Shocked!

[qwertyui]

That is what I felt when I picked up the newest "Gluten Free Bible" when I read that gluten for those who cannot handle it can perhaps expect trouble concieving or may be prone to miscarry. It scared the heck out of me! I'm 35, just got married in September, and am so excited to start our family. I have lived gluten free for the past 6 years, and have cheated alot. I am really scared that it may have taken it's toll. I have been clean for about 3 weeks, and don't know what to do. My doctor doesn't seem to be concerned, but I am. Any thoughts?

thanks,

qwertyui

[traveljunkie]

You should relax. Just continue eating gluten free now and I'm sure you'll be fine! If you stick to a healthy gluten free diet now, I'm sure there won't be a problem with getting pregnant. Good luck and try not to worry!

[tarnalberry]

As long as you maintain a strictly gluten free diet, your chances of having a happy and healthy pregnancy will go back to that of the normal population. If you continue to cheat, however, your body will continue to not get the minerals and vitamins (and energy) it needs due to the damage you're causing your intestines, and may not have all the resources it wants to support another life as well.

[tiffjake]

I read that in the book too and the impression that I got was that this was a problem for people who don't cut the gluten out, so if you are eating well, and cutting out the gluten, then you should be fine. Six years is a good long time to heal your body!! I just went gluten free recently and I want to start trying to have kids within a year. I have read (in the Gluten free bible, and online) that within a year of being gluten free your chances of celiac related baby problems goes down a lot!!! Don't cheat anymore and you have the same stats as everyone else! Good Luck in your baby-having!!!

[qwertyui]

Thank you so much for your responses! I told my husband about the book said, and now he is saying that he doesn't think we should try. He was married before and he ex-wife miscarried, and he said that it was just awful, and he doesn't want to see me go through that, and he says he can't deal with it again. I told him that it was worth trying for. We'll see what happens! I will tell him that as long as I don't cheat, and am clean living, that we should be fine. There is always a risk! And I am willing to do what I can to make this happen.

I really appreciate the quick responses and you have made me feel so much better!

qwertyui

[zakismom]

I wouldn't worry. I have two very healthy children that were born when I didn't know anything about celiac. People talk about a "trigger" for celiac and that sometimes childbirth or pregnancy is it. Knowing what I know now- I was always a celiac. Don't let the whatifs control your life.

[debmidge]

RE: Miscarriage

If you really want children then do it. Don't let someone else's past be held over your head. Each pregnancy is different and if we all sat around and avoided having children by worrying over what could happen, no one would ever have children.

I could not have children, but it wasn't due to celiac. Before I knew I couldn't have children I was afraid to have a baby because I learned with an episiotemy was! That was enough to scare me away until I was in my mid-twenties. So sometimes we over inflate our fears and let them take us away.

Take your time, eat gluten-free and let nature take its course.

D.