If you have a lactose intolerance and are pregnant, then it is important that you pay attention to some nutritional principles to help your baby grow healthily inside you.
There are some general nutritional issues that you must be aware of and some issues specific to your lactose intolerance.
Obtaining sufficient dietary calcium can be difficult with a lactose intolerance.
Try to drink calcium enriched lactose free milk or orange juice. However, if you don't think that you can get 600mg of calcium into your diet every day, then you should consider using a dietary supplement to help you achieve this. Aim for a supplement that provides about 500-1000 mg in a day. Never take more than 2500mg of supplemental calcium in any one day.
Extra vitamin D may also be helpful if you can't get enough sun on your skin. 400 IU is the daily recommended amount.
If you struggle to get enough vitamin D or calcium in your diet, there is a chance that your baby will have a low blood calcium level. A low calcium level will make it difficult for baby's nerves to work proplerly and this may result in your baby having a seizure. This is obviously really scary to cope with and easily prevented by taking a sensible supplement.
Your baby may develop rickets if there is not enough calcium to help her or him grow their bones properly. The statistics reveal that this is a more common problem than you might expect.
For more advice go to your maternity unit and ask them.
Best of luck with your pregnancy!
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