Needing Reassurance

[kyga]

After years of 'strange' symptoms, including vertigo and infertility and a host of other 'random' problems, I finally thought to look into the possibility of celiac disease. I started a gluten-freen diet about a month ago, and then last week went to a doctor who is very knowledgeable about gluten sensitivity. My blood test results will be in probably Tuesday. Anyway, I reasoned that if I am sensitive to gluten, I'll need an endoscopy and will need to eat some gluten in preparation for that. If I am not sensitive to gluten, it won't matter anyway. So I ate gluten all weekend.

Then, on a lark, because my period was late, I took a pregnancy test and it was positive! However, instead of feeling completely happy about it, now I'm worried that if I'm gluten sensitive, I have dramatically increased the likelihood of miscarriage by eating gluten. Anyone out there 'get glutened' during pregnancy without a disastrous result? I need to look on the bright side!

[sydneysmommy]

no no no.... eating gluten will NOT increase chance of miscarraige! rest assured your baby will be okay! but you should call your dr who is doing the endoscopy and let him know about your pregnancy so you can do a blood test to confirm celiac instead of endoscopy!

congratulations!!!!!!!

pregnancy & celiac can work! and eating gluten will not hurt your child! it may upset your stomach... but it wont hurt your baby!

good luck!

[kbtoyssni]

no no no.... eating gluten will NOT increase chance of miscarraige! rest assured your baby will be okay! but you should call your dr who is doing the endoscopy and let him know about your pregnancy so you can do a blood test to confirm celiac instead of endoscopy!

Are you sure? I'm pretty sure that if you do have celiac, eating gluten will be harmful to the baby. If you're not absorbing nutrients properly, that can't be good for the baby. Many celiacs have fertility problems and miscarriages. Maybe someone can cite some research here. I don't want to freak you out, but I do think that you want to seriously consider whether eating gluten for traditional medical testing is a good idea right now.

[maryjoali]

Are you sure? I'm pretty sure that if you do have celiac, eating gluten will be harmful to the baby. If you're not absorbing nutrients properly, that can't be good for the baby. Many celiacs have fertility problems and miscarriages. Maybe someone can cite some research here. I don't want to freak you out, but I do think that you want to seriously consider whether eating gluten for traditional medical testing is a good idea right now.

I know there are mixed messages out there, but my doctor told me that throughout pregnancy, I needed to maintain a 100% gluten-free diet, especially during the first trimester. It was much easier for me, though, since I had already been diagnosed and I know how sick I would be if I cheated even a little (I am craving gluteny foods like crazy!) I would definitely check into it further if I were you and remember that you're going to have to do a lot of self-advocacy.

[loraleena]

I noticed you said you went gluten free and then had the blood work after. If this is the case it is very likely that your tests will be negative. You have to eat gluten for the tests to show anything. Anyway, I would stay on the diet now that you are pregnant. I wouldn't eat it on purpose, but I don't think a mistake would hurt the baby. I don't know for sure.

[shanluts]

I was gluten-free with my 1st pregnancy AND 2nd Preg (lost this one at 12 weeks). With my 3rd they said I was JUST sensative to wheat so I ate tons of gluten. She was a healthy baby girl. THEN when she was ill (unrelated to gluten) I was retested per her doctors request AND I do have celiac disease SOOOOOO if it is any consolation I ate gluten for an entire pregnancy NOT just a short time. The risks with eating gluten (I was told) was vitamin deficiancies which are taken care of with all the extra we take with pregnancy.

Best of luck to you.

Shannon

[kyga]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I feel better now. I am not eating gluten, but I have decided not to freak out if I accidentally ingest some.

[Ursa Major]

no no no.... eating gluten will NOT increase chance of miscarraige! rest assured your baby will be okay! but you should call your dr who is doing the endoscopy and let him know about your pregnancy so you can do a blood test to confirm celiac instead of endoscopy!

congratulations!!!!!!!

pregnancy & celiac can work! and eating gluten will not hurt your child! it may upset your stomach... but it wont hurt your baby!

good luck!

Yes, yes, yes, gluten WILL increase your risk of miscarriage! But getting glutened at times won't. I did have five healthy babies while eating gluten, but I also had eight miscarriages. Plus, I had AWFUL pregnancies, I was sick for nine months every time.

Kyga, I am glad you have decided not to go through with eating gluten again for a test, as you would put your baby at risk (as well as yourself) otherwise.

Make sure you get tested for nutritional deficiencies, so you know which extra supplements (on top of your regular prenatal vitamins) you may need to take. The most common deficiencies with celiac disease are vitamin D, ferretin (iron), calcium, magnesium, vitamins B12 and B6, vitamin K, potassium. Make sure you have enough folic acid!

Try not to worry too much, and do your best to stay gluten-free, that is all you can do.

I agree, even if your blood test comes back negative (which is very likely), that won't mean that you don't have celiac disease. Those blood tests aren't all that accurate to begin with, and having it done after being gluten-free for several weeks is pretty useless.

[TLT]

Don't get too worked up about it, I didn't realize I had the gluten issue until I was pregnant, so I ate gluten up and through the first month of pregnancy and my little girl is perfect as can be, so do your best to get it out of your system and lay off of it, but you can't change the past. By the way you will feel a ton better when you are off the gluten, it seems you are a million times more sensitive while pregnant. Be careful and good luck.