Gone off your favourite bacon sandwiches? Craving pickled onions? Discover some of pregnancy's stranger symptoms.
Pregnancy cravings
Lusting after ice cream with pickled onions during pregnancy may
seem like a cliché, but for many women food cravings are very
common.
Pregnancy hormones are thought to be partly to blame, although
some experts believe that cravings may be the body's way of telling
you it needs more of certain nutrients like iron, calcium, or
vitamins. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove this so
far.
Some women even have cravings for non-food items such as coal,
chalk and matchboxes. This is a rare condition called Pica (the
Latin name for magpie). Again, the cause is not known.
An heightened sense of smell
Many women find their sense of smell becomes heightened during
pregnancy, which can mean a once-loved aroma of fried onions may
now turn your stomach and make morning sickness worse. You may also
notice your favourite perfume smells different on your body. This
is because hormonal changes can alter your skin's chemistry.
An altered sense of taste
The same hormonal changes can cause the taste in your mouth to
change. Some women experience a metallic taste in their mouth,
which can make certain foods taste different from before. Foods
with sharp or tangy flavours such as citrus fruit and vinegar can
help cut through the metallic taste.
Excess saliva
Excess saliva production, known as ptyalism, can affect some women
and is a by-product of changing hormone levels in pregnancy. It is
particularly common in the first trimester and if you have morning
sickness, but does usually pass. In the meantime sucking on sweets
can help you swallow.