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Lactose Intolerance during Pregnancy
Calcium is very important for you in your pregnancy as it is important for optimum foetal growth and development, mainly for building your baby’s bones and teeth. Milk is a preferred source of calcium, but if you are lactose intolerant, then you will be advised not to drink milk. However, there are other dietary sources that may help you fulfil your body’s daily requirement of calcium.
Let us see what are the causes, symptoms and the treatment for lactose intolerance in pregnancy and what can be done to manage your condition.
What is Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose is a kind of sugar, which is mainly present in animal milk and other kinds of dairy products. When your body cannot produce enough lactase, an enzyme that is required to digest lactose, you become lactose intolerant. If you have this condition, then the lactose you consume may sit in your intestine and not get digested; this may lead to gastrointestinal problems. Lactose intolerance may cause extreme discomfort but it, not a serious ailment. However, it is important to remember that lactose intolerance and cow milk allergy are not the same. Cow milk allergy may occur when your immune system reacts to cow's milk by showing an allergic reaction because of the protein in cow’s milk. Though the symptoms of both these conditions may appear the same, they are very different from each other.
What Causes Lactose Intolerance in Pregnancy?
If you are thinking 'can pregnancy cause lactose intolerance', the answer is little complicated to reach at. Pregnancy hormones may cause many changes in your body and your digestive tract may get affected too. Your immune system makes everything slow, and that may affect the way your food gets digested too, this may sometimes make you think that you are lactose intolerant. However, that may not be the case; on the other hand, if you are already battling with lactose intolerance, then pregnancy may reduce your symptoms. Here are some known causes of lactose intolerance in pregnancy:
It may occur due to genetic reasons.
It may occur in case your small intestines get injured; this may hamper the production of lactase.
So as you can see, pregnancy does not directly cause lactose intolerance, but it changes your body in such a way that digesting milk becomes hard.
Signs and Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance
You may notice these symptoms and signs as soon as you consume anything that contains lactose in it:
Your tummy may ache
You may experience gas
You may experience nausea or vomiting
You may feel bloated
You may experience diarrhoea
You may experience cramping
How is Lactose Intolerance Diagnosed
As soon as you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it is important that you seek immediate medical help. Your doctor will come to a deduction based on your symptoms and may advise you to avoid dairy-based goods for a few days to see whether or not you are lactose intolerant.
In some cases, pregnancy symptoms may get confused with lactose intolerance because nausea, vomiting and cramping are the common side-effects of pregnancy too. Your doctor may like you conduct a blood sugar test to make the correct diagnosis.
How to Get Enough Calcium
Milk is rich in calcium, and when you are lactose intolerant, then you will have to look for other healthy alternatives to compensate for your body’s growing calcium needs in pregnancy. Here are some of the options that you may consider:
1. Consuming Whole Grains and Nuts
Various kinds of nuts such as almonds, walnuts and pulses contain a good amount of calcium in them. Consuming them on a regular basis takes care of your calcium requirements. Being rich in antioxidants nuts are excellent for the development of your baby’s bones and collagen.
2. Eat Broccoli
Broccoli is not only rich in calcium, but you also get good amounts of iron and other minerals from it too.
3. Go Green
Green leafy vegetables have good amounts of calcium in them and thus including them in your daily diet will be a good idea. One such leafy vegetable is spinach, which is high in calcium, iron and other vitamins.
4. Tofu and Soy Milk
Soy milk is a good substitute for milk and provides ample calcium to your body. You may include soy milk and tofu in your diet too.
5. Almond Milk
Almond milk is a delicious way to pep up your calcium requirements. It is also rich in protein and omega 3 fatty acids.
You can include any of the above-mentioned options for a lactose-free milk pregnancy; however, it is important that before you make any amends in your pregnancy diet, you should consult your health practitioner.
How to Treat Lactose Intolerance During Pregnancy
Lactose intolerance cannot be treated, but it can be managed. Here are some ways that may help you manage your lactose intolerance during pregnancy:
1. Diet
On an average, you are required to consume 1000 mg of calcium in a day during pregnancy. You may add various food items that are rich in calcium such as okra, beans, spinach, salmon etc. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. You may eat eggs or expose yourself to sunlight for some time to meet your body’s requirement of vitamin D. Eating fortified foods such as orange juice and bread are very effective in pepping up your vitamin D intake.
2. Multivitamins
You can also take the prenatal vitamin to compensate for your body’s requirement of calcium. Make sure these multivitamins have the required amount of calcium and vitamin D, or you can take calcium and vitamin D in addition with to your multivitamins.
Can Lactose Intolerance Affect Your Baby
Lactose intolerance does not affect your baby because your baby will meet its calcium requirement by drawing the calcium from your teeth and bones. This means that even if you do not consume enough calcium during pregnancy, your baby will still take it from you. But this puts the mother under the risk of having devastating long-term problems. Therefore, it is important that you meet your body’s calcium requirements by making some dietary amends and taking calcium supplements.
Can Lactose Intolerance in Pregnancy be Prevented
Lactose intolerance cannot be prevented, but in order to avoid sudden lactose intolerant during pregnancy you may adopt the following measures:
You should maintain a food diary and make entry of the foods that you consume. In this way, you will be able to establish your triggers.
You will need to eliminate dairy products from your diet. This works best in keeping you away from lactose intolerance.
Always check the food labels to check for the ingredients and avoid the ones who have lactose in them.
Whenever you are eating out, you may ask to avoid any dairy products in your dish.
In case you feel that you have lactose intolerance, it is suggested that you get in touch with your doctor. Your doctor may conduct various tests to detect lactose intolerance. It is also suggested that you should not make any changes in your diet without consulting your doctor.
Also Read: Stomach Pain during Pregnancy Read more
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DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) in Pregnancy
Along with many physiological changes in the body during pregnancy, an increase in the susceptibility to Deep Vein Thrombosis(DVT) is also found in many women. Veins are tubes that transport blood in the body, and blockage in these veins is termed as venous thrombosis. During pregnancy, a woman has a six times higher chance of developing such a clot in the vein, compared to a non-pregnant woman. Learn about the various aspects of DVT, its causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention.
What is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)?
In deep vein thrombosis, clotting of blood occurs in the veins found in the leg and pelvic region. Clotting of blood is a normal physiological process in the body and occurs when there are any cuts or openings in the blood vessel. In the case of DVT, this occurs inside the vein, constricting the flow of blood resulting in serious implications, if left unidentified. Thrombosis in pregnancy is caused by an increase in the blood clotting capacity of the body during pregnancy, as a means of preventing excessive blood loss during delivery. This can sometimes result in a blood clot in the leg during pregnancy.
How Common is DVT During Pregnancy?
DVT during pregnancy is not very common and occurs in only one in thousand pregnant women. The risk of developing DVT is six times more in a pregnant woman, with an increased chance of occurrence in the first trimester of pregnancy and six weeks post-partum.
Why is It More Common When Pregnant?
The body experiences numerous physiological changes during pregnancy. These changes are mostly driven by variations in the hormonal levels. One reason is one of the safety precautions that a woman's body takes during pregnancy, which is an increase in the clotting proteins and a decrease in the anti-clotting proteins, to minimize blood loss during delivery. Another factor that can contribute to this condition is pressure exerted by the enlarged uterus on the veins which carry blood to the heart from the lower body.
Causes of DVT
DVT during pregnancy is primarily caused by the hormonal changes the body undergoes during this period.
1. Oestrogen
During pregnancy, the circulating levels of oestrogen hormone are high in the blood, which in turn increases the chances of a blood clot.
2. Uterine Growth
The expansion of uterus that occurs with the development of the foetus, puts a lot of strain on the veins carrying blood back from the lower body to the heart. This also results in clotting of blood inside the veins returning from the extremities.
3. Increase in Body Weight
Excessive weight gain puts a lot of pressure on the veins of the legs and pelvis, leading to increasing the chances of having a DVT.
4. Multiple Pregnancy
Mothers carrying more than one foetus in their womb have a higher risk of developing DVT.
5. Age and Genetics
Women who have a family history of DVT or are expecting a baby at 35 years of age or more are at risk of experiencing venous thrombosis during pregnancy.
DVT Sign and Symptoms
Women who develop DVT during their pregnancy have one or more of the following symptoms:
Pain in one leg accompanied by swelling
Visibly enlarged veins
Pain while walking
The feeling of tenderness in the thighs and calf muscle
Diagnosis
Based on the symptoms and previous family history of DVT, the medical practitioner usually performs a Doppler ultrasound examination to check for any venous blocks. The Doppler ultrasound estimates the speed of blood flow in the veins and flags the areas that have reduced flow. The diagnosis of DVT can be very tricky, and in some cases, the doctor may prescribe a D-dimer test. This test works by identifying the presence of any blood clots in the blood vessels.
To quantify and characterize the block, doctors also carry out a venogram, in which a dye is injected into the veins to help in clearly visualizing the blockages.
Who is Most At the Risk of Getting DVT?
Pregnant women who have one of the following risk factors have an increased susceptibility to developing DVT.
A family history of DVT
Previous history of DVT
Age above 35 years
Obesity or weight gain
Women who travel long distances during pregnancy
Smoking
Inactive lifestyle
Multiple pregnancies
C-section delivery
Clotting or inflammation due to infection in pregnancy
Treatment of DVT in Pregnancy
Once a diagnosis of DVT during pregnancy is made, the doctor usually prescribes medications to thin the blood. This medication is continued after delivery up to at least six weeks post-partum, as there are chances of block formation even after the birth of the baby.
Does Deep Vein Thrombosis Affect the Baby?
Typically, DVT causes discomfort to the mother but does not affect the baby's growth and development. Rare situations where the block moves up till the lungs, affecting its function, it can hamper the oxygen supply to the foetus. Also, during delivery, when the mother loses excessive blood because of the blood thinners, it can affect the baby.
Management
Management of DVT during pregnancy is possible with heparin injections. Heparin is an anticoagulant that inhibits the clotting of blood. Apart from the medication, some lifestyle changes like adopting an active routine, reducing body weight and quitting smoking can also largely prevent the further clotting of blood.
A special kind of compression stockings can be worn to improve the blood circulation in the leg. Apart from that, drinking lot of water and exercising also helps in managing DVT.
How to Reduce the Risk of DVT While Travelling?
The chances of the symptoms of DVT flaring up is high during travel. To reduce the risk while travelling, take precautions like increasing your water intake, ensuring constant movement of the lower body either in the sitting position itself or by walking within the vehicle, and completely avoiding the intake of alcohol.
Can Deep Vein Thrombosis Affect Labour?
If you have been identified to have a tendency to develop DVT, then the doctor would advise you to take some precautions before the delivery. To reduce the risk of developing thrombosis during labour, you can wear the compression stockings while constantly moving around and drink lots of fluids before going to deliver the baby.
If you have already been diagnosed and are on heparin medications, the doctor may ask you to discontinue it as it can interfere with the clotting of blood after delivery.
Can Caesarean Delivery Increase Risk of Getting Blood Clots?
Yes, a C-Section delivery is shown to increase the risk of post-partum blood clots, as compared to a vaginal birth. This is because the body takes necessary precautions and mobilizes its healing mechanisms for an invasive procedure, one of which is an increase in the propensity of the blood to clot.
Prevention
Some of the ways by which you can prevent the occurrence of DVT during pregnancy are,
1. Drinking Lots of Water
Fluid intake is very important in the prevention of DVT as dilutes the blood and prevents it from becoming very thick. This has to be followed throughout pregnancy and even after the delivery to prevent the formation of blood clots.
2. Exercising
If you are at the risk of developing thrombosis during pregnancy, then practising light and safe exercises regularly can immensely help in improving the blood circulation to the body. Exercises that particularly benefit the circulation of the lower body can be helpful in preventing DVT.
3. Move on the Go
If you are having DVT and have to travel long distances on a regular basis, then try to move around inside the bus, flight or train every few minutes to break the resting period. This keeps the circulation alive. If getting up and moving around is not a possibility, then try to do simple twisting and moving exercises in sitting position itself.
4. Wear Stockings
Compression stockings that activate the blood circulation in the leg can be worn during pregnancy and even during labour to avoid clot formation.
DVT is a common condition in pregnancy that many women lack awareness about. It is easily treatable with medications and identifying it at the right time is the key to have a safe and healthy pregnancy.
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