Pregnant and Craving Dirt – Is That Normal?

I am 6 and a half months pregnant and have just recently been experiencing shortness of breath. Is this normal? Also I have been experiencing cravings for dirt! Is there anything you can suggest that isn’t actually dirt?
Thank you,

~ Jane

Hi Jane-
Both of your symptoms, shortness of breath and a craving for dirt (which is known as pica or geophagy), may actually be related: they’re both signs of iron-deficiency anemia. Anemia is very common during pregnancy. Your care provider can check for it with a simple blood test, and will probably recommend that you take iron supplements in addition to your prenatal vitamin (most doctors recommend a 30 mg. supplement for all women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters), and increase the amount of iron-rich foods in your diet. You don’t want to eat dirt, of course, what with the risk of parasites and contaminants, so try some iron-rich foods. Shellfish, such as clams and oysters, are surprisingly high in iron, as are fortified cereals, red meats, lentils, blackstrap molasses, and nuts (particularly cashews and pine nuts). Cooking your food with a cast-iron pan is also an easy and simple way to increase your intake. More iron sources are listen below. Good luck!

Food sources of iron