What is Pica Disorder? Pica disorder during pregnancy:

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) says that pica is a mental disorder that makes people eat things that aren’t food. For at least a month, it means eating things that aren’t food. These chemicals aren’t found in food naturally and don’t add any nutrients. Some examples are laundry starch, soap, clay, mud, paper, chalk, and ice. Pica, on the other hand, is a more serious disease. Pics disorder during pregnancy is more prominent.

In this article, we will discuss pica disorder during pregnancy. Causes of pica disorder during pregnancy. Risks of pica disorder during pregnancy and treatments for pica disorder during pregnancy.

Diagnostic Criteria of Pica Disorder?

According to DSM-5-TR, the diagnostic criteria of pica disorder are:

Diagnostic Criteria A.

Individuals have a habit of eating non-nutritive and non-food substances. Individuals have a habit of eating these non-food items for at least 1 month.

Diagnostic Criteria B.

Individuals have a habit of eating non-nutritive and non-food substances. These habits and behaviors are inappropriate for the developmental level of the individual.

Diagnostic Criteria C.

The behavior of eating nonfood substances is not supported culturally.

Diagnostic Criteria D.

This eating behavior is not due to any other medical condition.

People with pica might eat a lot of strange things. People can eat:

(i)             Dirt

(ii)           Clay

(iii)         Hair

(iv)          Paper

(v)           Ice

(vi)          Soap

(vii)        Chalk

(viii)      Laundry starch.

The DSM-5-TR also says that another mental illness doesn’t cause pica unless the symptoms are so bad that they need their own clinical treatment.

Pica can affect anyone, from children to adults to pregnant women. Pica can happen to anyone, but some people are more likely to get it than others. Some of these people don’t get enough vitamins and minerals, don’t eat enough healthy foods, or can’t easily get to nutritious meals.

Why Pica Disorder During Pregnancy?

A lot of pregnant women crave strange things. They might like foods that are sweet, spicy, or a mix of the two. But the pica condition that happens when you’re pregnant is not the same. It means wanting and eating foods that are not safe or healthy for you.

The DSM-5-TR does not list pregnancy as a separate type of pica. But it says that the condition can happen during this time. Experts say that not getting enough of some nutrients, like iron, can have a big effect. When the body doesn’t get enough nutrients, it may make people hungry to make up for it. Instead of healthy foods, the body might want to eat clay, ice, dirt, or laundry starch.

Some women who are pregnant say that these things that aren’t food help them feel better or calm down. Pregnant women say that they cannot stop themselves from wanting these things.

There are some non-food substances that women with pica disorder eat a lot of during pregnancy. These nonfood substances include:

1. Dirt or Clay

Many pregnant women want to eat dust or dirt. They like to eat clay, chalky soil and dirt. This is the most common type of pica disorder in pregnant women.

2.Starch

Some women during pregnancy love to smell and eat laundry starch. Women might eat starch in small or larger quantities depending upon the severity of the disease.

3. Ice

You might become anemic if you eat ice because it doesn’t have enough iron. Ice isn’t bad for you, but if you want a lot of it, you might have other problems.

4.Chalk or paper.

Many individuals eat these items. These chemicals are light, dry, and easy to chew.

5. Soap

You can usually smell or taste these things. You should go to the doctor right away because eating them is bad for you.

What are the causes of Pica Disorder?

Experts say that the main reason women get pica disease while pregnant is that they don’t eat enough healthy foods.

(i)             A woman’s body needs more vitamins and minerals when she is pregnant. If people can’t get these nutrients, they might want them.

(ii)           Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of deficiency. When iron levels are low, the body feels tired, weak, and stressed. At the same time, the brain may want things that aren’t food.

(iii)         Not getting enough minerals like zinc, calcium, or others in your diet could also be a reason. These deficiencies can interfere with the body’s signals that tell it to eat. The brain doesn’t tell the person to look for healthy foods; it tells them to look for strange things.

How Pica Affects Pregnant Women and Babies Who Are Growing?

Pica disorder during pregnancy can be detrimental to both the mother and the fetus. The risks depend on the drugs used, how often they are used, and how easy it is to get medical help.

1. Being near poisonous

There may be bacteria, parasites, or chemicals in clay or soil. They can make you sick or give you stomach problems.

2. Things that get stuck in the digestive system

Things that aren’t food can get stuck in your intestines or stomach. This can make you sick, make you throw up, or even kill you.

3. Lack of Nutrients

Some chemicals stop the body from getting the nutrients it needs. This makes problems that are already there worse.

4. Effect on Baby

A pregnant woman with severe iron deficiency anemia may not be able to feed her baby enough. This could have an effect on health, weight, and growth in general.

What are the signs of Pica Disorder?

Even though every woman has a different experience, some symptoms happen a lot.

1. Wanting things besides food.
2. Not telling anyone what you eat.
3. Getting better after eating things that aren’t food.
4. Not having enough energy.
5. Lack of Nutrients.
6. Problems with digestion.
7. Always thinking about strange things you want to eat.

People with pica may feel bad about themselves or not know what to do. A lot of people don’t say what they want. When you’re pregnant, it’s harder to find pica disease when it’s quiet.

Why Some Women Get Pica, and Others Don’t?

Not every pregnant woman gets pica. Many things help it grow, but these three are the most common:

1. Not eating well before getting pregnant.

A woman who is pregnant and doesn’t get enough iron or minerals is more likely to get pica.

2. Not being able to get enough good food.

You might want strange things if you don’t have the right food.

3. Stress that is mental or emotional.

People can act strangely when they’re stressed, like eating things that aren’t food.

How Important is Your Medical History for Diagnosis?

Healthcare professionals ask about a person’s urges and behavior to see if they have pica. The doctor looks at the patient’s medical history, checks their diet for problems, and talks to them about their mental health.

A diagnosis of pica disorder during pregnancy is confirmed when symptoms persist for a minimum duration of one month. The provider also looks at how people from different cultures act. Some cultures, for example, think it’s fine to eat clay. In many cases, the diagnosis might not matter unless health problems happen.

Blood tests can find:

(i)            Not getting enough iron can cause anemia.

(ii)           Not enough zinc.

(iii)          Another thing that lacks nutrients.