Lactose intolerance and pregnancy

Pregnant and drinking soya milk
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If you are lactose intolerance or suffer from a milk allergy you may be concerned about how that will affect your pregnancy. The truth is you don’t have to worry, you can receive a sufficient calcium intake from other foods and supplements. However, it is important that you do not risk drinking milk or eating dairy as it will leave you feeling uncomfortable and ill on top of all of your pregnancy symptoms.

What is Lactose Intolerance?

If you are lactose intolerant it means that your body does not produce a sufficient amount of lactase, this is the enzyme that you need to digest lactose. Lactose is the sugar found in milk and dairy products. Therefore, if you are lactose intolerant you will find yourself suffering from:

Symptoms

• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Stomach cramps
• Wind

If you have noticed any of these symptoms, that could be a sign that you are lactose intolerant. It is important to monitor your symptoms, especially if they are occurring within two hours of consuming a certain dairy food. If you notice any discomfort, you should go to your doctors and ask for a blood test. The chances are you will not have a diagnosis, however, it is beneficial to monitor your symptoms after eating certain foods, as the symptoms could just be masked by pregnancy ones.

Calcium rich foods

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Nuts
• Wholegrains
• Soya milk

When you are suffering from lactose intolerance, it is vital that you do not eat or drink anything that will aggravate your symptoms. So, steer clear of milk and dairy products!