PICA in Pregnancy

SCHESSER ALFRED (Pupil Midwife)

Aim

To educate pregnant women and families on PICA.

Objectives

Define PICAList causes PICA in pregnancyExplain effects of PICA in pregnancyList Common PICA cravingsComplications/Risk to Mother and Baby

What is PICA????

Many women experience odd cravings throughout their pregnancies, and this is an entirely normal pregnancy symptom. However, if you begin to crave non-food items such as chalk, dirt, or clay you may be suffering from a disorder called PICA..

The Magpie Bird aka PICA

Pica (which comes from the Latin word for magpie, a bird known for eating almost anything).

Definition

Pica is the persistent craving and compulsive consumption of non food substances such as:

soil, clay, laundry starch, ice, ashes, plaster, paint chips, and coffee grounds.

Cause of PICA in Pregnancy

There is currently no identified cause. However, there are a number of theories as to why the disorder may develop: Nutritional Deficiency: Pica may be your body’s natural response to a

nutritional depletion, such as iron deficiency. When your body becomes deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, it tries to get these minerals by causing you to have strange dietary cravings. However, not every person with pica has a nutritional deficiency.

Cultural Factors: Cultural factors do play a role in some cases of pica. Pica is accepted in some cultures as a way of increasing spirituality or treating certain physical illnesses, like morning sickness.

Psychological Reasons: Mental illness or psychological trauma can trigger pica in some people. Pica is often a hallmark of extreme stress, fear, or abuse.

Common PICA Cravings

The most common substances craved during pregnancy are: dirt Clay ice

Other pica cravings include: burnt matches stones charcoal

Common PICA Cravings

mothballs Laundry soap Cornstarch toothpaste Soap sand plaster coffee grounds, baking soda, and cigarette ashes.

Common PICA Cravings

Complications of PICA

Pica can result in a number of different health complications that could cause you serious harm. Complications include:

  Lead Poisoning: Eating substances that contain lead,

such as soil, clay, or paint, could lead to lead poisoning, which can seriously harm both you and your baby, and can even result in death.

Complications of PICA Con’t

Bowel Obstruction: Eating non-food items, especially rocks, hair, and dirt, can cause your bowel to become obstructed. This can lead to severe constipation, bowel inflammation, and infection. Parasite Infection: Items from the earth, including clay, soil, and grass, can be home to parasites. When you ingest these items, parasites can then infect your gastrointestinal tract causing pain, weight loss, and other side effects.

Dental Injury: Your teeth were not made to process non-food items. Hard substances like rocks, clay, and ice can cause serious damage to your teeth, and you may experience broken and fractured teeth

Effects of PICA on your Baby

Unfortunately, pica cravings can cause serious harm to your baby.

Eating non-food items can actually prevent your body from absorbing the proper minerals and nutrients.

This could mean that your baby is not receiving the proper nutrition, increasing his risk for a variety of complications, including low birth weight, preterm labor, and stillbirth.

Treating PICA

If you are suffering from pica disorder or if you think that you may be experiencing some pica-like behaviors, it is important that you visit with your health care professional for proper pica treatment to ensure you are not suffering from any physical complications. Further treatment will be recommended to help you to overcome future pica cravings. Common treatments include:

nutritional supplements medications to control cravings, stress, or depression psychological counseling behavior therapy

Conclusion

RECAP

INTERRACTIVE SESSION

Thank You

Any Questions or Comments

References

http://www.pregnancy-info.net/

http://americanpregnancy.org/

http://www.babycenter.com/

Myles Textbook for Midwives – Fifthteenth Edition