Remember grandmothers in our Indian joint families of yesteryears telling the soon-to-become-mother in the house to eat a lot of ghee, dairy and milk products? This was simply because dairy products and milk are rich in calcium and help to build the baby’s bones while she is in the womb. But what if the lady in question was lactose intolerant?
Lactose intolerance is the inability by 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 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:
- Your stomach growls, rumbles and roars!
- Indigestion can occur
- A lot of wind , or gas (known as flatulence)
- Loose motions
- Stomach cramps and nausea
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.
Make a note of all that you eat during the day, so that when something triggers your condition, you will know what caused it.
Avoid paneer, cheese, milk, curds, whey, all these are dairy products and you can get affected by eating them.
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.
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 gyanec who is treating you during your pregnancy, who will be able to suggest alternative remedies, or medication that does not contain any levels of lactoseLactose intolerance during pregnancy.
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