Could Pregnancy Have "triggered" Celiac?

[wolfie]

I had minor stomach issues during a lot of my life (constipation, gas), but really seemed to get worse after the birth of my children. I was told I had IBS after my son was born and to stay away from the foods that bothered me. Then 6 years later I had DD and my stomach problems got a lot worse. Unexplained diarrhea, not frequent, but enough to make me wonder what was going on. Drs kept saying it was IBS. Then I would get super constipated. Drs said to increase fiber (I was eating Kashi Go Lean, loaded with gluten); while it helped with the constipation, it made the gas & bloating excessive and painful. I finally saw a nutritionist who suggested I get tested for Celiac. Bloodwork was positive and I went gluten-free shortly thereafter. The difference was like night & day.

[missmommy]

I just had my first baby 4 1/2 months ago and started having symptoms of Celiac Disease when he was about 3 months. I've been fine most of my life. (From the time I was 1 1/2 years old until I was 3 my parents had me on a gluten free diet. They thought it was caused/triggered by a bad fall I had causing the lining of my intestines to slough off.) From the time I was 3 until now (29 years later) I've been eating everything without any issues. Could pregnancy be a "trigger"? If so, will it go away again or will I have to do the diet forever, if it is indeed Celiac Disease?

I just got my Giliadan antibodies test result back and it is 27.2, what they term "eqivical" which I guess is not really negative but not positive either. I will have an appointment with a GI doc soon to see if they want to do more testing.

I'm currently entirely breast feeding my son. Are there any issues I should know of if I do have Celiac? Should I wait to introduce solids- longer than 6 months? Does my son need to be tested? If so, what test, the gentic marker one that I've read about on this forum? I'm going to start him on vitamin drops just to be sure he is getting what he needs since I may have malabsorption issues. I do make plenty of milk though and my son is thriving so that is good.

Anyway, if anyone can help answer my questions it would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Marcia

i just found out that becoming pregnant probably triggered my celiac. and after reading a lot of the replys to this post im convinced! im sorry im new to this too and im no help yet. but congrats on the new baby!!!

[anerissara]

My problems started after having my 3ed baby. I don't know if it was the pregnancy or the fact that I had surgery afterwards (tubes tied, I don't recommend it!) but it was just about 3 months afterwards for me, too.

[GlutenFree-Amy]

Add me to the list! My main symptom, chronic D, started about 3 months after my oldest son was born, 3.5 years ago. I "controlled" it by eating fiber wafers and not drinking milk. After the birth of my second son 3.5 months ago, I got a lot worse. I also ended up in the ER at 6 weeks PP, very malnourished. I had lost about 20 lbs. at that time and lost another 20 in the 4 or so more weeks it took to get everything figured out. I was down to 90 lbs., only 3 months after having a baby. I, too, was extremely sick of people telling me I lost all my weight so quickly, then people telling me that I need to gain weight... BACK OFF! I was so tired of hearing it and then explaining that I was sick, but didn't know how... It feels so good to know now, and I am doing so much better, just in the week that I have been gluten-free. Pregnancy has definitely triggered mine.