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It’s common for pregnant women to have some intense cravings for particular foods and drinks, from pickles and seaweed to coffee. However, you might wonder what specific cravings mean. Why is it this thing your body wants at this time? 

So, let’s get into what it means when pregnant women crave coffee over other beverages, among other cravings.

Reason 1: Restrictions Make Things More Exciting

Like other types of consumables, coffee comes with some added restrictions for pregnant women. Your doctor is likely to tell you to limit your coffee consumption, primarily to limit caffeine intake. 

When a food or drink item is restricted, it often makes you want it more, especially if it’s a delight to consume. Also, pregnant women generally want more low-nutrient and high-calorie treats more than anything, according to one Frontiers in Psychology study. So, naturally, many desirable foods become no-nos during pregnancy, which can make them all the more tempting.

In most cases, doctors recommend that pregnant women consume no more than 200 mg of caffeine in a day, which still allows you to drink a couple of cups of regular coffee every day.

Reason 2: Pregnancy Is Exhausting

The strain that pregnancy puts on the body is another reason those caffeinated drinks seem more appealing than ever—your body needs enough energy for both you and the baby.

With that in mind, it would make sense to spring for a cup or two of coffee every day, which is normally within the 200-mg intake limit for pregnant women.

However, it’s important to avoid coffee or other caffeinated beverages with high levels of sugar or caffeine. The sweeter the drink, the worse it is for you, and with espresso and other supercharged beverages, you’re much more likely to exceed your daily caffeine limit within a couple of drinks.

Just be mindful of what kinds of coffee you consume and their quantity, and you’ll likely be okay.

When to Get Concerned About Cravings

There’s no shortage of food cravings that pregnant women can experience as their body needs to replace certain nutrients.

For instance, you might crave the following foods:

  • Ice cream, chocolate, candy, and other types of sweets
  • Salty snacks like potato chips and pretzels
  • Carbs, including cereal and other high-calorie foods
  • Animal proteins such as chicken and steak
  • Milk, cheese, and other dairy products
  • Watermelon and citrusy fruits, among other fruits
  • Spicy foods
  • Pickles and other pickled foods

All of these are normal to have, with a couple of key reasons behind them, including pregnancy hormones amplifying foods’ tastes and smells and the need to compensate for vitamin or nutrient deficiencies. 

At the same time, some cravings aren’t healthy and could indicate the need for medical assistance. Typically, it’s best to speak to your doctor if you experience any non-food cravings, also known as pica. For instance, if you crave ice chips, clay, soap, chalk, stones, or other inedible objects, this could be a sign of a severe deficiency, usually involving low calcium or iron levels.

Your doctor could test you for certain deficiencies and work with you to break those cravings.

Keep an Eye on Coffee Cravings and Others

As always, it’s important to get a handle on any pregnancy cravings you experience to keep you and your baby healthy.

Try to limit your intake of potentially unhealthy foods and work with your doctor or a therapist to help ease your cravings while ensuring you’re getting enough nutrients. 

Taking the right approach here could help you better manage your consumption while allowing you to enjoy that perfect cup of coffee.

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