NicoleAJ

I have an 18month old now. I started taking prenatals 6 months before I got pregnant with her, so my folic acid was fine, but I wasn't supplementing vitamin D beyond the 1000 IU that were in my prenatals. By 8 weeks I was so significantly vitamin D deficient (despite drinking lots of milk, eating cheese, etc) that I got a severe infection and starting bleeding. I thought I was losing the baby, and it was terrifying. The doctor prescribed me some antibiotics and after the second infection at 15 weeks she tested my vitamin D (since low vitamin D and pregnancy are two factors for bacterial vaginosis). I was very deficient. She recommended I start taking 5000 IUs of Vitamin D daily along with what I was already getting through diet and prenatals, and I stopped getting infections and my daughter was born perfectly healthy and full term. And now that I'm no longer pregnant, I don't supplement vitamin D and my levels are perfectly fine. The baby needs a lot of vitamin D--don't be shy about taking what you (and your child) need for this very short period of time.

I had all of these symptoms during my celiac diagnosis 6 years ago and when finding out about my pregnancy 8 months ago. The stress on your body of knowing what's going on and what's coming up this week could definitely delay your period. I would take a pregnancy test today and another on the morning that you're supposed to go in (just in case it was too early to produce a positive test)--you don't want to mess with the medications and things if you are pregnant, but it's likely that celiac disease could be accounting for all of your symptoms too.

I've done the pill cam twice now, and it hasn't shown anything conclusive, whereas my biopsies from the endoscopies have been inconclusive as well but have provided much more info on the nature of the abnormality and inflammation going on. Both times with the pill cam we were looking for Crohn's since I already had a solid celiac diagnosis and had already healed (DQ2 positive, biopsy and blood test). The doctors see inflammation and bleeding, but they can't provide a sure diagnosis.

The test isn't difficult or painful, it's just an inconvenience and can be pretty pricey.

I'm 32 weeks pregnant now, and it was no harder to get pregnant for me than it is for anyone else (I went completely gluten free almost 6 years ago). I've had celiac symptoms since having a serious illness that landed me in the hospital for 6 weeks during my infancy, but I was not diagnosed until I was 24, so my damage was pretty severe. My OB told me that as long as I follow the gluten free diet as carefully as I always have, I shouldn't have any complications due to celiac. For the most part this has been true. We've had to stay on top of my vitamin D, B-12, and iron/ferritin levels because I've developed deficiencies here and there that have needed to be taken care of, but actually the slowed down GI tract during pregnancy has been a welcome side effect for me. Because we knew that I might be more susceptible to deficiencies, we've kept a closer eye on things and have always caught everything with plenty of time to take additional supplements (beyond my regular prenatals and DHA)so that the baby can get what she needs.

Good luck and don't stress yourself out too much.

If you have any sort of a regular wake up time, I would encourage you trying FAM. The reason I'd suggest that over (or in addition to) a ovulation test kit. I say this for two reasons. First, you get a better idea what's going on with your cycle - perhaps you have a short luteal phase and you are having sex at the right time, but a too-short luteal phase will prevent implantation, or perhaps you have a pattern that shows repeated "attempts" at ovulation (the LH surges that the tests can tell you about), without ovulation actually occurring (which the test can't tell you about, particularly if it tells you not to test after an LH surge occurs!), or many other possibilities. This information can be useful if you at some point decide you need to talk to a fertility specialist, and having a few months of data already gathered saves a lot of time. Second, you may get more useful information on how long your fertile cycle lasts (if you're also recording cervical fluid) and can better time when you have sex with ovulation.

Don't get me wrong - test kits are lovely - but they only show you a little piece of the puzzle.

I would second tarnalberry's endorsement of FAM. I was having cycles that would last between 40-55 days, oligo-ovulation, and my doctor basically told me that ovulation kits would be expensive and pretty much useless for such long cycles because I'd never know when to use them or would spend a small fortune on them without getting a lot of info. I used FAM to prevent pregnancy for 11 months and then when we were ready to try, we got got pregnant the first month because we understood my cycle.

I was on Neurontin for trigeminal neuralgia, and that it clears the system in 48 hours as well. However, my neurologist still suggested that I wait a month or two to start trying to get pregnant and to go on prenatals in the meantime. I actually ended up waiting several months because it just worked out better for our schedule. A lot of drugs taken for neurological disorders can zap your folate, which is not the best symptom to deal with right before conception. I'm 29 weeks pregnant now, and I'm happy I gave myself some time to readjust to life without meds before dealing with the first trimester. Good luck TTC.

just found out that i have bone loss, and dr said i need to start strength training. i asked which exercises and she handed me some photo copied papers with very old people doing leg lunges LOL

do any of you have some ideas of how to start slowly but get a nice exercise routine going? i am 29, but sorta weak. i would love to get stronger, and the dr says there is a chance to stop the bone loss and even gain some back.

what have you all tried?

When I first found out about my bone loss three years ago (at 27), I signed up at my local Curves location. I hadn't been working out before that, so it was easy to fit into my schedule and not overly strenuous, so that guaranteed that I would keep up with it. The workout is quick--30 minutes or an hour depending upon how many times you go around the circuit, and the nice part is that every machine provides resistance, which is exactly what you need. They train you in exactly how to use all of the equipment, so there's no need to hire a personal trainer. Once I burned out on Curves after the first year, I joined a real gym and started doing other things. Now I'm 6 months pregnant, so I only walk and do yoga to keep up my bone strength. Make sure you're getting enough vitamin D. You might want them to check your levels. I was on the low side of normal (34) this summer, but after 8 weeks of pregnancy I became deficient. It's best to know where you stand.

I was diagnosed with celiac in 2004 and Crohn's in 2007, only to find out later that the Crohn's diagnosis was premature (I also had a severe reaction to the Asacol they put me on). Every time I see a new GI for the severe and regular rectal bleeding and occult bleeding in my gi tract, they assume I have Crohns, and then they get in there and the test results are abnormal but inconclusive. My doctor at Hershey medical center said that though it is rare to have patients with both celiac and Crohn's, it is possible, and she has had some cases of this (these diseases are her specialties).

I have had my ultrasound. My little girl is actually measuring a week ahead right now. She is perfect in everyway. I asked my doctor about the thyroid. She said that she wants me to do weekly weight checks and call her with the results. If in 1 month i havent gained 5 pounds or more she is going to consider sending me to maternal fetal medicine. I think i may just look for a doctor who knows what they are talking about.

I would go to a high risk specialist now rather than waiting around for another month. A 30 lb weight loss is significant. It's very good news that your little one is measuring ahead--this probably means that she's getting what she needs but is sucking you totally dry. By 18 weeks pregnant I was still down a 1/2 lb from my pre-pregnancy weight, and I was not vomiting and was getting all of the calories I need (I started at 134 at 5'6")--although the nurse seemed concerned, my doctor said that some women don't really gain weight until the baby starts packing on the pounds. She wasn't concerned since my weight loss was very minor. I'll be 22 weeks tomorrow, and I've now gained 5 lbs in these last few weeks; my little girl is also measuring ahead and is healthy. However, my doctor has been closely monitoring different levels of nutrients to make sure that baby and I have enough. I had a vitamin D deficiency, so she started me on 3,000 IUs of D daily. Then my chronic B12 deficiency started to rear its ugly head, so I'm now taking it sublingually on a daily basis. I also take Rainbow light prentals, which are gluten free and am taking a gluten free version of DHA daily. She'll check my levels again at 28 weeks. Hopefully you'll start packing on the pounds soon, but you should definitely be seeing someone with a little bit more knowledge of fetal health. The good ultrasound is an excellent sign, but there might be something else going on. I agree with everyone else about the thyroid levels. Good luck and keep us posted.

I am going nuts here. We have been trying for two months and still no baby. I am a healthy weight, on prenatals, taking folic acid and even had a positive fertility test...

You might want to try Pre-seed. It's a lubricant that does not kill the sperm (unlike all the kinds of lube you get at the pharmacy). We used it and got pregnant in our first month of trying (after charting and preventing pregnancy for 11 months). I'm 20 weeks pregnant now. I've had plenty of friends who have done everything right and who have taken 8 months or more to conceive. Try not to get frustrated, and don't obsess about it in the two weeks after ovulation since the pregnancy tests won't be positive until then. I didn't get my positive pregnancy test until 14 days past ovulation. Good luck!

Thanks for all the great advice! I will search out a ND or GI doctor in addition to an OB. I think with my pre-eclampsia and GD with my 2nd child a mid-wife wouldn't be able to take me.

This has been very helpful

In addition to the advice provided above, have particular nutrient levels checked. I knew I've had problems with low B12 in the past, so I asked my doctor to check it out before I got pregnant, so I knew I was fine there. Unfortunately, I didn't have my vitamin D levels checked until I was already 16 weeks pregnant and suffering from constant bacterial infections. It turns out that I was deficient in vitamin D, so now I'm loading up on it and going out unprotected in the sun to try and make up for the deficiency before this becomes a real problem with the baby's brain development, immunity, or my own health. I wish I had known this before I started trying to conceive because I would have gotten my levels up before becoming pregnant.

Personally, I wouldn't take anything that could have a completely unanticipated effect on the baby. I know it can be really difficult. My stomach is just recovering today after about 5 days of almost constant D and feeling awful. You should be checked out for the spotting, even though it's probably nothing. You might have a touch of an infection, which could be irritated your cervix. You can also spot after sex or an internal exam though too.

I had been charting for a while just so I'd know my cycles, which were super long. Technically there were some months in there where we weren't specifically trying that things ended up being timed so that I could have gotten pregnant (and secretly I hoped I would be). However, I waited until I defended my doctoral dissertation. Then we timed everything properly and used pre-seed, and I was pregnant that first month. I finally "gave birth" to my diss (after a 24 month gestation) and then immediately got pregnant!

That's great that all your bloodwork checked out. You shouldn't need extra iron if you're not anemic. Luckily, the baby doesn't really require many calories in the first trimester and the prenatals should give you the nutrients you need. Even with diarrhea, you're probably absorbing more nutrients than you know--since your celiac panel showed that you're following the diet very well. It's always best to call the OB to check. I feel bad for those moms who can't keep any food down. My SIL was vomiting everyday all day until the doc put her on nightly Zofran. Yikes!

I'm pregnant and have had watery stools off and on--it hasn't affected my nutrient levels though. I've been trying not to take anything for it, though my OB said I could take Kaopectate if I really needed it. I get bloody stools a lot, and every time I'm tested for Crohn's, the tests come back abnormal and show a lot of bleeding, but they are not perfectly specific for Crohn's. I just avoid leafy vegetables, popcorn, red meat--things that cause me to be in pain, and I take my prenatals and DHA daily.

Is your iron low? If so, then take iron supplements, which will definitely slow things down. I don't know about pancreatic insufficiency, but as far as IBD is concerned, I definitely wouldn't take anything that's category C, especially in the first trimester. The risks would not outweigh the benefits. I haven't taken any drugs at all (I'm 13 weeks now), and the baby is measuring perfectly, the heartbeat is right on track. A lot of women in the pregnancy forum I participate in have been dealing with diarrhea all 3 trimesters, and their babies are doing just fine. Be sure to get important levels checked though--B12, D, thyroid, etc.

It could be neuralgia from inflammation. There's not much you can do about it, but if you can have Aleve it can help in cases of mild neuralgia in the teeth.

I have no experience with Nizoral, but I just had a case of oral thrush and ended up taking Nystatin suspension fluid four times per day. It knocked it out perfectly within a week and a half with no side effects. I was pleased with the outcome.

If you haven't been gluten-free for too long, then it's normal to miss and crave the foods you can't eat--the longer you're gluten/dairy free, the less you will crave the things that are so bad for your system. It's also perfectly normal to crave things that aren't the best idea when you're pregnant. I wanted crab in the worst way at 6 weeks, but let's just say it was a very bad idea that I will never repeat during pregnancy.

However, I agree with everyone else that it's simply not worth the risk that you might be doing some damage. I'm 12 weeks now, and in the beginning I was craving lots of fat and protein--I loaded up on chicken, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, milk, etc. I also had D along with my nausea, and that did not necessarily curb all of my cravings. Just try to have safe substitutions for the things you're craving and realize that this will all pass within a matter of weeks, and then you'll be on to a new set of challenges and benefits to pregnancy. I feel your pain, but imagine how much worse it would be if you cheated and got unbelievably sick and worried about the health of your baby as a result. The pain and guilt would not be worth the momentary satisfaction of having something you want. If you like, write down a list of all the things you'd like to think about cheating with after you deliver--by the time you do, you probably won't even want them anymore, but at least you can aim toward a goal if things get overwhelming.

Congrats on the great news!

Misson corn tortillas are gluten free and a great way to have a quick wrap (and super cheap). I'm 9 weeks pregnant and am having a hard time eating big meals--so I eat several mini-meals throughout the day. Sometimes I'll make myself a little breakfast burrito with eggs, avocado, tomato, cilantro on a tortilla, or I might make what I call a BAT--bacon, avocado, tomato wrap. You have to watch for nitrates and nitrites in pregnancy, so be sure to get the bacon that doesn't have it. I get the nitrate/nitrite free uncured bacon from Niman ranch, which is available at Trader Joe's and at some Whole Foods locations. When I'm in a rush, I might get some of the Amy's organics frozen meals that are gluten free--you just have to pay attention what the box says--I only go with the gluten free foods, but some say "no gluten ingredients," which means it doesn't necessarily contain gluten, but it might be processed on the same equipment as wheat. Also remember to steer clear of lunch meat, not only because some of it is not gluten free or can be subject to cross contamination on the slicer, but also because of the bacteria it can contain that is bad during pregnancy.

Also, Trader Joe's has some really great gluten free granola (if you have one around). I have that with unsweetened yogurt and fruit, and it's really good--it has yummy and healthy stuff like nuts and flax seeds.

Your diet will feel really restricted right now since you are dealing with two issues--pregnancy and celiac. However, you've got some great motivation to keep that little embryo healthy, and when you deliver, you'll have a line of gluten free foods and drinks lined up that you'll now be able to have, and the gluten free diet won't feel that restrictive to you by comparison.

So I'm newly pregnant, and I am, in fact, 100% gluten free. I know that it's common for women to get constipated, but let's just say that this has never been one of my problems. Even being 100% gluten-free--I don't even eat out at restaurants--I still have the occasional D, or loose/frequent stools. Do any of you know what you can take for this during the first trimester? Thanks in advance!

I actually had some cramping this week along with bleeding/spotting. I thought that I was having a miscarriage, and the doctor got me in right away for an emergency appointment. We saw the heartbeat--the baby had tripled in size since my last ultrasound 9 days before. It turns out that I just had a bacterial infection causing my symptoms. I'm sure your doc will be able to figure it out. Good luck!

My current prenatal does not have DHA, and I know I need it. Has anyone had any luck with any particular DHA supplement not being too rough on the system that I could take along with my regular prenatal? Thanks!

The diarrhea got a lot worse today--I know you're not supposed to have a reaction to the flu vaccine, but I just had mine yesterday and had a horrible day today. I had read somewhere that there's a relatively small risk of certain birth defects in the early weeks of pregnancy with Imodium, so I'd been steering clear. I was just going to wait until I see my doctor next, but I'm glad to hear that your doctor feels it's safe. I'm actually looking forward to my digestive tract slowing down because right now, it's definitely unpleasant. For me, I think the diarrhea is exacerbated by the low-level cramping I'm having from my uterus stretching--the more I cramp, the more my digestive tract speeds up. Thanks to both of you for the replies!

So I'm newly pregnant, and I am, in fact, 100% gluten free. I know that it's common for women to get constipated, but let's just say that this has never been one of my problems. Even being 100% gluten-free--I don't even eat out at restaurants--I still have the occasional D, or loose/frequent stools. Do any of you know what you can take for this during the first trimester? Thanks in advance!

Melissa,

It is so important to be gluten free if you have been diagnosed as a celiac, but especially if you are pregnant. Just because you may seem asymptomatic doesn't mean that you are not hurting your body and your nutrient levels by eating gluten. You will need to absorb as many nutrients as possible to pass on to your newly developing fetus. I'd start going through your house and tossing anything that contains wheat, rye, barley, oats, soy sauce, dressings and other things that seem questionable. I don't want to frighten you, but not maintaining the gluten free diet during pregnancy can cause a host of problems for the fetus. I would go gluten free right away. How were you diagnosed? Did you trust your doctor's diagnosis?

I've actually never bought pumpkin seeds. I just buy mini pumpkins and roast the pumpkins to puree for pies and other things. Then you clean off the seeds, put them on a baking sheet with a little olive oil, salt, (and I like cayenne pepper) and then roast between 350 and 375 until they are golden and toasty. They are so good, and it you put them in tupperware, they stay good for quite some time.