Cows milk during pregnancy: do or don't? Antibiotics, hormones & pus vs. calcium

[mrsfoxglove]

Hello, I am new to mumsnet - starting to try for a baby so doing a lot of research.

One question I have which I can't seem to find any info on is about cows milk. I don't like to drink it if I can help it, I tend to use almond / coconut milk or other healthy alternatives because of the amount of antibiotics, growth hormones, etc. which are found in regular cows milk. However, I'm also aware that everywhere and everyone says that pregnant women should drink plenty of dairy and particularly milk for the calcium and other nutrients it contains which will help your baby grow.

Does anyone have any info they can share? Are there healthy alternatives or any supplements you can take during pregnancy instead of consuming dairy?

Id just take vitamins if your worried. Fwiw I think milk is extremely overrated. It's not this amazing substance people seem to think it is and I've never drank it. I'm also the healthiest person in my family have never broken a bone. And have always been pretty strong.

Stick to your coconut milks and almond milk. I live that hazelnut drink too :)

Check the ingredients on your "healthy" milks....

Fwiw, I don't eat dairy.

I didn't when I was pregnant with ds and after he stopped b/f and ff at 18 months, he never really has either (bar summer ice creams!). I was forever being told he'd have weak teeth, he wouldn't grow etc. All crap imho, he's 11 and just fine. He has rice milk on cereal.

Milk is very overrated.

It's also revolting :)

There was also an interesting study on two african tribes that came out a few years ago.

One tribe herded cows so drank a lot of milk. The other drank no milk at all.

The tribe who drank milk had instances of osteoporosis. The tribe that didn't drink milk had none at all. It had something to do with the acidity of the milk actually leaching calcium from bones.

It also said that countries with higher dairy consumption have huge problems with osteoporosis vs countries who don't have a lot of diary products (I think they used USA/Japan as examples).

I will have a google to see if I could find it again, it was very interesting.

Where on earth do you find milk with antibiotics and growth hormones in? Growth hormones were banned years ago (about 30) in the EU so unless you are in the US then there won't be any.

And there won't be any antibiotics either. All cows that are given antibiotics have their milk withdrawn from the bulk tank so that no antibiotic milk gets in. And as it is all pasteurised anyway, any bugs are killed. Milk is extremely good for you. Take the advice and drink it!

Rice milk is not recommended for children under five as it contains high levels of arsenic. Coconut or almond is better.

I saw something similar about the USA having the highest consumption of dairy but also the highest obesity keel and osteo arthritis

I wouldn't worry too much tbh.

I drink very little (skimmed) milk and don't eat much cheese/yogurt either so don't get much dairy.

I don't really like milk hence only having a bit in tea and occasionally a small amount on cereal. I've always been this way and never suffered because of it. I'm also 39 weeks pregnant with dc1 who is growing and developing perfectly.

Good luck with ttc and remember to try to relax with it x

i haven't had dairy at all during my last pregnancy or my current one.

most non-dairy milks have the same amount of calcium as cows milk so it wasn't a concern to me!

Milk is, of course, not the only source of calcium. A quick google should reveal other sources. If you still want to include dairy, how about bio live goat yoghurt? Plus, as a bonus, the live cultures will help to keep you regular :)

If you are in the UK/EU there is growth hormones/antibiotics in milk!

I would say to just follow your normal diet with supplements if worried. If your diet works for you and you have no calcium related problems anyway then I don't see a problem occurring. At the end of the day ALL food has something to worry about, pesticides in veg, ready prepared foods, E numbers etc, you can't escape it all.

itsallgoingtobefine there is no growth hormone in EU milk. It is used in the US but has been banned here for many many years. Please stop peddling such inaccuracies.

I don't drink milk, I have almond milk, but it is calcium enriched, so I don't see it as a problem. I have been wanting to eat yoghurt since I've been pregnant so have been having Yeo Valley organic. I think if you are having a healthy diet and take the recommended pregnancy supplements you'll be fine.

Oh bloody hell. Sorry! That was meant to read

If you are in the UK/EU there is no growth hormones/antibiotics in milk!

Oops, what a typo! Thanks for coming back and confirming that. I get very cross at lazy assertions such as the OPs. I don't mind people not drinking milk, we're all free to do what we want, but I hate this peddling of the "ooh, its all full of growth hormones and antibiotics" myth. It's not the first time I have read it on this forum and I have to challenge it.

Hi everyone, thankyou so much for all your replies. I can tell that mumsnet is going to be a really helpful source for info and advice for me :)

I know there is a debate about wether cows milk does contain antibiotics, pus, etc... Obviously I am not an expert and don't know the truth! You can find conflicting arguments for anything.

Peta have a campaign and you may indeed be right that it is in the US and not the UK. I would like to think so.

philippajacks.co.uk/2009/09/what-does-cows-milk-contain/

Regardless, I don't particularly want to drink cows milk, but obviously I want the best for my (future) baby. It's good to hear that others don't drink it and have no problems.

Can anyone recommend the best supplement to take while TTC? perhaps some that include calcium?

Bleurgh, milk.

I didn't drink milk when pg, so I got my calcium from a multivitamin and mineral supplement. I also ate more kale and leafy greens, a good source of calcium.

Milk isnt essential for growing baby!