Pregnancy and undiagnosed Celiac disease

[SallG]

Sorry if this isn’t the right place to post.

I’m 23 weeks pregnant and suspect I either have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance. 

Before I was pregnant I was good with my diet gluten free most of the time, I did have gluten, sometimes with a reaction and sometimes without a reaction.

Since being pregnant I didn’t really think anything of it and have been having what I’ve been craving which is mostly gluten and now I could kick myself. But now after doing some research I didn’t realise how concerning the connection between gluten and pregnancy really is if you do have an intolerance. Every article you read is quite scary so I just wanted to know anyone’s views?

Has anyone carried to term with eating gluten and being undiagnosed until after pregnancy or has anyone not had any complications or vice versa?

Many thanks , I hope this makes sense.

 

[trents]

SallG, welcome to the forum.

Are you craving gluten or the carbs in bread?

[Scott Adams]

Welcome to the forum! 

We've done many articles on pregnancy and celiac disease:

https://www.celiac.com/search/?q=pregnancy&quick=1&type=cms_records2&search_in=titles

and we've had people post here that their pregnancy actually triggered their celiac disease.

Before going gluten-free it would be ideal if you could get a celiac disease blood screening, as that test would probably answer the question for you, although it may not tell you if you have non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Perhaps your doctor could rush a test for you?

If your fairly certain you are gluten sensitive and don't want to wait to go gluten-free, be sure to discuss your diet change with your doctor, and one of the primary things to consider would be getting enough fiber, and I will assume that you are taking vitamin/mineral supplements, but if not, talk to your doctor about that as well.

[Awol cast iron stomach]

Hello. Congratulations on your pregnancy. I was diagnosed NCGS after I had children. 

I conceived 3 children. I lost my first and experienced a missed miscarriage. I went on to 2 conceive and birth 2 beautiful children. My pregnancies and labor deliveries were "not textbook". Far from the normal pregnancies my mom and sisters had. Both deliveries ended in c sections for me.

With my daughter I experienced a uterine inversion ( my Dr 's did not tell me of this. I discovered this after I obtained my medical records for my son's OB prior to delivery) I also broke out in a PUPPP rash following her delivery as well. My nurse Karla contacted my Dr on my behalf as it was awful. My Dr thought it was no big deal and told me quote "to stop being a baby about it. It is just a PUPPP rash." She was not aware of PUPPP's link to celiac and gluten intolerance. I found this out later after diagnosis. She missed an opportunity to help a patient and cruelly minimized my health events. In hindsight I am glad her partner delivered me vs. she, as I might have been worse off had my actual Dr delivered us. 

Thankfully my son's OB and team were better all around. Bless them. I had weekly maternal fetal visits as I was exposed to parovirus B19 during pregnancy. We were high risk. 

We made it. They are now teens we have a gluten-free home. My daughter occasionally has gluten outside our home, but knows her genetics should she ever experience any symptoms. My son finds a diet similar to mom as he finds he is intolerant to the foods mom is. He eat gluten-free, corn free, and dairy free.

I gave you a brief version. You likely can click on my profile to seek my longer laments on the challenges the kids and I had. 

If you can get blood work for celiac testing that would be ideal to rule you in or out. NCGS is a bit more complicated.

In closing, my cousin who is a gold standard celiac had 3 children before diagnosis. Her last pregnancy #3 had some complications. She and baby number 3 made it as well.

Good luck. Best wishes on a health pregnancy and a safe delivery.