You ate ice cream and now your tummy hurts. Soon you’ll have gas and maybe diarrhea. If dairy makes you sick then you’re probably lactose intolerant. You’re unable to digest lactose, the sugar that exists in milk products. Therefore, your body fights back with bloating, gas, and intestinal upset (1).
Can you become lactose intolerant during pregnancy?
Weirdly, yes, you can. Even if you’ve never had a problem with milk before, all the changes in your hormones and metabolism can throw your body for a loop (1).
Suddenly, you may find yourself incapable of enjoying a glass of milk or a grilled cheese without unpleasant consequences.
The primary symptoms of lactose intolerance during pregnancy are pretty obvious. They differ from morning sickness in that you’re unlikely to vomit. Instead, you’ll be sitting on the toilet with cramps. Welcome to the 65%. That’s how much of the world’s population can’t eat dairy (1).
So, what’s the solution to this dilemma? Do you give up mint chocolate chip ice cream? Do you avoid cream in your coffee?
Not to worry, science has the answer. You can take digestive enzymes to help your body process the lactose. One brand you’ll recognize is Lactaid.
Can you take Lactaid pills while pregnant?
Yes, you can take Lactaid pills during pregnancy. They contain the enzyme lactase that the body needs to break down and utilize lactose during digestion (2).
This is how they work. You’ll have to take a pill each time you eat or drink milk products. Consequently, if you have milk on your cereal, that’s one pill for breakfast. If you have pizza for lunch, that’s another, and so on.
Is it safe to take so many extra pills when you’re pregnant? Well, here’s the deal. Supposedly, it’s safe. But the FDA doesn’t regulate the pills because they are considered a “dietary supplement” (2).
If you want to cheat and eat dairy without taking a pill every time, switch to Lactaid milk instead. This beverage is simply cow’s milk with lactase added to it. You can also purchase other Lactaid foods with added lactase so you don’t have to take a tablet every time. Even better, the FDA regulates these things because they are food (2).
Can you take Lactaid after eating dairy?
If you pick up a box of Lactaid pills, you’ll see that the directions say to “take it at first bite”. If you take it after, it’s kind of like closing the barn door after the horse has run off. But don’t be too hard on yourself. I don’t notice a difference if I drink the chocolate milk and then take the pill right after. It’s only if I forget and wait until the cramps remind me.
That’s when it’s more convenient to eat foods with added lactase instead of taking pills.
Which is the best Lactaid pill to take during pregnancy?
There are different potencies of lactase pills. Some are labeled as fast acting and others are original strength. The difference is how much lactase they contain.
If you are sensitive to lactose and you’re eating a lot of dairy, you’re going to need a stronger pill with more lactase, or else you’ll want to take more than one original strength pill.
Honestly, it might be easier to cut down on milk in your diet. Once you make the adjustment, it’s not so bad. It’s actually nice to not have so much mucus and to feel so much discomfort. And there are all sorts of tasty milk substitutes. Over the years, I’ve switched to soy yogurt and soy ice cream and I love almond milk on my oatmeal.
Can you get enough calcium during pregnancy without milk?
Think of it this way: many people around the world are lactose intolerant from birth. They get along just fine without drinking cow’s milk and eating cheese.
Although you need about 1000 mg of calcium per day, it’s available in a variety of sources. Calcium exists in almonds, pinto beans, broccoli, kale, and salmon. Some nondairy foods are fortified with extra calcium, too. Then, there’s your prenatal vitamin. You’ll be just fine without milk.
Can you take Lactaid while breastfeeding?
Once you give birth, you can continue to take Lactaid while you’re breastfeeding. Again, it’s only the lactase enzyme to help your body digest lactose.
But if you have any concerns whatsoever, please talk to your doctor. A nutritionist can help you create a dairy-free diet.
But what if you really love dairy and you don’t want to take Lactaid?
On the bright side, the harder the cheese, the lower the lactose. Eating cheddar is less likely to give you gas. Parmesan is also a hard cheese, but steer clear of feta and American.
Butter has a little lactose, but margarine doesn’t.
Greek yogurt is kinder to the stomach than regular yogurt. It has the whey strained out of it and that gets rid of a lot of the lactose. Plus, the probiotics in the yogurt help with digestion.
If you’re not ready to give up ice cream (I totally understand), here’s the relief you’re looking for:
| Helps for lactose intolerance during pregnancy | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Lactaid Fast Act Lactose Intolerance Relief Caplets |
|
| Lactaid Fast Act Lactose Intolerance Chewables |
|
| Puritans Pride Lactase Enzyme |
|
| Lactaid Fat-Free Milk |
|
| DairySky Lactose-Free Milk Powder |
|
| So Delicious Dairy-Free Wondermilk |
|
| milkadamia Macadamia Milk |
|
Lactaid Fast Act Lactose Intolerance Relief Caplets
Here they are: the Lactaid pills I’ve been talking about. These are the higher-dose caplets with 9000 lactase units. They come 96 pills to a pack so you’ll have enough for quite a while depending on how many you take each day.
For example, the instructions say to swallow one with your first sip or bite of dairy. Then if you continue eating milk products after half an hour or 45 minutes, you need to take another pill.
Imagine that you’re visiting the in-laws and they plop a glass of milk and a big plate of lasagna in front of you. Your mother-in-law won’t take no for an answer because you’ve got to have your calcium! Pop open your trusty pill pack and take one at the beginning of the meal. If your in-laws are anything like mine, dinner lasts for more than an hour. When it wraps up with your sister-in-law’s homemade ice cream, you’ll need to take another pill just to make sure you don’t spend the night in the bathroom.
If you’re worried about taking so much lactase, it’s a great idea to talk it over with your OB/GYN. It shouldn’t be a problem. However, each pill also has 5 mg of sodium. That adds up after a while if you’re watching your blood pressure.
As for the pills themselves, they aren’t hard to swallow if you don’t swish them around your mouth. They are a little chalky but only medium-sized. If you’d prefer something you can chew, keep reading below.
Lactaid Fast Act Lactose Intolerance Chewables
I prefer chewables to pills and they seem to work the same. They have the same amount of lactase enzymes (9000 units) as the fast-acting pills.
Chew one vanilla-flavored tablet at the beginning of your snack or meal. Have another if you continue consuming dairy after half an hour to 45 minutes.
Happily, the chewables are safe for kids as young as age 4. They are also certified Kosher.
On the downside, they contain just as much sodium as the pills. And they have artificial flavors and sweeteners like mannitol and sucralose.
Puritans Pride Lactase Enzyme
Lactaid isn’t the only game in town. Other supplement manufacturers also provide lactase tablets and capsules. Sometimes, they’re cheaper.
Some people say that this brand tastes better than Lactaid tablets. The only bad thing is that you have to take 3 softgels instead of only one pill. But there are 40 servings (of 3 pills each) in the bottle, so you’ve potentially got a whole month of relief on hand.
Besides 375 mg of lactase, the softgels have gelatin, vegetable glycerin, soybean oil, and beeswax. Unfortunately, they are not soy or gluten-free.
For the curious, the lactase enzyme is derived from Aspergillus oryzae, a common fungus.
Lactaid Fat-Free Milk
Instead of popping pills, get your lactase in milk. Lactaid has added the lactase enzyme to cow’s milk. It’s available in fat-free, skim, 2%, and whole versions as well as chocolate.
The milk is also fortified with vitamin D3 and vitamin A palmitate. The former is essential if you live in a place where there’s not much sunlight in the winter.
Other than the added lactase, Lactaid milk tastes, smells, and looks exactly the same as regular dairy. Moreover, the cows from which it comes are not treated with hormones. Therefore, the milk has no rbGH/rbST.
Go ahead and celebrate without the cramps and bloating. Pour this milk on your favorite cereal, put it in smoothies, and use it in recipes.
DairySky Lactose-Free Milk Powder
But what if you don’t drink milk very often and it always ends up going bad in the fridge? Maybe it’s time to try powdered milk. It’s just as rich in calcium, protein, vitamins, and minerals as fresh dairy milk. And since it’s enhanced with probiotics, it’s much easier to digest.
Follow the instructions to rehydrate the powder and turn it into liquid milk. You can use regular tap water or add the powder directly to tea, smoothies, and recipes.
So Delicious Dairy-Free Wondermilk
If you’ve been lactose-intolerant all your life, you’ve probably experimented with alternatives like non-dairy creamer, soy milk, and so on. This beverage is made with oat milk, coconut milk, coconut oil, soy protein, and other natural ingredients. It’s enhanced with vitamin B12, vitamin A, and vitamin D2.
Since it’s naturally lactose-free, it’s easy to digest. Out of all the dairy-like beverages I’ve tried, this one is pretty close to cow’s milk.
I also appreciate that it’s made with non-GMO ingredients and it’s vegan. It contains no preservatives, lactose, carrageenan, or gluten.
Nevertheless, it’s sweetened with pure cane sugar. That’s a good thing to track if you’re navigating gestational diabetes.
milkadamia Macadamia Milk
Skip the sugar and go straight to the good stuff. This macadamia milk is creamy with a hint of vanilla. It’s so low-carb that it’s keto diet-approved.
Plus, it’s fortified with calcium, pea protein, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and vitamin D2. These are all healthy nutrients needed by expectant women.
The formula is vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and made in the USA. It’s only 50 calories per serving. Enjoy it in all the ways you would use cow’s milk.
Conclusion
Lactose intolerance is a common condition during pregnancy. If you had it before you got pregnant, it might get worse. Or even if you never suffered from gas and bloating when you eat dairy, you might develop the condition.
But fortunately, you can take Lactaid pills to help you digest the lactose. Not only that, the lactase enzyme provided by Lactaid milk and similar products will prevent unneeded suffering.
Here’s to a happy, healthy pregnancy (with a scoop of ice cream)!
Sources:
1. https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/lactose-intolerance-during-pregnancy/ Treating Lactose Intolerance During Pregnancy
2. https://www.pregnancyfoodchecker.com/lactaid-pills-milk-pregnant/ Can You Take Lactaid Pills or Milk While Pregnant? Written by Samantha Broghammer, RD