WE’VE ALL HEARD excellent tales of pregnancy cravings - pickles, ice creams, and spiy foods are the usual offenders. But this is another story.

When she became pregnant with her second child, New Zealand woman, Michaela Martin found herself irresistibly drawn to… washing powder.

Facebook / Michaela Martin Facebook / Michaela Martin / Michaela Martin

Martin told the New Zealand Herald that she started out just smelling the powder each time she did the laundry, but then progressed to dipping her fingers in the packet.

I chewed the grains between my teeth to get the texture of the powder as well as the taste, and then would spit it out and rinse my mouth out straight away.

She found the taste of the powder “disappointing”, but continued to crave it anyway, noting that the scent filling up her nose and mouth was “divine”.

Instagram / jimcocker Instagram / jimcocker / jimcocker

And it’s not just washing powder – she’s also been smelling floor cleaners and dishwashing liquids, and has grown attached to toothpaste.

These cravings of inedible substances are known as ‘pica’, and are not uncommon amongst pregnant women.

I can’t wait to give birth so I can go back to having a normal palate.

Pregnancy is scary.

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