Expert: Pat G - 12/4/2009

Question
hi there, i was just wondering if it is normal to still have food cravings after you have an abortion..i just had an abortion today and im still craving certain foods i wanted to know if this is common to most women for acouple of days or not? thanks for your time

Answer
Hi, stephanie,

To begin with, it's not normal to have an abortion. It really disrupts a woman's body. That said, I haven't heard whether craving certain foods after an abortion continues very often or for very long. There may be some issues to look at, though. If you just had the abortion, your hormones are still very high; your body is still "pregnant", so any cravings you had during pregnancy would continue as long as the hormones are fairly high.

Food cravings can be caused by several things. During pregnancy, especially, they may be due to nutritional deficiencies. They can also be due to the fact that a person is allergic to the food she craves. They can be due to the fact that the person has a minor addiction to the food (such as sugar) which is perpetuated by eating the food.

I had an addiction to coffee ice cream. It was an addiction in the sense that I craved it. When I discovered I was putting on weight, I quit eating it cold turkey with no repercussions, and rarely eat it anymore, even though I still like it. I have an addiction to sugar, and it's a real pain, and I can't quite stop eating sugary foods. I eat less than I used to. These addictions are only addictions in the sense that a person craves the food and finds it tempting. It doesn't necessarily mean there will be problems with withdrawal, although if a person craves caffeine, there might be. I also developed a sensitivity to caffeine during that time, which is now pretty much gone (that was over a decade ago).

One thing to be especially vigilant for is food disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Both are common after abortion, and very harmful. If you find that you are starting to experience either, or suicidal tendencies, drug or alcohol abuse, or reckless living (including continuing to take the risk of pregnancy, even with "protection"), you should seek some counseling. You can find an organization that offers post-abortion counseling by going here:

http://www.heartbeatinternational.org/worldwide_directory.asp

Choose "Canada" from the country list. There are multiple pages. Click on "details" to get contact information.

You can also find some online discussions by going here:

http://www.afterabortion.com/

If you develop any complications, please see a good doctor immediately. Don't go back to the person who provided the abortion. Also, if you have any further questions, please feel free to write back. Be vigilant for the possibility of breast cancer, especially if this was your first child. Mammograms are not a good idea; see if you can get a regular thermogram. Vitamin D3 supplementation will help protect you. If you become pregnant in the future, be sure and tell your doctor about your abortion so he can safeguard your life and the life of your baby. Also, be vigilant about the possibility of having a tubal pregnancy. If you want more details on any of this, please let me know.

Eat a nutritious, balanced diet. You should be OK. But please take care of yourself. Don't take any more chances; stay safe.