

02/02/2007 04:45:13 PM, Nadezhda

From 7 to 16 weeks there was terrible toxicosis, only cucumbers or canned tomatoes were saved; now for 20 weeks I really want fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. Meat is indifferent to fish, too, although they say you need to eat.

02/02/2007 09:36:08, Prynston

vrodebi vsyo normalno edinstvennaya problema xochu obsheniya mne podobnim i ne tolko tak ka ya ne na rodine ne znayu kak nayti obshenie da i net v dannoe vremya doma net prixoditsya spuskatsya v net klub.a chto kassaetsya edi to vsegda xochu star togo xto umenyaus derzhat v xolodilnike raznoobraznie veshi

12/22/2006 06:47:47 PM, Patimatzagra

I have an aversion to fried fish. I eat salty with pleasure. I used to love sweets, but now I don't. The custard smells like powdered milk.

07/04/2006 10:43:05 AM, Natalia

We are 16 weeks old. For the first 2 months, she felt sick and ate almost nothing, she lost weight. They put me in the hospital, where I drank Essentiale, vitamins, it became easier. I really wanted meat, fish and cucumbers.

06/30/2006 11:27:24 AM, Tatiana

I am in the eighth week, I eat everything, the taste has not changed much - I just really want green vinegar barrel tomatoes and sushi

06/28/2006 02:52:38 PM, Natalia

I’m now 12 weeks pregnant. Toxicosis was terrible. I didn’t eat or drink anything. I was admitted to the hospital. Now I eat a little.

06/25/2006 10:18:26 AM, Diana

Comment on the article "Bring something - I don't know what ... change in taste during pregnancy"

Gender and taste preferences. In my first pregnancy, I really wanted MEAT (I didn’t eat meat before pregnancy) and drank liters of milk, a boy was born. Now I just get sick of meat, but I eat kilograms of apples, vegetables ... and I can’t-want shrimp with beer.

Discussion

When I was pregnant with my first girl, I didn’t eat meat at all (I had such a period, it lasted for three years). Ate fish, dairy products, eggs. It did not affect the baby and guards in any way.

I also couldn’t eat meat in the first trimester, although in general I’m a meat eater. I ate mostly fat-free cottage cheese (I liked it more) and vegetables. The doctor did not force me to eat, like - during pregnancy, everything is upside down :). There is also fish, seafood, sour milk, what a huge choice now! And since the second trimester, it’s normal - I eat both meat and poultry. Is your blood test normal?

about the toilet and taste preferences. Ailments, diseases, toxicosis. Pregnancy and childbirth. Going to the toilet while pregnant is normal. Especially with fruits. Sunflower oil contains a lot of vitamin E, it is very useful for pregnant women.

Discussion

I also go often, but maybe once an hour. It only interferes when I go for a walk with my daughter. in an hour it's time to write, but I want to take a walk, I live on the 4th you are not. By the way, I also eat peaches, but somehow I didn’t connect it.

15.07.2010 15:42:35, april partisan

Yes, you're all right!
Only today there was a discussion with the doctor about the toilet) I don’t run so often, but she decided to dedicate me in advance. This is definitely from the pressure on the bladder, and even on fruits you are excellent)
In general, today she told me to do the following so that in the future there would be no problems and just reduce the pressure a little: knee-elbow position, in short (in this wording the doctor said) you get up on the floor or sofa, you can read in this pose or something else, just as if you are standing near the table, you bend your leg and onto a chair, and lean on the table with your elbows. The uterus goes higher and relieves pressure on the bladder for a while.

about taste preferences. Nutrition, vitamins, medicines. Pregnancy and childbirth. It was funny in my first pregnancy - I was terribly drawn to raw carrots. It got to the point that she specially went to the market, bought two bunches from grandmas and one, unable to stand it, from ...

Discussion

It was funny in my first pregnancy - I was terribly drawn to raw carrots. It got to the point that she specially went to the market, bought two bunches from attendants and one, unable to stand it, ate one of them right away, not washed :))), the second she brought home and washed, just as immediately ate.
In this pregnancy, I really lean on citrus fruits, but still without fanaticism, I don’t sand right in the store))).

I want to eat everything I see, I feel sick, or even .. And for 2 weeks I’ve been cooking such disgusting things, and mine are eating and asking for more

Conference "Pregnancy and childbirth" "Pregnancy and childbirth". Section: - gatherings (If the topic has recently been raised, close the topic :) In my last pregnancy, I ate only one disgusting thing - pizza, purchased dumplings, buters). Taste preferences.

Discussion

All the time I want sweets :)))) I would like a chocolate bar :))) I break off, otherwise I will start feeding - there will be no time for chocolate :)))

Up to 12 weeks I ate pickles in tons (classic), now I devour kilograms of sprat, although in 15 years of marriage I have never even bought it. Together with me, the whole family got hooked on sprat, for 3 weeks now the children have been demanding only it with potatoes. And I lafa - boiled potatoes - dinner is ready!

Everyone knows that during pregnancy, women change their tastes in food. Why is this happening? Why do sweet lovers suddenly begin to "dry" on pickles, and those who previously could not live without a cup of coffee in the morning can now start vomiting from the smell of this drink? I suspected that all this was somehow explainable from a physiological point of view, but I had not particularly asked this question before.

One of the pregnancy myths


I will say right away that I don’t want to talk about “perversion of the taste of pregnant women and the sex of the child”. Since I think that this is from the area of ​​\u200b\u200b"but it coincided with me." Everyone has different tastes, and there are only two genders))

But I tried to understand the reason for these changes. I did some research and this is what I came up with.

Refusal of bitter


I don’t know about others, but I couldn’t stand onions during both pregnancies, although in a normal state I love it. It turns out that this is a kind of protective function of the female body, aimed at maintaining pregnancy. Probably, the body perceives the bitter taste as something poisonous. Perhaps for the same reason, I stopped liking tea and coffee during pregnancy.

When you crave salty


And really, when? Usually in the second and third trimester. For me, for example, it was. One version of this desire is an increase in blood volume and, as a result, a lack of sodium. True, I tried, after all, not to abuse the salt.

If you want fruit


What I wanted most during both pregnancies was fresh fruits and vegetables. Here, I think, there is nothing to guess - the body's need for vitamins in pregnant women is increased, and most of the vitamins are found in vegetables and fruits. Also, fresh fruits, vegetables and greens contain a large amount of folic acid. And she, as you know, is the very first and most important thing that is needed for the normal development of the child and the correct course of pregnancy.

In this regard, I always remember the story of how I stood in line for apples in the distant crisis of the 90s. The line consisted entirely of grannies, standing behind granulated sugar on coupons. And among them I am pregnant, but still without a stomach. It seemed to me more difficult to ask the grandmothers tuned in a fighting mood to let me skip the line than to stand in line. Having waited until I finally approached the counter, I told the saleswoman what I needed and lost consciousness.

Or the story of my sister: her husband, in the same 90s, bought her, a pregnant woman, a huge cucumber, packed in a film. My sister ate it right on the street, and she did not care that the cucumber was not washed and was bought with the last money.

If you crave sweets


This attraction can be explained by the fact that pregnancy requires a certain amount of energy and the body requires more calories. The main thing here is to understand that the gained kilograms do not always remain in the hospital ...

perversions of taste


Pregnant women often crave something that they wouldn't normally think of eating. For example, herring with milk, chalk or earth. They say that pregnant women should not be denied their desires. But I wouldn't risk it, for example. After all, the stomach and intestines of a pregnant woman do not become different, and unpleasant consequences will follow herring with milk.

I was lucky: if there was anything I wanted, it was useful. For example, suddenly terribly wanted barley porridge with meat. Usually neither I nor my family members eat this porridge.

And during my first pregnancy, I went crazy for tomato juice. It’s good that it was sold in half-liter jars and I couldn’t “break off” them, as my cousin did. After she was overtaken by a terrible vomiting from an excess of tomato juice, she still cannot tolerate this product.

conclusions


I think that a pregnant woman can quite control her desires in food. You just need to learn how to understand them correctly. If you want chalk, it is likely that the body requires more calcium. When you are drawn to sour, it is possible that a woman has low hemoglobin.

And if you don’t want something, then you can try to replace the product. I didn't feel like meat at all. And when it was necessary to raise hemoglobin, I stuffed it into myself with difficulty. Then I realized that this blood indicator can only be improved with iron preparations and stopped torturing myself with this product.

Did you have taste perversions during pregnancy?

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