Pregnancy Symptoms Feel Like Being Glutened!

[Amelia01]

I'm just about 12 weeks pregnant and cannot digest a thing. My stomach (not bump) is always uncomfortably distended and full of air and that together with the heartburn and constant belching I really feel like I did when I was eating gluten (going on 1 year gluten-free). I know (well, I've heard) that pregnancy can bring about all sorts of unpleasant symptoms but I was so happy in the last 9 months to finally feel better and now I am back again feel miserable and it makes me totally irritable and cranky.

To the very best of my knowledge I am not ingesting any gluten but does anyone have any tips on helping get rid of these symptoms? Will they go away in 2nd trimester?

I would have given my right and left arm for this pregnancy but really would like the digestive end to be as happy as well!

Amelia

[Ursa Major]

Are you still eating dairy and soy? One or the other (or both) could be the culprit.

Are you eating anything now that you didn't before? Are you positive your pre-natal vitamins are gluten-free?

[miasmom]

Amelia,

I know how you feel. I felt the same thing when I first got pregnant. I am now 24 weeks and am feeling better, finally. Unfortunately for me it didn't go away until around 20 weeks, which coincided with a vacation to costa rica. While I was there, I started to feel amazingly better. The whole time on vacation I did not have any dairy. When I came home I didn't reintroduce it until last week. I also changed my prenatals to one that I know is gluten-free and that I take twice daily. When you are prego your immune system is down. So if you have any slight intolerences before then they become major while you are pregnant, at least until your body and the hormones level out. At least that has been the case with me.

Try cutting down your dairy intake- drink oj w/ calcium or take a supplement so that the baby gets enough and see if that helps.

Amy

[flourgirl]

Like anything else, everyones experiences differ. I'm hoping you are feeling better soon, it may be nothing more than your body adjusting to the new changes. When I was pregnant with my son I was sick for the whole 9 months (I think I felt ok for the last week or so ), but I didn't know about Celiac disease, much less how it could affect my whole life. Unfortunately I was trying to find relief with flat Cola (which helped) and crackers (!!!!), which I didn't know was hurting me so much.

Hope you can find some foods that you can safely eat and feel great soon. Congratulations...by the way.

[Amelia01]

Thanks everyone for the replies. The few weeks that I had of morning sickeness have gone away but I still feel full and uncomfortable after eating ANYTHING! My prenatals are gluten-free but I am doing dairy, which had never really bothered me before. I don't do straight millk but start of the day with a probiotic yogurt and must admit have been consuming an awful lot of ice cream (gotta get that calcium from somewhere )

Question about dairy intollerance, is it one of those foods that gives an immediate problem (or within the day) or something that festers around until it is eliminated from the diet?

thanks again for any info

Amelia

[Tovahdena]

I am 7 weeks pregnant and am feeling the same symptoms. My belly is puffy, I have a nawing feeling in my stomach and the big D is back. I am going to ask my doctor if this is normal for a pregnant celiac on a gluten-free diet.

[HiDee]

I am 7 weeks pregnant and am feeling the same symptoms. My belly is puffy, I have a nawing feeling in my stomach and the big D is back. I am going to ask my doctor if this is normal for a pregnant celiac on a gluten-free diet.

I would try to eat more fiber (veggies, nuts, seeds, fruits, whole grains etc., also metamucil is gluten free and a good source of fiber) and protein, and drink lots of water so the D doesn't make you dehydrated. You might also try switching prenatal vitamins to see if that works (make sure they're gluten free). And as others on this thread have said, try cutting out dairy if possible to see if that helps. It may also just be your body adjusting to being pregnant and clear up in a few weeks.

Good luck!