Possible Prevention Of Celiac In Unborn Baby?

[mom2two]

My four year old daughter was diagnosed with celiac and casein intolerant 6 months ago and has been doing well on a gluten free/ casein free diet. Our 2 year old son has not been tested yet but shows no signs what-so-ever. I had the bood test done and it was negative. My husband and I are now considering a third child and didn't know if it would be in this child's best interest for me to be gluten free during the pregnancy and/or during breast feeding. We don't seem to be able to get straight answers out of Doctors( no big surprise!). So I thought I go to the resident experts--you all! Any and all help will help. I have a lways had very hard pregnancies, and throw up 3x a day the first four months. I don't know if that relates but there it is.

THanks!

[Ursa Major]

Hi, and welcome to these boards. Since the blood tests are very unreliable, even in adults, you still may have celiac disease yourself. Your daughter obviously inherited it from somebody!

I always had terrible pregnancies, and you having hard pregnancies with trowing up several times a day could be due to gluten intolerance. So, there is nothing stopping you from trying the gluten-free diet when pregnant again (start before getting pregnant, to make it easier for yourself). Who knows, it is quite possible that not only could it be better for the baby, but for yourself as well!

The gluten-free diet can certainly not harm you or the unborn baby, even if neither one of you has celiac disease, so eliminating gluten is completely without risk. And wouldn't it be so nice if you would actually feel good for the first time being pregnant!

I wished I could know if it would have made my pregnancies easier, and prevented the eight miscarriages I had, if I would have found out about celiac disease when I was younger. You're still young enough to be able to figure it out. I hope that being gluten-free will help you have a better pregnancy next time.

[mom2two]

Thanks so much. That makes a lot of sense. I appreciate the advice.

[cybermommy]

I had the bood test done and it was negative. My husband and I are now considering a third child and didn't know if it would be in this child's best interest for me to be gluten free during the pregnancy and/or during breast feeding.

THanks!

I was misdiagnosed at the time of my pregnancies. I wish I had known & maybe it would have saved the 3 miscarriages. I had 2 in first trimester, then almost miscarried my daughter at same point in pregnancy. I was on bedrest for a while, then rest of pregnancy was pretty uneventful (until delivery, but this is unrelated to celiac disease). This is my child that is symptomatic of celiac disease (her lab is pending) & is lactose intolerant. My 4th pregnancy was my 1 "normal" pregnancy (we almost lost him to neonatal sepsis-in ICU for 10 days). Both of my kids had problems w/ foods that I overdid during pregnany. My son also had problems w/ dairy early on but no problems now. He does have severe food allergies that I can directly relate to things I ODed on during pregnancy w/ him. I miscarried my 5th pregnancy in first trimester.

As to the morning sickness-I had all day & all night sickness. My first 2 pregnancies I dehydrated so badly I would have to go to ER for IVs. I vomited before I knew I was pregnant & was still going while in labor w/ my daughter. I had to eat fiber wafers every 15 min to help w/ nausea. At least w/ this pregnancy I could toss it then go back & eat again. With my son I didn't have it to bad during the second trimester, but 1st & 3rd were bad. W/ him I couldn't eat after being sick. It would just come up too. These "kids" are now 20, 18 & I have a 17 yo by adoption.

I am not only a celiac, but a nurse too. Ursa Major is right- It couldn't hurt to go gluten-free but it has the potential to help both you & your baby.

Negative testing does not necessarily mean you don't have celiac disease. There are 2 additional genes that they now suspect can also cause celiac disease (other than the one already identified). So at this point testing can prove that you do have it, but can't prove that you don't. If symptomatic it is best to try the gluten-free diet & see how you feel.

Hope this helps,