How Many Of You/your Children Were Preemies?

[Gcbec]

My first child was born 27 weeks weighed 1 lb 8 oz, due to me having pre-eclampsia turning eclampsia. I also have other autoimune problems which was found to be the cause of all the problems in my pregnancy. Now, what came first I dont know, but as far as I know my 9 year old doesnt have celiac. Although she has never been tested, I have not seen any symptoms. (forgot had sever hypremisis as well saw someone else with that it was horrible)

My second was born at 33 weeks, 6 lbs. I started pre term contractions at 16 weeks, had 2nd pulmonary embolism at 26 weeks, and gestational diabetes. Finally induced again because of pre eclampsia. This is the one I have 1 positive test and know he has celiac. (hypremisis again)

Now whether or not it is from being premature, I dont think so, but I think if the mom has celiac that would effect premature birth. Just because of the autoimune response, malobsorption, and diet. Had I had diagnosis of celiac, it might have prevented my children from premature births who knows. Very interseting I never thought of it.

[Guest ~jules~]

Both of my boys were exactly 2 weeks early to the day. Michael was only 6 lbs, and Sean was 6lb 9oz. I had normal pregnancies, except constant nausea the whole time, not just in the first trimester. I don't remember anything happening until after I had my second child, I had post-pardum pretty bad though. Myself I was a day late 7 lbs. I think my trigger was stress.

[LL04]

I find this all very interesting. I, myelf as a baby was a whole month late and was very sickly. I know now that I had celiac disease but it went undiagnosed my whole life.

I have 4 children and had terrible hyperemisis (severe vomiting) for the full nine months of pregnancy with the first 3 of them. I was hospitalized with each one and each time I weighed exactly the same or less when I gave birth than I did before I got pregnant. I had not yet been diagnosed with celiac disease with any of them. Suprisingly my kids didn't seem any worse for the wear because of the nasty pregnancies. The first two came right on their due dates, the third 6 days late and the last 3 days early. There were no complications, the labours were wonderfully quick and they were all healthy 7 or so pounders (except the first at 6lbs 6ozs, but still healthy). However, my first got croup so many times in the first year that he became allergic to amoxicillin, but that's it. No other grief at all. All of them have been tested for celiac disease and are negative (and yes, what does that really mean??!!), but my middle two, a girl 9 and a boy 5, both display symptoms of celiac disease, especially the boy. I breastfed all of them for at least a year or more.

I have northern european ancestery as does my husband so we are prime candidates for celiac disease, which I do have and he hasn't yet been tested for. I am positive my brother has it but he refuses to get tested and other than that we can't trace our family history to know if anyone else has had it. Sooooo.....our children are PRIME candidates. You would think that after being sick so much and having so many antibiotics that it would have been a catalyst for our first boy to get it but he is now healthier than most kids I know and he never gets sick now, not even really any colds!

It would really be interesting if we could see what would have happened if any of them had been premature? Would that have made a difference with the first?

This is such a great question but one I'm afraid will probably not be answered in our lifetime. Research into Celiac's is just finally gaining momentum so I believe it will be a long way off before anyone even begins to probe the possibility of premature births and celiac's having some sort of connection.

Maybe I'm wrong....maybe someone is already looking into this.....???

[kevsmom]

My teenage son was born 3 weeks early. He weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. I hate to think about what he would have weighed if he waited until his due date! I am diabetic, and it is not unusual for diabetics to have large babies. He had constant ear infections from the time he was 3 weeks old he was 15 months old and had tubes put in. He just had a negative endoscopy (yeah!)

Cindy

[Becky6]

I was late.

My dd was born at 33 weeks weighing 2 lbs 12 oz and 15". I had severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.

[abc]

My last baby - now almost 9mos - was born 6 weeks premature. He had all the normal preemie probs, but came home from NICU after 8 days (just in time for Christmas!) He is now a whopping 21.5 pounds, so no eating issues there.

I also had trouble getting pregnant with my first child, and am curious about infertility and celiac. I am still awaiting test results as to whether I am gluten intolerant...but it could explain the "unexplained" infertility and the "unexplained" prematurity?