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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.
4 replies to this topic
#2
tarnalberry
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Posted 09 March 2011 - 10:37 AM
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) http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC1727862/ Coeliac disease and unfavourable outcome of pregnancy, CONCLUSIONS—Overall, 1 in 70 women was affected by coeliac disease, either not diagnosed (nine cases) or not treated (three cases). Their history of miscarriages, anaemia, low birth weight babies, and unfavourable outcome of pregnancy suggests that testing for coeliac disease should be included in the battery of tests prescribed for pregnant women. Coeliac disease is considerably more common than most of the diseases for which pregnant women are routinely screened. Unfavourable events associated with coeliac disease may be prevented by a gluten free diet.
2) http://www.nature.co...jg2010233a.html Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies From Celiac Patients Are Responsible for Trophoblast Damage via Apoptosis In Vitro, CONCLUSIONS: We showed that the binding of anti-tTG antibodies to trophoblast might represent a key mechanism by which the embryo implantation and pregnancy outcome are impaired in untreated celiac pregnant women. Because healthy trophoblast development is essential for placental and fetal development, these data provide a novel mechanism for celiac disease-induced infertility, early pregnancy loss, and intrauterine growth retardation.
3) http://www.ncbi.nlm....medRA&linkpos=2 Celiac disease and pregnancy outcome., CONCLUSIONS: The high incidence of abortion, of low birth weight babies, and of short breast-feeding periods is effectively corrected by gluten-free diet in women with celiac disease.
4) http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/19228395 Maternal celiac disease autoantibodies bind directly to syncytiotrophoblast and inhibit placental tissue transglutaminase activity. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that direct immune effects in untreated celiac disease women may compromise placental function.
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) http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC1727862/ Coeliac disease and unfavourable outcome of pregnancy, CONCLUSIONS—Overall, 1 in 70 women was affected by coeliac disease, either not diagnosed (nine cases) or not treated (three cases). Their history of miscarriages, anaemia, low birth weight babies, and unfavourable outcome of pregnancy suggests that testing for coeliac disease should be included in the battery of tests prescribed for pregnant women. Coeliac disease is considerably more common than most of the diseases for which pregnant women are routinely screened. Unfavourable events associated with coeliac disease may be prevented by a gluten free diet.
2) http://www.nature.co...jg2010233a.html Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies From Celiac Patients Are Responsible for Trophoblast Damage via Apoptosis In Vitro, CONCLUSIONS: We showed that the binding of anti-tTG antibodies to trophoblast might represent a key mechanism by which the embryo implantation and pregnancy outcome are impaired in untreated celiac pregnant women. Because healthy trophoblast development is essential for placental and fetal development, these data provide a novel mechanism for celiac disease-induced infertility, early pregnancy loss, and intrauterine growth retardation.
3) http://www.ncbi.nlm....medRA&linkpos=2 Celiac disease and pregnancy outcome., CONCLUSIONS: The high incidence of abortion, of low birth weight babies, and of short breast-feeding periods is effectively corrected by gluten-free diet in women with celiac disease.
4) http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/19228395 Maternal celiac disease autoantibodies bind directly to syncytiotrophoblast and inhibit placental tissue transglutaminase activity. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that direct immune effects in untreated celiac disease women may compromise placental function.
Tiffany aka "Have I Mentioned Chocolate Lately?"
Inconclusive Blood Tests, Positive Dietary Results, No Endoscopy
G.F. - September 2003; C.F. - July 2004
Hiker, Yoga Teacher, Engineer, Painter, Be-er of Me
Bellevue, WA
Inconclusive Blood Tests, Positive Dietary Results, No Endoscopy
G.F. - September 2003; C.F. - July 2004
Hiker, Yoga Teacher, Engineer, Painter, Be-er of Me
Bellevue, WA
#3
parrfunkel
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Posted 09 March 2011 - 12:12 PM
Thank you for the information. Gives me even more to think about
#4
ravenwoodglass
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Posted 09 March 2011 - 12:32 PM
I agree strongly with Tiffany. Wishing you the best.
Courage does not always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying
"I will try again tommorrow" (Mary Anne Radmacher)
celiac 49 years - Misdiagnosed for 45
Blood tested and repeatedly negative
Diagnosed by Allergist with elimination diet and diagnosis confirmed by GI in 2002
Misdiagnoses for 15 years were IBS-D, ataxia, migraines, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, parathesias, arthritis, livedo reticularis, hairloss, premature menopause, osteoporosis, kidney damage, diverticulosis, prediabetes and ulcers, dermatitis herpeformis
All bold resoved or went into remission with proper diagnosis of Celiac November 2002
Some residual nerve damage remains as of 2006- this has continued to resolve after eliminating soy in 2007
Mother died of celiac related cancer at 56
Twin brother died as a result of autoimmune liver destruction at age 15
Children 2 with Ulcers, GERD, Depression, , 1 with DH, 1 with severe growth stunting (male adult 5 feet)both finally diagnosed Celiac through blood testing and 1 with endo 6 months after Mom
Positive to Soy and Casien also Aug 2007
Gluten Sensitivity Gene Test Aug 2007
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 1 0303
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 2 0303
Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ 3,3 (Subtype 9,9)
"I will try again tommorrow" (Mary Anne Radmacher)
celiac 49 years - Misdiagnosed for 45
Blood tested and repeatedly negative
Diagnosed by Allergist with elimination diet and diagnosis confirmed by GI in 2002
Misdiagnoses for 15 years were IBS-D, ataxia, migraines, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, parathesias, arthritis, livedo reticularis, hairloss, premature menopause, osteoporosis, kidney damage, diverticulosis, prediabetes and ulcers, dermatitis herpeformis
All bold resoved or went into remission with proper diagnosis of Celiac November 2002
Some residual nerve damage remains as of 2006- this has continued to resolve after eliminating soy in 2007
Mother died of celiac related cancer at 56
Twin brother died as a result of autoimmune liver destruction at age 15
Children 2 with Ulcers, GERD, Depression, , 1 with DH, 1 with severe growth stunting (male adult 5 feet)both finally diagnosed Celiac through blood testing and 1 with endo 6 months after Mom
Positive to Soy and Casien also Aug 2007
Gluten Sensitivity Gene Test Aug 2007
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 1 0303
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 2 0303
Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ 3,3 (Subtype 9,9)
#5
Jungle
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Posted 09 March 2011 - 01:42 PM
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.
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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