<s>[INST] I am pregnant and craving paper - and eating it. A few sheets of notebook paper a day. I m sure the ink isn t good, but I m wondering if there is any real harm to it? I know that I m anemic and it s most likely Pica, and I am being treated for anemia. But I m wondering how harmful it could be to me or the baby if I keep eating as much paper as I am now. [/INST] Hallow Dear,Eating the paper per se is not harmful to you neither for your baby. However, it all depends up  on  which paper you are eating. Any newspaper, postal envelops, advertisement bills, etc. are handled by many people, are lying at any place and hence are not hygienic to eat. Moreover as you have mentioned, some inks contain heavy metals and is not good for the brain development of the foetus. Otherwise plain clean paper is not harmful; in fact some ice-creams do contain blotting paper in it. Moreover you have to go to the root cause of this craving. Anaemia and calcium deficiencies do cause such cravings which should not be labeled as pica. The cause of resistant anaemia could be worms which can cause such weird liking towards the items. Please get your stools examined from the laboratory and if indicated take anti-worm treatment with the advice of your Obstetrician. Please keep in mind, though the paper per se may not be harmful to either of you, the cause for such craving could be serious. Do not neglect it. I hope you got the message. Dr. Nishikant </s>