Pregnant And Newly Diagnosed With Celiac

[dcrobinett]

I've been browsing this forum for a while and decided to join. I am almost 12 weeks pregnant and was diagnosed at 7 weeks with celiac. I had the skin lesions for 5 months when I finally went to the dermatologist who misdiagnosed it as eczema. I felt suspicious about it and waited two months before deciding to try an allergist. I found out I was 3 pr 4 weeks pregnant right before my allergist appointment and let him know about it at the appointment. He looked at my lesions and decided to test me for celiac and three or four weeks later, reported that my blood test came up positive for celiac. I went into a panic because I though I might lose the baby. I'd gone 7 weeks already into the pregnancy eating gluten. I called the allergist back and he was absolutely positive that the baby will be fine and that my previous (I had one earlier this year - in March 2008) miscarriage was unrelated to celiac.

I've had two ultrasounds so far and both times, the baby measured perfectly at where it should be in the gestation. Yesterday was the second ultrasound and I was 11 weeks and 3 days and the baby measured 11 weeks and 4 days. I've already lost weight between the gluten-free diet and pregnancy woes (morning sickness, aversion to food, vomiting, etc) so I was worried that the baby was not getting nutrients, even though I am taking pre-natals. My doctor yesterday seemed really unconcerned about the celiac. He said that as long as I gain weight starting in the 2nd trimester, the baby should be fine.

My question is this - is my doctor being too unconcerned, blowing me off (both allergist and OB/GYN unconcerned), or is he valid in his lack of concern? Another question - since I'm new to this diet, still learning and accidentally glutenating myself, does the gluten hurt the baby? The baby looks great and measures great in the two ultrasounds I've had so far but if I lapse later and eat something with gluten in it - like a funnel cake I've been craving (argh!)? My biggest worry is for the baby -- will he/she be okay if I eat gluten? What are the effects on the baby?

Thanks for all your help- Diana

[ShayFL]

Please do not eat gluten. You have Celiac disease. You would be hurting yourself and no one in here can tell you if it will hurt your baby. We cannot possibly know. Why would you risk it?

And, yes, miscarriage is related to Celiac. Please resist your cravings. Please. For you and your baby.

Learn to make gluten-free yummies at home for when those cravings hit. Pamela's makes some yummy easy brownies, cakes and cookies.

The doctor is right that as long as you start gaining 2nd trimester, all is well.

I lost 7 pounds in the first trimester with my daughter, but quickly caught up. She was 6 lb 14 oz at birth and 21 inches. Perfect.

[dcrobinett]

Please do not eat gluten. You have Celiac disease. You would be hurting yourself and no one in here can tell you if it will hurt your baby. We cannot possibly know. Why would you risk it?

And, yes, miscarriage is related to Celiac. Please resist your cravings. Please. For you and your baby.

Learn to make gluten-free yummies at home for when those cravings hit. Pamela's makes some yummy easy brownies, cakes and cookies.

The doctor is right that as long as you start gaining 2nd trimester, all is well.

I lost 7 pounds in the first trimester with my daughter, but quickly caught up. She was 6 lb 14 oz at birth and 21 inches. Perfect.

Thank you, friend! I most definitely would not risk hurting my baby and so far, have not had any temptation to give into those cravings. I am absolutely strict with my diet and I wouldn't have been if I wasn't pregnant and had no one else to consider. I didn't want my ob/gyn's lack of concern to lull me into a false sense of security and later, I'd weaken and give into cravings but right now, I'm definitely resisting them. After my miscarriage, I treasure this baby SO much and we're overjoyed that my baby is okay! And many thanks for suggesting Pamela's -- with my stomach being so unpredictable, I'm hesitant to try gluten-free products since I never had any of them before. I will try Pamela's!

[ShayFL]

Make sweet potatoes your friend. They taste good. Full of nutrition and are so easy on the tummy. Same for pumpkin. Make a gluten-free pumpkin pie....yummy!!

And once your little one is born dont give into temptation then either. If you breastfeed, some Mom's report that their infants get sick (failure to thrive, loose bowels, etc.) when they nursed while consuming gluten. Not to mention when you "cheat" you damage yourself. Untreated Celiac can lead to other auto-immune diseases like diabetes, thyroid, MS and even certain cancers are caused by untreated Celiac.

This diet is for life and I know you want to live long enough to enjoy your child, watch them grow up and be a grandma.

[mymagicalchild]

You are one incredibly lucky lady. You found the right allergist who diagnosed quickly and you found the right website. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

There is a lot of information available here about conditions that result from gluten intolerance that has not been addressed. It's pretty serious stuff, so figure you're gluten-free for the rest of your life. It's easier than thinking you can play around with it.

Good luck!