By Ruth Serwaa Asare
A Principal Midwifery Officer at Ridge Hospital, Felicia Martey Dodoo, has revealed some of the unusual cravings experienced by pregnant women, warning that indulging in such habits could harm both mother and baby.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show on Tuesday, Mrs Dodoo explained that cravings during pregnancy are triggered by hormonal changes, but while some are harmless, others can be bizarre and dangerous.
“What I’ve seen most pregnant women do is drink very chilled water with ice blocks early in the morning. Some even scrape the ice from the freezer and suck it,” she said.
But the senior midwife shared even more startling cases. “I have seen a pregnant woman go and sit outside when it’s drizzling, just to inhale the smell of wet sand. Another one would sit at a fuel station because she loved the smell of petrol,” she disclosed.
Mrs Dodoo warned that such cravings could lead to respiratory problems, anaemia and complications in pregnancy. “When you crave and inhale fuel or dust, it can cause upper respiratory infections and make breathing difficult as the pregnancy advances,” she cautioned.
She stressed that while cravings can be intense, women must learn to control them with the help of midwives, doctors and their families. “Craving is very strong, but you can replace what you’re craving with something nutritious. If you don’t manage it well, it can lead to anaemia or even preterm delivery,” she advised.
The midwife encouraged pregnant women to focus on Ghana’s rich local foods such as beans, green leafy vegetables, small fish, fruits and millet, which provide the protein, folic acid, iron and vitamins needed for a healthy pregnancy.
She concluded with a call to families to be supportive during difficult craving periods, noting that some demands may sound unreasonable. “Sometimes a woman will insist she wants something odd at 3am. Even if you go and bring it, she may suddenly change her mind. It can be crazy, but partners and relatives should be patient, it’s seasonal and will pass,” she said with a smile.
