Need Calming Down - 6 Weeks Pregnant And Just Learned Of Celiac Miscarriage Connection

[starstate31]

Hi everyone - I have Celiac disease and just discovered this forum and am hoping others with experience can help me. My husband and I recently went through IVF and I am now 6 1/2 weeks pregnant...I have my 7 week ultrasound on Thurs and we hope everything is still okay by that point. Ironically, the IVF was not because of me having fertility problems..the only issues that showed up were male factor. My tests all turned out fine, my ovarian reserve is fine, etc (I'm 31).

BUT, especially because we invested so much in IVF, now that I know Celiacs have a greater chance of miscarriage, I'm freaking out.

I have been on a gluten-free diet since Oct of 2009 (I was diagnosed in Sept 2009). However, I am not overly strict, as in if an ingredient just says "spices" I still usually eat it. I do have my own toaster, I never "cheat" as far as just flat-out eating bread or anything. But I go out to eat, eat at other people's houses and don't inquire into sauces or spices as much as I should.

I will certainly make a better effort at being more strict going forward, but I'm super worried about the damage I've potentially already done in this last 4 weeks that the embryo has been in me. I have had occassional gastro-intestinal distress during this time, so I know I got some gluten, but I can't say how many times I've been "glutened" for sure.

Anyone know how much gluten you have to eat to increase your chance of miscarriage/birth defect? Anyone have a similar experience and their pregnancy turned out fine? Thank you!

[mushroom]

I am sorry not to be able to answer any of your questions, but as the old saying goes, "don't cry over spilt milk." Just don't spill any more Be very strict from here on out and you will probably do just fine.

[GFRPH]

Hi everyone - I have Celiac disease and just discovered this forum and am hoping others with experience can help me. My husband and I recently went through IVF and I am now 6 1/2 weeks pregnant...I have my 7 week ultrasound on Thurs and we hope everything is still okay by that point. Ironically, the IVF was not because of me having fertility problems..the only issues that showed up were male factor. My tests all turned out fine, my ovarian reserve is fine, etc (I'm 31).

BUT, especially because we invested so much in IVF, now that I know Celiacs have a greater chance of miscarriage, I'm freaking out.

I have been on a gluten-free diet since Oct of 2009 (I was diagnosed in Sept 2009). However, I am not overly strict, as in if an ingredient just says "spices" I still usually eat it. I do have my own toaster, I never "cheat" as far as just flat-out eating bread or anything. But I go out to eat, eat at other people's houses and don't inquire into sauces or spices as much as I should.

I will certainly make a better effort at being more strict going forward, but I'm super worried about the damage I've potentially already done in this last 4 weeks that the embryo has been in me. I have had occassional gastro-intestinal distress during this time, so I know I got some gluten, but I can't say how many times I've been "glutened" for sure.

Anyone know how much gluten you have to eat to increase your chance of miscarriage/birth defect? Anyone have a similar experience and their pregnancy turned out fine? Thank you!

If it makes you feel any better, plenty of women with Celiac disease have had healthy babies. I've had two healthy babies. In fact, I was 8 weeks pregnant when I underwent the upper endoscopy. So, I wasn't even on a gluten-free diet until 8 weeks pregnant. I had zero complications and she's as healthy as can be. Good luck and congratulations!

[Skylark]

Yes, don't worry about what's past. Your baby is fine so far and now you can straighten out your diet and keep him/her healthy! There are plenty of celiacs who have delivered healthy babies or half of us wouldn't be here in the first place. If you need any help with the stricter diet, be sure and ask.

[dilettantesteph]

I had two children while plenty sick with celiac but still undiagnosed. I didn't have any problems with the pregnancies which were celiac related. I had problems with my first child from a poorly performed amniocentesis procedure, but that's it. With that child I also ate lots of gluten as they kept telling me that I had to gain more weight. Certainly if you are gluten free you should do very well. Congratulations!

[starstate31]

Thanks everyone! I do feel better. I did more research and it does seem that all the studies that show a high rate of miscarriage are when the mother is continuously eating gluten - not just small amounts here and there. And as the replies show, even if the mother IS eating a lot of gluten, it doesn't guarantee a bad pregnancy. Of course, it's better to be safe and strict on the diet, which I am definitely doing now!

[psawyer]

I am not overly strict, as in if an ingredient just says "spices" I still usually eat it.

Slightly off topic: When the word "spices" appears in an ingredient list, you can be assured that no grain product of any type is hidden in that ingredient. Grains are not spices.

Many people new to the diet confuse spices and seasonings. They are not the same thing. Seasonings can hide gluten in the form of barley, although it is very rare.

[tarnalberry]

As everyone said - try to not worry about what you can't change, and be strict from here on out. It may be worth while to have your doc/midwife check your vitamin levels, but a good care provider will do so on your first visit.

Good luck and may your pregnancy be smooth sailing!

[Angels]

Hi everyone - I have Celiac disease and just discovered this forum and am hoping others with experience can help me. My husband and I recently went through IVF and I am now 6 1/2 weeks pregnant...I have my 7 week ultrasound on Thurs and we hope everything is still okay by that point. Ironically, the IVF was not because of me having fertility problems..the only issues that showed up were male factor. My tests all turned out fine, my ovarian reserve is fine, etc (I'm 31).

BUT, especially because we invested so much in IVF, now that I know Celiacs have a greater chance of miscarriage, I'm freaking out.

I have been on a gluten-free diet since Oct of 2009 (I was diagnosed in Sept 2009). However, I am not overly strict, as in if an ingredient just says "spices" I still usually eat it. I do have my own toaster, I never "cheat" as far as just flat-out eating bread or anything. But I go out to eat, eat at other people's houses and don't inquire into sauces or spices as much as I should.

I will certainly make a better effort at being more strict going forward, but I'm super worried about the damage I've potentially already done in this last 4 weeks that the embryo has been in me. I have had occassional gastro-intestinal distress during this time, so I know I got some gluten, but I can't say how many times I've been "glutened" for sure.

Anyone know how much gluten you have to eat to increase your chance of miscarriage/birth defect? Anyone have a similar experience and their pregnancy turned out fine? Thank you!

Hi there, I am currently 15 weeks pregnant and am trying my best to stay on a gluten free diet, I do understand the concerns you have, as I have them as well, wondering if small amounts of gluten will cause miscarriage and after how many weeks are we still at risk. I think if we stay away from obvious sources of gluten we will be fine, unfourtanley there are so many hidden sources, those are the ones that keep me worried, good luck and please share how you are doing.

[tarnalberry]

There is no way to know if small amounts of gluten will cause you a miscarriage. We do know that keeping the immune response active increases the risk of miscarriage, but whether or not that means you will actually have one, no one can say.

The hidden sources ARE difficult. That's one reason eating simple, whole, naturally gluten free foods is the best way to go; then there are no hidden ingredients.

[K8ling]

I was undiagnosed when I had my son... he's healthy and happy and 2.5 now. I am currently pregnant with my 2nd baby, 7th pregnancy... I DID have a series of miscarriages but it was NOT due to my Celiac. I think you should relax and enjoy your pregnancy. Be aware, but not overly worried .

[domesticactivist]

Congratulations! Like they all said - you're doing your best to be a good mama from the very start! (So many moms don't even know they are pregnant yet at 7 weeks.) I don't see any reason why your baby would be harmed from you having celiac disease, especially with you being careful about your diet now. If the human race were so fragile, no one would have celiac disease thanks to its genetic component! I know it's easier said than done, but try to relax and enjoy your pregnancy. The less stress you put on the situation, the healthier and happier you and your baby will be

[Angels]

It is nice to hear that others have had successful pregnancy with Celiac, make it easier to sleep at night, with being 15 weeks pregnant, I never had any systoms when exposed to gluten, so at times I have no clue if I am getting gluten by mistake, one thing that I stress over is the Natural Flavor ingredient on labels, does anyone know if it pretains to candy and yogurt, I would doubt there is any gluten in these, or V8 juice is another. What I see on the internet is that natural flavor is safe. any thoughts on this one?

[psawyer]

It is possible for gluten to hide in flavoring, but it almost never does. Wheat, if present, will always be explicitly declared. The possible concern is barley.

Shelley Case, RD, in her book Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide says,

It would be rare to find a "natural or artificial flavoring" containing gluten because: (a) hydrolyzed wheat protein cannot be hidden under the term "flavor," and ( barley malt extract or barley malt flavoring is almost always declared as "barley malt extract" or "barley malt flavoring." For this reason, most experts do not restrict natural and artificial flavorings in the gluten-free diet.

It's not something I worry about.

[celiacindiana]

Please try your best not to stress sweetheart! But as pregnant moms, we constantly worry! I have had 3 pregnancies and probably had full blown celiac disease the whole time but everything went ok. All my kids were small for size (IUGR) and did better out of the womb at the end of the pregnancies so I delivered them 1-2 weeks early. Daughter was 5 lbs, 13 oz, middle son was 6 lbs, 9 oz, and baby boy was 5 lbs, 7 oz. I was diagnosed last year after getting really sick at the end of my pregnancy. AGAIN...I ate gluten the ENTIRE pregnancy cause I had NO clue I had celiac. I was first in my family diagnosed. Now my sons have come back with DQ2 & DQ8 genes so they are gluten free now. Good Luck to you! If I ate gluten EVERY day, you will be ok I'm sure with just a little bit!