Is it normal not to have food cravings during pregnancy?

The BabyCentre editorial team

Our panel of health writers.

Yes. It's true that many pregnant women have specific or unusual food cravings, but it's perfectly normal to have no cravings at all.

A lack of cravings doesn't mean there's anything wrong. In fact, if you're not craving fatty or sugary foods you're more likely to make healthy food choices. This will make it easier for you to get all the nutrients you and your developing baby need.

No one really knows for sure where food cravings come from. It’s likely that the hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy have a powerful impact on some women's sense of smell and taste. This may cause them to crave certain foods, and go right off others.

Some people believe that cravings arise due to a shortage of a certain vitamin or mineral, but studies haven't found a link. If there was a link we probably wouldn’t get the cravings for chocolate and crisps that most of us have every now and again!


This article was written using the following source:

DH. 2009. The pregnancy book: Chapter 3 - Your health in pregnancy. [pdf file, accessed September 2011]

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