CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Celiac Disease During Pregnancy

Can't eat gluten? We've got the details on what your celiac disease means throughout pregnancy — and tips on how to keep yourself and baby healthy.
save article
profile picture of Jennifer L.W. Fink
By Jennifer L.W. Fink, Registered Nurse
Updated February 28, 2017
Hero Image

What is celiac disease during pregnancy?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, which means that your body thinks it’s doing good but is actually harming you. In celiac disease, eating gluten, a protein found in a lot of grains, triggers an immune response that causes the body to damage the small intestine.

What are the signs of celiac disease during pregnancy?

Symptoms include abdominal pain, swelling and bloating; diarrhea; weight loss; and fatigue. Sometimes people have no gastrointestinal symptoms. There may be less obvious symptoms, like irritabilityjoint pain and a skin rash.

Are there any tests for celiac disease during pregnancy?

Yes. Your doctor can run a blood test to look for anti-gluten antibodies. He may also do an upper endoscopy, a procedure that lets him look at the inside of your intestine (though if symptoms aren’t severe, he may wait until after delivery to perform the procedure).

How common is celiac disease during pregnancy?

Celiac disease affects approximately 1 percent of all Americans, but most people don’t know they have it.

How did I get celiac disease?

No one knows for sure, but you’re more likely to have celiac disease if someone else in your family has it, so researchers believe there’s a genetic link.

How will celiac disease affect my baby?

“The problem with celiac disease and pregnancy is that you have poor absorption of nutrients, because you have all of this constant diarrhea and an inflammatory reaction in your bowels,” says Michelle Collins, CNM, an assistant professor of nurse-midwifery at Vanderbilt University.” So moms with celiac disease have a greater risk of having a  low-birth-weight baby. They also have a small increased risk of preterm labor.”

Related Video

A few studies suggest undiagnosed or untreated celiac disease can cause miscarriage. But if you have celiac disease and follow your gluten-free diet, chances are good that you’ll have a healthy pregnancy and baby. (More tips on the next page.)

What’s the best way to treat celiac disease during pregnancy?

Follow a gluten-free diet! Fortunately, that’s easier than ever to do. Most grocery stores now carry plenty of gluten-free foods to choose from.

What can I do to prevent celiac disease during pregnancy?

You can’t prevent it, but you can manage it.

What do other pregnant moms do when they have celiac disease?

“I will say I feel a bajilliion times better off gluten, so it’s definitely worth it [to give up gluten]… Gluten-free eating can be a pain sometimes, and you definitely lack the convenience factor, but in the end it will be worth it.”

“I was diagnosed with celiac disease in October 2009. I know there may not be any correlation, but research does [suggest] that celiac disease can cause infertility as well as multiple miscarriages.”

Are there any other resources for celiac disease?

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

pregnant woman getting a flu vaccine
Why You Should Get the Flu Shot While Pregnant
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman taking her temperature
How to Safely Treat a Fever During Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman suffering from a cold at home
How to Combat Colds During Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
sick woman laying on couch
How to Handle the Flu While Pregnant
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
person sudsing their hands before washing
Here’s How to Wash Your Hands Properly
By Liz Callahan Schnabolk
How to Cope With a Sinus Infection During Pregnancy
How to Cope With a Sinus Infection During Pregnancy
By Korin Miller
Graves' Disease During Pregnancy
Graves' Disease During Pregnancy
By Vera T. Fajtova, MD, endocrinologist at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in Boston and assistant professor of clinical medicine at Harvard University
ADVERTISEMENT
pregnant woman sitting at doctor's office
The Flu Shot Is an Easy and Effective Way for Pregnant Women to Protect Themselves and Baby
By Fiona Havers, MD, MHS
pregnant woman filling out forms at doctor's office
Pregnant Women Who Get a Flu Shot Reduce Risk of Hospitalization by an Insane Amount
By Stephanie Grassullo
pregnant woman getting flu shot
ACOG Releases New Guidelines for Flu Shots During Pregnancy
By Anisa Arsenault
ADVERTISEMENT
mom who was diagnosed with cancer during her pregnancy, with her newborn baby and partner.
My Cancer Diagnosis During Pregnancy Saved My Life
By Julianna Guevara
woman with cystic fibrosis tells her story of getting pregnant
My Cystic Fibrosis Pregnancy Defied the Odds
By Maxine Craig
pregnant woman wondering if viruses and colds are dangerous to her unborn baby
Q&A: Are Viruses Like Cold or Flu a Danger to My Unborn Baby?
By The Bump Editors
ADVERTISEMENT
close-up pregnant belly
Fifth Disease During Pregnancy
By Jennifer L.W. Fink
pregnant woman hands belly
Pregnant? Here’s Why the Flu Shot Is a Really Good Idea
By Anisa Arsenault
Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis
By Jennifer L.W. Fink
Chlamydia During Pregnancy
Chlamydia During Pregnancy
By Sharon Phelan, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
Thrombophlebitis During Pregnancy
Thrombophlebitis During Pregnancy
By Deborah Ottenheimer, MD
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) During Pregnancy
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) During Pregnancy
By Rebecca Kolp, MD
Lyme Disease During Pregnancy
Lyme Disease During Pregnancy
By Jennifer L.W. Fink
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List