Postpartum Lactose Intolerance

By macintosh Jun 22, 2015

As weird as this sounds, I think I have suddenly developed a lactose intolerance at 7 weeks postpartum.

I started having stomach issues pretty soon after having my LO. At first I figured it was related to constipation and taking colace. I stopped taking colace and switched to Metamucil, but kept experiencing stomach cramps.

About 3 weeks ago I started taking domperidone, all the while my stomach aches started getting worse. The other night I had a bowl of cereal with milk for a snack in the middle of the night and ended up with an awful stomach ache.

I finally put it together and cut out all dairy, except for very small amounts of cheese that I take lactaid with. I've been off dairy for 2 days and I've had NO stomach aches! I'm so happy I figured it out, but I miss cheese already :bummed:

Did anyone else have weird food sensitivities pop up postpartum?

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11 comments

mrsrain
nectarine / 2115 posts

Jun 22, 2015

I had this exact experience! LO is 13 months now, and I have come to terms with my new lactose intolerance. I can still have dairy in small doses, but if I have too much I'll be up all night with stomach cramps and diarrhea. I have heard that it has to do with the changes that occur in the immune system during pregnancy. But you're the only other person I've "met" who's experienced it besides me!
macintosh
pear / 1750 posts

Jun 22, 2015

@mrsrain: so interesting! I tried to have pizza on Friday night with lactaid and that was a baaaad idea. The funny thing is I had the same pizza the week before and it's wasn't as bad. I'm really going to miss having cheese on everything, but I've found some tasty coconut milk ice cream.
Mrs. Oatmeal
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts

Jun 22, 2015

I had the opposite, so I know that things like this are possible! I've been lactose intolerant my whole life....except for when I'm pregnant! Its kind of awesome.
It would be nice if your lactose intolerance doesn't stick around (and is a hormonal thing). Does Lactaid help at all? I found, for me, it tends to be a 'total load' thing. If I have a little bit of cheese or a little bit of milk, its fine, but once I hit a certain 'amount' I'm in a world of pain.
Rockies11
persimmon / 1363 posts

Jun 22, 2015

I have had two really weird things happen postpartum. With LO#1, I had an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite which caused a big infection. I have never been allergic to bug bites before. With LO#2 I have been having allergic reaction/heat rash on my arms whenever I am in the sun. My OB said it was common to have strange allergies shortly postpartum.
danda
kiwi / 635 posts

Jun 22, 2015

Pizza plus lactaid should usually be ok if you're lactose intolerant...wondering if it might be a dairy allergy rather than lactose intolerance. (Lots of cheeses are really low in lactose.
Foodnerd81
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts

Jun 22, 2015

@Mrs. Oatmeal: I am more like you- my lactose intolerance got noticeably better while pregnant and it has stayed that way. I still feel crappy if I overdoit, but I imagine most people would. I can eat cheese or ice cream no problem, where before I had to take lactaid and be careful. Hoping this sticks around after this pregnancy too!

Last pregnancy I was weirdly less allergic to cats. My bil has two and I always needed Benadryl when we went to their house, but didn't want to take it while pregnant. Turns out I was fine- but that went away after she was born.

@macintosh: as someone who has been lactose intolerant, I can tell you straight up milk is the worst thing for me. Yogurt is fine. Cheese in small amounts was usually ok but watch out for reduced fat cheese, has more lactose in it. Goat cheese is easier. Good luck!
cascademom
coconut / 8861 posts

Jun 23, 2015

I became lactose intolerant during pregnancy. I'm still avoiding cow's milk and ice cream postpartum. I ate cheese okay during pregnancy.
Pumuckl
pomegranate / 3601 posts

Jun 23, 2015

While it wasn't lactose for me I "gained" allergies in both pregnancies. With the first I was suddenly allergic to fennel and with my second I became allergic to avocado. Both are foods I LOVED prior to pregnancy but I haven't dared trying them again yet because of how bad I felt when I last ate it.
Hope it'll pass for you soon!
Rocker2014
persimmon / 1367 posts

Jun 23, 2015

So sorry to hear this - my husband is very lactose intolerant. A good general rule for cheese is that the softer it is, the more lactose is present. So Mozarrella has tons, but aged provolone and sharp cheddar have very little.

I'm actually had the opposite happen - I have always been very allergic to dogs, but post partum I seem to be fine with most of them.
LindsayInNY
bananas / 9229 posts

Dec 22, 2015

@macintosh: Literally posted the same question... Are you still having lactose issues or did they eventually resolve themselves?
macintosh
pear / 1750 posts

Dec 22, 2015

@LindsayInNY: turns out the problem wasn't lactose - it was eggs. Every time I went to Starbucks and had a latte I also had an egg sandwich. I also was on domperidone for lactation and I think that played a role. I stopped the domperidone months ago and the constant stomach issues stopped, but I still feel funny if I eat eggs

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