How Long To Wait Before Trying To Get Pregnant?

[hales]

Hi, I was diagnosed 5 months ago with celiac and want to get pregnant as soon as possible. So far my OBGYN and GI Specialist think it's ok to try now. I am worried though. I don't have any signs of malnutrition but as of 6 weeks ago, my bloodwork still showed I was ingesting gluten. I am very strict and not sure how that is happening. Is it ok to try to get pregnant even though my antibodies are still elevated? I had read a study that ttg can harm the placenta. Any advice? Should I trust my doctors?

[GlutenFreeManna]

Hi, I was diagnosed 5 months ago with celiac and want to get pregnant as soon as possible. So far my OBGYN and GI Specialist think it's ok to try now. I am worried though. I don't have any signs of malnutrition but as of 6 weeks ago, my bloodwork still showed I was ingesting gluten. I am very strict and not sure how that is happening. Is it ok to try to get pregnant even though my antibodies are still elevated? I had read a study that ttg can harm the placenta. Any advice? Should I trust my doctors?

There are no studies done to answer this question and therefore no guidelines. That is why your drs are telling you it doesn't matter. They have no information telling them that it does. Everyone is different also in how long they have been sick prior to being diagnosed. I personally decided to wait until at least a year gluten-free so that I was healthy and had a good handle on the diet. Well I have now been gluten-free for 19 months and I have a good handle ont he diet but I am not 100% healthy due to thyroid problems and other food allergies. I'm 31 and want kidd very much but I had 3 miscarriages while sick and still eating gluten. I'm more inclined to wait until I'm at my healthiest to have a healthy baby. If I were you I would go with your instinct to wait at least until you numbers have come down to normal. This board may be able to help you figure out where you have been getting cc'd with gluten. Stick around, read all you can, and ask more questions if you need help.

[hales]

Thanks! It really is tough! I wonder how long it takes for the numbers to come down? My doctor thought it was possible to have them normalize in 6 weeks. That seems fast to me.

My ttg IgA went from 100 to 12 in 4 months with anything under 3 being normal. Does that mean I'm almost there and it just takes a while to drop or is that hidden gluten in my diet? My ttg IgG went from 18 to 10 with 5 being normal. Deamidated Gliadin IgA went from 150 to 60 with 19 normal and deamidated Gliadin IgG went from 85 to 43 with 19 normal. I'm hoping it just takes time because i don't know what I'm eating that could be a problem.

I've also read that the ttg antibodies can attach to the placenta and cause problems. i wonder if that's a high number ttg to cause problems or if just a little could do damage. i really want to avoid a miscarriage.

[ravenwoodglass]

There are some of us who had perfectly normal pregancies and healthy babies even when celiac and undiagnosed. I am one of them. My second child was even a 10#er.

Your antibodies have dropped a great deal and if you were still getting glutened I don't think they would have dropped that far. It can take time for them to drop to normal ranges. If you are feeling good and are being strict with the diet I would go ahead and start trying. If your still having symptoms then perhaps wait until those are resolved. Be sure to take a good prenatal vitamin starting now if you aren't already. Keep in mind that it can take a while to get pregnant for anyone. Don't worry if it doesn't happen right away.

Good luck and have lots of fun while your trying.

[Ollie's Mom]

I was not diagnosed with Celiac, but discovered I had issues with gluten in August of 2009 and got pregnant in December 2009. Everything went fine for me.

I would say, if you're feeling good and you have good control over your diet (and you are willing to be extra careful for 9 months) then you should go for it. There's no time like the present, and it may take you a few months to get pregnant anyway.