Pregnancy-induced lactose intolerance isn't a well-documented condition, yet many women report symptoms associated with this food intolerance while pregnant. They have nausea, bloating, diarrhea and abdominal pain whenever they eat or drink dairy. But a true lactose intolerance involves a decline in the production of lactase, the enzyme needed to digest milk sugar. Talk to your doctor to determine if this is what's causing your discomfort.
Age
Pregnancy doesn't usually induce lactose intolerance. An inability to digest lactose is more often linked to age. As you get older, lactase production simply declines with the natural decline in milk consumption. Your body is no longer able to digest the same amount of milk as when you were younger and more reliant on dairy for nutrition. With pregnancy, however, many women increase the amount of dairy in their diet. Most people with lactose intolerance can handle some lactose in their diet, explains the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Your symptoms are probably due to a pre-existing intolerance that's now exacerbated by dietary changes.
Management
Managing an intolerance to lactose is the same for pregnant women as for anyone dealing with this condition. Limiting your intake of dairy can help, but taking a lactase enzyme supplement can minimize your symptoms. You can also switch to lactose-free dairy products or simply consume smaller amounts of dairy at one time. According to the Mayo Clinic website, smaller servings --- roughly 4 oz or less --- aren't as likely to cause symptoms.
Reversal
Although some women develop symptoms of lactose intolerance when pregnant, the reverse is also true. In fact, roughly 44 percent of women who are lactose intolerant are able metabolize this milk sugar while pregnant. The theory is that during pregnancy, the passage of food in the intestinal tract tends to slow, allowing more time to digest lactose and thereby improving the condition. Your intolerance, however, is likely to return soon after childbirth.
Indigestion
The discomfort you feel after eating or drinking dairy may not be an indication of an intolerance at all. Instead, it may be indigestion. It isn't uncommon to experience nausea, heartburn, gas and bloating later in pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters. This discomfort is at least partly due to the shifting of digestive organs, leaving less room for food in the stomach. It's also linked to hormones, which can cause the lower esophageal sphincter, which separates the stomach from the esophagus, to relax, allowing stomach contents to flow back into the food pipe. Talk to your doctor to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Lactose Intolerance; June 2009
- MayoClinic; Lactose Intolerance; February 2010
- Baby Center: Lactose Intolerance in Pregnancy
- Baby Center: Is It Normal to Have Diarrhea in Late Pregnancy?
- March of Dimes; Your Pregnancy Body: Heartburn and Indigestion; August 2009
