Many pregnant women are concerning about their pregnancy. A question has been brought up in a discussion :

I’ve been eating cheese and yogurt… and that seems to be fine to eat.
but milk and ice cream kill me!!!
Do I have to make myself drink it for the baby?

Here are the comments and suggestions :

1. If you are lactose intolerant, you can buy soy milk, etc. I also hated milk, not because of intolerance, but just didn’t like it. My Dr. said a quart a day–my solution was to buy something like Nestles Quick and put in my milk. The chocolate taste made it taste good enough for me to drink. It is important for you to get enough calcium while you are pregnant because the baby will take what he/she needs and you could come up short to protect your own bones, teeth, etc. You can also check with your OB/GYN to see if he has any suggestions like taking a calcium supplement, etc.
2. No. You can get calcium from other sources. The reason that cheese and yogurt sit better is because they have enzymes in them that aid in digestion. Pasturized milk and ice cream do not. There are over the counter products that temporarily give you those enzymes and will help you if you want to eat ice cream or drink milk.
   There are some good natural supplements that give you way more calcium than milk. Look up spirulina…it’s an awesome source of calcium!
   P.S. Chocolate and caffiene interfere with your body’s ability to absorb calcium, so if you’re concerned about not getting enough, avoid those.
3. Don’t force yourself to drink milk if you’re lactose intolerant. The yogurt and cheese will help as sources of calcium. You can check with your pracitioner to see if you’re getting enough calcium or not. If not, he/she can prescribe a calcium supplement for you. The biggest problem with too much cheese is constipation.
   Also, Natrel makes a lactose free milk in homo, 1 and 2 percent and skim milk if you’re very concerned about your milk intake.
4. I am lactose intolerant…. you can get lactose free milk if you like it, that being said, I couldn’t even take milk in my TEA (decaf) when I was pregnant – the dairy killed me – lactose intolerance aside, it made me completely nauseous. Go for other calcium rich foods, some vegetables and fruits are loaded with it, and when all else failed (and I could eat again) mac & cheese or grilled cheese sandwiches or yogurt with granola all stood in for milk in a rather large way…
5. No, of course you don’t have to drink milk. (There are many cultures in which animal milk isn’t used at all. Vegans never drink milk.) Making yourself sick by eating a food you can’t tolerate doesn’t help your baby in any way.
   Eat a balanced diet. Include in it whatever dairy products you CAN tolerate (yogurt is usually good for LI folks). If you like milk, you can drink the lactose free type, or take the lactaid pills. But if you don’t like it, a varied diet and your prenatal vitamins will cover all your bases.
   (And, just to clear up one myth, the fact that you are LI doesn’t mean that your baby will be. Infants are never lactose intolerant, so if baby has difficulty with your breastmilk, or with a standard formula, don’t let anyone try to tell you that it’s becuase he’s LI. )
6. No, you don’t. What baby (and you) need is what is found in the milk and ice cream, not the products themselves. Calcium is important for building strong bones in both your quickly growing little one and yourself, but you certainly don’t need to make yourself sick in order to make sure you get enough. Aside from yogurt and cheese (both excellent sources of Calcium), you can take a Calcium supplement. Just be sure to O.K. it with your doctor first. Congratulations on your baby!
7. I’m 36 weeks pregnant and haven’t had cow’s milk for a loooong time =) I do eat cheese and when i can, ice-cream, but i’m a little sensitive to Lactose.. Baby is growing fine and i’ve had no problems at all. I guess the only thing is the calcium. You can get Calcium enriched Soymilk which is what i drink, otherwise i’d say take suppliment pills because your bones/teeth get really weak while pregnant >.< Good luck!
8. Don’t eat something that you have an intolerance to! Stressing your body is the worst possible thing you can do for the baby!
   I would speak to your doctor and maybe have an allergy test. It might be that goats milk works for you. But really, all you need to eat is your normal healthy diet.
9. Cheese and yogurt are a great addition to support your growing fetus. Instead of milk try drinking soy milk. It taste better and it has just about if more nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. Most importantly its great for lactose and tolerant people.
10. You can get calcium from plenty of other sources. Cheese, yogurt, fortified soy milk, fortified tofu, broccoli, dark green leafy vegetables and fortified orange juice all have enough calcium.

There are two types of tofu :

1. Hard / firm tofu – This has a firm texture, very similar to cheese. It is usually sold packed in tubs of water and is generally used as a “mock” meat, or in recipes needing a consistency that holds together well.
2. Soft / silken tofu – This has a texture similar to custard and is usually sold in a box or in foil. It is often used for desserts, soups, smoothies and sauces.

Tofu contains almost all of the nutritional benefits of the soybeans. It contains good amount of calcium, iron, fatty acids, fiber and other important nutrients. It is also high in complete protein. When it is mixed with grains, for instance, it forms a complete high quality protein. 4 ounces of tofu provide about 9.2 grams of protein. Calcium, fatty acids and protein is higher in firm tofu. These elements make it the perfect choice as a nutritious food for babies.

You can start including tofu into your baby’s diet eight months after his or her birth. Be careful to introduce it gradually though, since a number of babies react to it rather nastily, soy being a ‘potential allergen’. Look out for running nose, vomiting tendencies, wheezing and reddening or watering of the eye. In case you suspect your baby is breaking into an allergy of some sort, contact your pediatrician immediately.

It is very easy to incorporate tofu into your baby’s diet because it has very little taste of its own. Instead, it absorbs the flavors of any foods it comes into contact with. Initially, you could try blending tofu with cottage cheese or avocado, for a simple, nutritious meal. Soft tofu creamed with fruit would make a delicious dessert for baby. Alternatively, tofu can be cut into chunks and served to your baby raw, as a healthy finger food.

Given the health benefits and the high adaptability of the item, tofu will soon become an indispensable part of your baby’s diet. And even while he eats it unaware only you will know how it will make him bigger and stronger.