Lactose Intolerance During Pregnancy
As soon as a woman gets pregnant, she is showered with immense care, affection and of course, endless list of advices. Most of the time she is advised about her diet during pregnancy. The elderly ladies in the house can always be quoted laying importance on the intake of lots of ghee, dairy and milk products.
Well, they advised it because dairy products and milk are rich in calcium and help to build the baby’s bones while it's in the womb. But what if the lady in question happens to be lactose intolerant?
What is lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is the inability of the body to digest lactose, the main element present in animal milk and other dairy products. This inability arises mainly because the body is not able to generate enough quantities of lactase, the element that digests lactose in milk and various other milk products.
The strange thing is that lactose intolerance can crop up all of a sudden during pregnancy. Lactose intolerance is known to come up during early pregnancy. If you were already lactose intolerant before you got pregnant, you must be aware of the symptoms. Most lactose intolerant patients develop a lot of wind.
Other symptoms that could make you uneasy are:
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Your stomach growls, rumbles and roars!
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Indigestion can occur
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A lot of wind , or gas (known as flatulence)
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Loose motions
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Stomach cramps and nausea
LACTOSE INTOLERANCE DURING PREGNANCY
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Though there is no real cure for this condition, it is not a life-threatening situation. Your doctor will ask you to cut down or stop altogether, the intake of milk and milk products.
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Make a note of all that you eat during the day, so that when something triggers your condition, you will know what caused it.
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Avoid paneer, cheese, milk, curds.
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If you are eating at a restaurant, check the menu first and ask for recipes that do not contain dairy foods. Butter chicken, paneer shahi, kadhi are all food dishes made mainly from dairy products.
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Even some of the medication that you might be taking may contain amounts of lactose and might be contributing adversely to the situation. In such a scenario, consult your gynec who is treating you during your pregnancy. Get prescribed the alternative remedies, or medication that does not contain any levels of lactose.