Ferments and Raw Dairy while pregnant questions:-)

[highlandmum]

So, I have been getting more into traditional foods, and I want to start fermenting and eating raw dairy. Here are my questions:

Are ferments 'safe' while pregnant?

Where do you all get your 'starters'?

Can you make yogurt/buttermilk/butter/etc from standard milk (homogenized/pasteurized)?

Is raw milk safe while pregnant if I can get it? We are eating raw hard cheeses, and I am assuming that is safe.....

Sorry for all the newbie questions, I really appreciate any help you can give!

[yitlan]

Yes, you can culture "regular" milk. And ferments and raw milk are safe when pregnant, though some will say it's best if your body is used to it before pregnancy. I usually get starters from local folks. I belong to a wapf chapter, so that helps.

[cristeen]

I'm pregnant and eating ferments and raw milk... or at least I would be if anything would stay down at the moment. I actually seem to do better with raw milk than I do with pasteurized. I will say though that most of the time my milk winds up cooked, since I'm not a milk drinker, but I still buy it raw (grass-fed) because the quality is so much higher.

I get my starters by buying the item in question... yogurt or buttermilk can be cultured from store-bought. I don't have kefir grains yet, although I'd like to get some. Sourdough starter can be caught wild.

[Koalamom]

I am pregnant, and drink raw milk no problem, but I will only if the farm I get it from is clean and organic. When I am not pregnant, I seem to be less picky at my raw milk sources so some reason.

[highlandmum]

Thanks for the responses:-) I have to laugh though, because while I was reading, the 'add' insert for this page was for little debbie snack cakes:-)

[guestmama9904]

seriously, whats up with that ad? i have it too. why would mdc let them advertize on their site?

[dogmom327]

For me, raw milk and water kefir have been life savers this pregnancy. Raw milk settles my stomach and water kefir seems to help some with the nausea. I feel lucky to have a trusted source for raw milk.

The only thing I wouldn't start while your pregnant is kombucha simply because of the risk of a detox effect. Kefirs though are great as are yogurts, sourdoughs, fermented veggies, etc.

I have some info on my website (see siggy) on yogurts, kefirs and sourdoughs. For veggie ferments, I can't recommend the book Wild Fermentation highly enough. Great recipes in there.

[AJP]

I would personally be more careful about a raw milk source when pregnant, to be sure it's a very clean operation. Some bacteria that can contaminate raw milk (or pasteurized milk, or any food) is more dangerous for a baby in utero because of the toxins produced if they proliferate in mom's body. I wouldn't worry if the milk source was known to me, and/or tested, from clean-living cows.

You can culture pasteurized, homogenized milk, although some people find ultrapasteurized milk gives inferior results. You cannot make butter from homogenized milk, the process makes it so the cream won't separate and clump into butter. You can make butter from storebought cream.

[highlandmum]

Dogmom--THANK YOU for posting! I have been checking out your site, and am definitely ordering from you when I figure out exactly what I need, lol:-) I also love that it is packed with info...I am learning a lot! Thanks