[Karrin]

I just found out I'm pregnant (took the test this morning!!). This was unexpected to say the least. My husband and I had been trying to conceive for quite some time before I was diagnosed with endometriosis and was told my tubes seemed, for unknown reasons, blocked. We were told we would likely need IVF if we wanted children. Years went by, I was becoming sicker and only a month ago I found out I had celiac disease. I must have been on the diet only 2 weeks or more before I conceived. I'm not sure if it is due to the diet, or just a miracle, or both. I'm so shocked, thrilled and scared and in complete terror my body isn't healthy enough to keep it. It is so early yet and so unexpected. Money is also tight from all my medical bills, trying to figure out what was wrong with me - agh!! I'm trying not to worry!

I'm in need of some serious advise as to what vitamins I should be taking, besides the obvious folic acid (though how much would be helpful). I've been taking liquid b-12, vitamin D, C, Calcium, iron and magnesium. A recommendation for an inexpensive body/facial lotion would be great too. I've been really unsuccessful in finding one that doesn't make me sick.

Any other recommendations would be most welcomed. What extra to ask of my OBGYN when I see him pertaining to celiacs etc!

Yikes!!

[tarnalberry]

A prenatal with 100% rda of folic acid (800 micrograms/day) should be just fine. Taking a bit of extra calcium, to make sure you're meeting the day's requirements (1200-1500mg/day).

But I'd ask your doctor to run a blood test to check for vitamin/mineral deficiencies. If you're low in iron, you'll want to supplement. If you're normal on iron, you will want to NOT supplement.

And congratulations! Stay eating gluten free (for now, the easiest thing to do to make that simple is to stick to whole, naturally gluten free foods - fruits, veggies, meats, nuts, dairy (if you can have it), etc.

[Karrin]

tarnalberry, on Jul 20 2009, 02:16 PM, said:

A prenatal with 100% rda of folic acid (800 micrograms/day) should be just fine. Taking a bit of extra calcium, to make sure you're meeting the day's requirements (1200-1500mg/day).

But I'd ask your doctor to run a blood test to check for vitamin/mineral deficiencies. If you're low in iron, you'll want to supplement. If you're normal on iron, you will want to NOT supplement.

And congratulations! Stay eating gluten free (for now, the easiest thing to do to make that simple is to stick to whole, naturally gluten free foods - fruits, veggies, meats, nuts, dairy (if you can have it), etc.

Thank you! I'm still pretty bewildered! I've been tested for anemia many times in the past and am always normal. I believe that one at least was an iron level test. I do feel anemic often though. The iron supplement I've been taking is a calcium combo (or vitamin c I'd have to double check). I don't see my obgyn for another 3 1/2 weeks. Ugh! I'm still waiting for the nurse to call me about vitamins and what extra precautions I should be taking/supplimenting with celiacs.

[LucyMiami]

Congrats - how exciting!!! I'm sure it must feel completely overwhelming at first, but remember you have 9 months to prepare for a reason!

I am hoping to get pregnant soon as well. My husband and I started trying right when I realized I needed further testing to diagnose me with Celiac. Now that the testing is over, and I'm positive as a Celiac, we'd like to try again, however, I'm severely anemic and need to get that figured out first! My doctor recommends to take Folic Acid before and during pregnancy - it prevents neural tube defects early on in pregnancy. You can also eat lots of dark leafy greens and orange juice for this as well. Also, almost all prenatal vitamins have sufficient iron in them, so if you've never been anemic, you should be okay with just taking those.

I wish you much luck in your pregnancy!

[tarnalberry]

Karrin, on Jul 20 2009, 01:35 PM, said:

Thank you! I'm still pretty bewildered! I've been tested for anemia many times in the past and am always normal. I believe that one at least was an iron level test. I do feel anemic often though. The iron supplement I've been taking is a calcium combo (or vitamin c I'd have to double check). I don't see my obgyn for another 3 1/2 weeks. Ugh! I'm still waiting for the nurse to call me about vitamins and what extra precautions I should be taking/supplimenting with celiacs.

Calcium interferes with the absorption of iron, and should not be taken together.
Talk to your doctor about *what* tests they ran for iron. Total Iron Count? Ferritin? One of the others. They don't all tell you the same story.

[Karrin]

Thanks for the help everyone, but I'm pretty sure I lost the baby last night. I woke up with horrible cramps and have been passing large clots since. It isn't as heavy as my regular periods, but I think it's heavy enough that it is headed that way.

[Betty Boop]

Congratulations! Hopefully, you'll keep feeling better and better. Babies are so wonderful. Good luck.

[Betty Boop]

Oh, sorry. I just read your latest blog. So sorry. Hopefully, it'll happen again. Good luck.

[tarnalberry]

hugs! I'm sorry.

You're well on your way to getting your body back to top condition, so *good-luck vibes* for the next go around.

[dream77]

Karrin, on Jul 20 2009, 11:59 AM, said:

I just found out I'm pregnant (took the test this morning!!). This was unexpected to say the least. My husband and I had been trying to conceive for quite some time before I was diagnosed with endometriosis and was told my tubes seemed, for unknown reasons, blocked. We were told we would likely need IVF if we wanted children. Years went by, I was becoming sicker and only a month ago I found out I had celiac disease. I must have been on the diet only 2 weeks or more before I conceived. I'm not sure if it is due to the diet, or just a miracle, or both. I'm so shocked, thrilled and scared and in complete terror my body isn't healthy enough to keep it. It is so early yet and so unexpected. Money is also tight from all my medical bills, trying to figure out what was wrong with me - agh!! I'm trying not to worry!

I'm in need of some serious advise as to what vitamins I should be taking, besides the obvious folic acid (though how much would be helpful). I've been taking liquid b-12, vitamin D, C, Calcium, iron and magnesium. A recommendation for an inexpensive body/facial lotion would be great too. I've been really unsuccessful in finding one that doesn't make me sick.

Any other recommendations would be most welcomed. What extra to ask of my OBGYN when I see him pertaining to celiacs etc!

Yikes!!

Karrin,
Which tests were positive for you in the celiac diagnosis.. You and I seem to exactly cycled with .. just tested positive and now 4 weeks pregnant. (too soon yet)
I've been gluten free only 4 weeks. I am self diagnosed since the antigliadin antibodies are positive. (negatve transglutinamase and endomysial)
I've been paranoid about what the antibodies may be doing to the child.
My first appt with the high risk Ob/GYN is at 8 weeks (that's how he likes it)

I take the follwoing
I have low vitamin D and low ferritin
Prenatal vitamin (walgreens brand)
ferritin (tandem) alternate days
Vit D (1000 IU) everyday
Vit D 50000 IU fortnightly.

[TiffLuvsBread]

Karrin, on Jul 21 2009, 08:48 AM, said:

Thanks for the help everyone, but I'm pretty sure I lost the baby last night. I woke up with horrible cramps and have been passing large clots since. It isn't as heavy as my regular periods, but I think it's heavy enough that it is headed that way.

Hey Karrin, let us know how this ends up because I have a pregnant girlfriend and she had spotting/clots almost EVERY month so far and she always goes in to the dr. panicked and she's just fine. She's about 7 months pregnant right now and still has bleeding issues but the baby is fine. Be sure first!! You might still be ok - I'm being a Positive Pam here.

As far as the miracle or weird timing, having celiac and damaging yourself by eating gluten absolutely can cause infertility. I've heard that with success in the diet, you can completely REVERSE that and boom - no more infertility issues! So eating gluten-free might be your ticket to not just a healthier digestive system but also reproductive system. If you did end up losing this baby I am confident that it will happen again for you and you will be healthy enough to carry it.

Good luck darling.

[dream77]

TiffLuvsBread, on Jul 21 2009, 11:26 AM, said:

Hey Karrin, let us know how this ends up because I have a pregnant girlfriend and she had spotting/clots almost EVERY month so far and she always goes in to the dr. panicked and she's just fine. She's about 7 months pregnant right now and still has bleeding issues but the baby is fine. Be sure first!! You might still be ok - I'm being a Positive Pam here.

As far as the miracle or weird timing, having celiac and damaging yourself by eating gluten absolutely can cause infertility. I've heard that with success in the diet, you can completely REVERSE that and boom - no more infertility issues! So eating gluten-free might be your ticket to not just a healthier digestive system but also reproductive system. If you did end up losing this baby I am confident that it will happen again for you and you will be healthy enough to carry it.

Good luck darling.

I am so sorry Karrin, I didn't get to the end of the post before I posted my previous one.
Don't worry, you'll conceive again

[Karrin]

TiffLuvsBread, on Jul 21 2009, 01:26 PM, said:

Hey Karrin, let us know how this ends up because I have a pregnant girlfriend and she had spotting/clots almost EVERY month so far and she always goes in to the dr. panicked and she's just fine. She's about 7 months pregnant right now and still has bleeding issues but the baby is fine. Be sure first!! You might still be ok - I'm being a Positive Pam here.

As far as the miracle or weird timing, having celiac and damaging yourself by eating gluten absolutely can cause infertility. I've heard that with success in the diet, you can completely REVERSE that and boom - no more infertility issues! So eating gluten-free might be your ticket to not just a healthier digestive system but also reproductive system. If you did end up losing this baby I am confident that it will happen again for you and you will be healthy enough to carry it.

Good luck darling.

Thank you everyone. My doctor ran some blood tests and confirmed what I already knew. I miscarried. I'm trying to remain optimistic. I hope the miracle will happen again.

Dream77 - I'm not sure what my test results were, but I recall the doctor talking about 3 different things - antibodies I believe, and the first of the three were what tested the most abnormal. I'm sorry I can't recall what he called any of them! As for vitamins my doctor has put me on Prenate DHA.

[dream77]

Karrin, on Jul 22 2009, 02:58 PM, said:

Thank you everyone. My doctor ran some blood tests and confirmed what I already knew. I miscarried. I'm trying to remain optimistic. I hope the miracle will happen again.

Dream77 - I'm not sure what my test results were, but I recall the doctor talking about 3 different things - antibodies I believe, and the first of the three were what tested the most abnormal. I'm sorry I can't recall what he called any of them! As for vitamins my doctor has put me on Prenate DHA.

I think I am miscarrying too ..
little over 5 weeks and had a sudden, gush of red bright blood last evening. Am told to go on bedrest but the discomfort is unmistakable and I am preparing for miscarriage though it has not yet started full swing.

[Karrin]

dream77, on Jul 30 2009, 12:25 PM, said:

I think I am miscarrying too ..
little over 5 weeks and had a sudden, gush of red bright blood last evening. Am told to go on bedrest but the discomfort is unmistakable and I am preparing for miscarriage though it has not yet started full swing.

I'm very sorry to hear that. Has your doctor ordered blood tests to check your hormone levels? I hope it turns out okay for you! Try to stay optimistic dear.