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What To Do Now That I'm Pregnant

parrfunkel

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parrfunkel Newbie
parrfunkel
Posted

I posted recently about and got some advice but my situation has changed. I have been gluten free for a little over 2 months trying to resolve reflux/bloating/gas issues. I am not sure if gluten is an issue as I still have symptoms. Some have improved, but not gone away entirely. I also have hashimoto's and have read a great deal about the possible connection between gluten intolerance and hashi's.

I was scheduled for an endoscopy, but it has been canceled as I just discovered that I am 5 weeks pregnant. My internist was the one that originally suggested the diet, but didn't really recommend testing because false negative rate is so high. She felt it would be better to just try to diet. I'm now seeing a gastro and she wants to run a blood panel but she knows I haven't been eating gluten (why do some dr.'s just not get that this won't work?). Supposed to go back and see her this week to discuss what we will do now that I can't have the scope.

My original plan was to go 3 months gluten free and then reintroduce. Now I'm thinking I should wait until the end of the first Trimester. As I mentioned, I don't know for sure if gluten is an issue for me. I'm concerned that if it is and I have a reaction, it could cause problems with the pregnancy. Especially if a reaction to gluten could cause an increase in anti-thyroid antibody levels.

I plan to discuss this with my Gastro, Internist and OB over the next few weeks. Just wanted to see if you all had any advice.

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tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

Celiac antibodies can attack the placenta, it can reduce the nutrients available to your baby, increase the chemical stress load on the fetus, and more.

In this situation, my opinion on what I would do is to stay STRICTLY gluten free for the duration of the pregnancy (whether or not to do this during the duration of breastfeeding is another question to consider). Why would I suggest that? Assuming you otherwise eat a healthy diet (not that hard to do while gluten free once you are past the learning curve) and are taking your prenatal vitamins (many women rely on fortified cereals and breads to get enough folic acid), the potential risk of eating gluten if you are celiac outweighs (in my mind) the potential benefit of avoiding gluten even if you are not celiac.

A few references, there are lots more available if you look:

1) Open Original Shared Link Coeliac disease and unfavourable outcome of pregnancy, CONCLUSIONS

parrfunkel Newbie
parrfunkel
Posted
  • Author

Thank you for the information. Gives me even more to think about

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I agree strongly with Tiffany. Wishing you the best.

Jungle Rookie
Jungle
Posted

I think staying gluten free while pregnant is the safest way to go. If you are celiac then you are giving your body and baby the best of what it needs. If you are not celiac you are still giving the baby a healthy diet. On the other hand if you eat gluten and you are celiac then you and your baby are not getting what you need.

Your testing may still show positive. But if it is negative then you may still be positive.

Try and relax and enjoy your pregnancy. It is the most amazing time. Giving life to and feeling that sweet baby moving around is the best.

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    • trents
      Inflammation and Menier’s disease link?

      By trents · Posted

      How long have you been strictly gluten free? Certainly, it would be good to look into vitamin and mineral deficiencies and supplementation. The B vitamins, magnesium and D3 are all very important to neurological health. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to reverse gluten-induced neurological damage damage if it has gone on for a long time. 
    • nataliallano
      Inflammation and Menier’s disease link?

      By nataliallano · Posted

      Thanks Trents I'm strict with my gluten-free diet now. I just don't feel any better. I'm going to get tested for vitamins and minerals to see if I need some supplements. For sure I got some damage that doctors call Menier's and the only way they treat it is with medicine that does damage my body more than it helps.   
    • Zuma888
      Hypothetical question about antibodies

      By Zuma888 · Posted

      Thank you Scott for your helpful response! Based on this, would you say someone who is on a gluten-free diet - but not strict about cross-contamination and occasional cheating - and tests negative for tTg-IgA while having normal total IgA is not likely to have celiac, even if they have been 'gluten-free' for years?
    • Scott Adams
      Hypothetical question about antibodies

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      That’s a really insightful observation about antibody testing and the gluten challenge! You’re absolutely right that antibody levels can remain elevated for months or even years after going gluten-free, especially if there’s ongoing cross-contamination or occasional slip-ups. The immune system doesn’t reset overnight—it can take time for antibodies like tTG-IgA to normalize, which is why many doctors recommend waiting at least 6–12 months of strict gluten-free eating before retesting. For someone who’s been gluten-free for less than two years or hasn’t been meticulous about avoiding cross-contact, there’s absolutely a chance they’d still test positive, since even small amounts of gluten can keep antibodies elevated. This is partly why the gluten challenge (where you eat gluten before testing) exists—it’s designed to provoke a measurable immune response in people who’ve been gluten-free long enough for antibodies to drop. But you raise a great point: the challenge isn’t perfect, and false negatives can happen if the timing or amount of gluten isn’t sufficient to trigger a strong antibody response. This is why diagnosis often combines antibody tests with other tools like genetic testing or endoscopy. Your question highlights just how nuanced celiac testing can be! For people with celiac disease hidden gluten in their diets is the main cause of elevated Tissue Transglutaminase IgA Antibodies (tTG-IgA), but there are other conditions, including cow's milk/casein intolerance, that can also cause this, and here is an article about the other possible causes:      
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      Chest pain from celiac

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      Thank you for your response! I have considered starting a food diary in the past, I suppose this is as good a time as any to start.  
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