Impact of celiac disease during pregnancy: Learn how to cope

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by consuming gluten foods like wheat, barley or rye, eventually leading to intestinal damage. It can complicate the pregnancy phase by causing harm to both the mother and the baby. Managing both physical and mental health by expected mothers is a challenge that has to be overcome by proper care, treatment and diagnosis.
Impact of celiac disease during pregnancy :
During pregnancy, one of the main concerns is fear of developing malnutrition, since the intestines won’t be able to absorb required nutrients, the chances of preterm delivery, miscarriage, or the underweight child newborn are higher.
For fetal development, consuming healthy foods which are rich in proteins and vitamins like folate, iron, and calcium is crucial. When expectant mothers avoid gluten due to celiac disease, the chances of developing a protein deficiency increase. To prevent complications, they often rely on other foods that compensate for the loss of protein. Along with hormonal changes, pregnant women may also develop food cravings. Therefore, constant monitoring of food intake is important to ensure the body absorbs all the essential nutrients needed for the baby's growth.
Hormonal changes in pregnancy trigger cravings, making it crucial to monitor food intake for proper nutrition, ensuring essential vitamins like folate, iron, and calcium for fetal development.
The fear of inadvertently consuming gluten and causing harm to the baby adds to the stress, thereby developing a kind of heightened anxiety about making food choices.
Certain mitigation measures include:
Considering the fact of family history there is no preventable way for Celiac disease since it is an autoimmune disease, but certain steps can be taken to reduce the effect of the disease or help in early detection. Doctors may recommend blood tests to identify the exact cause because its symptoms overlap with other health conditions. Endoscopy is conducted which involves a procedure in which a small tissue sample is taken from the small intestine to analyze and detect.

Conclusion:
Pregnant women should eliminate gluten from their diet to avoid any complications. To reduce malnutrition and anemia, expecting mothers need to rely on vitamins and minerals supplements like copper, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, and Zinc for proper fetal growth. Individuals should communicate with the doctor without hesitating to customize their diet and treatment plans. Through these treatment methods, pregnant women with celiac disease can have a healthy pregnancy and also avoid risks caused by deficiencies in nutrients.
Author: Dr Poornima Ramakrishna, MBBS, MS, MRCOG(UK),Senior Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Apollo Cradle and Children’s Hospital, Bangalore