Ngidam During Pregnancy: Cultural Craving or Biological Need?

Question
Dear Cat,

Most pregnant women have a periode when they yearn about something very much. We call it 'ngidam' in my culture. I don't know how to name 'ngidam' in English but when a women in 'ngidam' periode they want things like food, some said that the woman might ask ridicule things. It is also said that 'ngidam' is a baby's wish.

The question is, is this 'ngidam' thing a biological periode or is it more psychology thing or else? I mean, how could an unborn baby has a wish?


Thank you
Frans Indroyono

Answer
Hi Frans:  In our culture, we would call this a "craving."  Having had two children, I'll say that I personally never experienced this but have heard the typical stories of women craving something odd -- such as pickles, for instance.  I've also heard of women supposedly waking their partners in the middle of the night and insisting that they go out and pick something up for them (eg, pistachio ice cream or something similar).

I have heard it said that "cravings" may have a physiologic basis -- ie, if one were craving bananas this may be due to the body's "need" for potassium.  To my knowledge this has not been definitively proven but is theory, only.

Sorry that I can't be more helpful.  Very interesting question, though!