Got Milk?

Craving Dairy During Pregnancy

By Shannon McKelden

Unfortunately, a side effect of this was added pounds. "My doctor wasn't thrilled with the weight gain and suggested I consider skim milk, but I couldn't switch," Robars says. "It had to be 2 percent, ice-cold milk from a specific grocery store. No other 2 percent milk tasted the same."

Rosenberg also had to be careful during her pregnancy. "Since I was slightly overweight and carrying twins... my doctor was concerned about my blood pressure and developing diabetes," she says. With careful monitoring, Rosenberg avoided any major difficulties, even with her ice cream cravings.

Her other cravings were for healthy foods such as strawberries and vegetables especially Oriental stir-fried veggies, which provided her with healthy nourishment. "When it was discovered that the babies were gaining weight at a normal pace even though I wasn't, my doctor said I was free to eat whatever I wanted," Rosenberg says.

Of course, a well-balanced diet during pregnancy is of utmost importance. "Women should not eat so much dairy that they are substituting these items for other vital parts of the diet such as fruits and vegetables, for example," Dr. Bewtra says.

In most cases there are no risks with consuming more dairy during pregnancy. The danger zone for calcium is 2,000 grams per day. But mothers do need to try to avoid unpasteurized cheeses, as they can contain bacteria called Listeria, according to Dr. Bewtra. "Soft cheeses, especially those that are imported, can be unpasteurized," she says.

Koff also recommends aiming for the least processed/hormone-free dairy products as the best options. "I think it's important to stress that if one chooses not to eat dairy they can still have a healthy baby," she says.

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