What happens if you ignore pregnancy cravings?

If you ignore your cravings, the only thing that happens is a very grumpy pregnant lady and a highly stressed husband! Seriously though, the baby won't have a birthmark of a samosa just because you didn't eat one. Eat what you like in moderation, but don't stress if you have to skip it.

In our family, elders say you should never deny a pregnant woman the food she craves. However, my doctor told me that cravings are just hormonal fluctuations and ignoring them won't affect the baby's health at all. It is okay to indulge sometimes, but keep your health and gestational sugar levels in check.

Ignoring cravings is totally fine and won't harm the baby, but make sure you aren't ignoring actual nutritional deficiencies. Sometimes deep cravings can mean your body lacks certain minerals. Since I have thyroid issues, I was extra careful, got regular blood tests done, and always consulted my gynecologist before changing my diet.

Nothing happens to the child if you don't eat a specific thing, that is just an old myth. You can satisfy sweet cravings with healthy things like dates or home-made kheer instead of store-bought sweets. But if you have extreme nausea or can't keep food down, please see your doctor instead of ignoring it.

Listen, don't stress too much about this! If you are craving mid-night ice cream and can't get it, it is absolutely fine, your baby is perfectly safe. Just try to sleep and have it the next day. Pregnancy is hard enough, so don't make yourself feel guilty over ignored cravings.

I used to crave sour things constantly during my second pregnancy and tried eating traditional pickles at home to soothe it. If you ignore these cravings, you might just feel a bit unsatisfied, but medically it is perfectly fine. Just don't let it stress you out, and focus on clean, home-cooked meals.