Michi8

First off, many women with celiac disease have had healthy pregnancies and births before diagnosis...pregnancy, in fact, can be a trigger for celiac disease to become active. The reasons for miscarriage could be any number of things. However, the fact that you have been diagnosed means that you now have the info for changing your diet and ensuring that you are going to have a healthy pregnancy...thus eliminating any risk celiac disease would contribute towards possible miscarriage.

The best you can do is try to relax and enjoy this pregnancy. I would suggest, too, that if anxiety is getting the best of you, consider talking to a dr or natropath about homeopathic treatment. Finally, consider taking a course like Birthing From Within (or at least reading the book!) to help reframe your fears and focus on having a healthy, wonderful experience.

Michelle

I am desperately trying to hold onto anything to calm me down ever since I learn from you all the link between miscarriage and celiacs. Does anyone know why? Is it from the malnutrition or the antibodies? The same day I found out I was pregnant, I got the blood test and just found I have celiacs. I am living gluten-free now and am 6 weeks preg. Because I am following a gluten-free diet, are my chances of miscarrying less? Also, is the chance of miscarrying throughout the whole pregnancy or just the first trimester.

Sorry, I just really want to enjoy this moment that my husband and I have been trying for so long and I can't seem to calm down-

Thank you all in advance. You all have been so kind and I wish I could thak you all personally!!!

I wish it was only commericals, I think I cried over a curious George cartoon yesterday. I just wish I could relax. I got celiacs after I was pregnant, although just found out now ( 3 yrs later). I never even thought about miscarriage with my first and now, everytime I have a cramp, I am like, "Oh no, what is that?" I have been gluten free for about a week and my stool has not changed. I do not have D, but it is really fatty and gross. Everytime I go, I am worried!

Thanks again for your kind words.

It's good that you know about your celiac now. The best thing you can do is stick to the diet, and supplement for the nutrients you're deficient in. Aside from that, try not to stress, and enjoy this pregnancy! Having a doctor that is somewhat laid back can be a good thing too.

With a second pregnancy, it's not unusual to be more sensitive to braxton hicks contractions. They can start early and continue throughout the pregnancy. That was my experience with my second and third pregnancies.

Michelle

People are starting to point out that I'm getting a few gray hairs and I'm only 24. No one else I know my age is experiencing this problem. Could it be related to celiac because of the years of malasorbtion? I've been a gluten-free diet for about a year now.

Any thoughts as to why this might be? No one in my family has a history of getting gray hairs before their early 30s.

Thanks!

Could be related to celiac or other autoimmune disorders. It can also be luck of the draw. I've been greying since I was 18. At almost 40, I've got so much grey I have to colour my hair so that I don't look 10 years older than I actually am.

Michelle

My comments about ingredients were specific to the Lea & Perrins brand, which does not have soy sauce as an ingredient. With that brand, it is the malt vinegar that is the issue with the Canadian version.

I keep looking in stores, but all I ever seem to see is Lea & Perrins. I've never seen Heinz or French's. Soy sauce is a possible source of gluten since it frequently contains wheat, but it is not an ingredient in the L&P sauce.

I know you were being specific to the Lea & Perrins brand. And you are correct, the offending ingredient is barley malt vinegar (I had to look it up online, because I threw out my bottle (Canadian) a long time ago.) In checking out the online info, I did find out that Heinz has owned Lea & Perrins since 2005. The Heinz worcestershire sauce contains white vinegar and soy sauce without wheat. As far as I can tell it is not available in the US market, but is available in Canada.

Michelle

My understanding is that it's not the vinegar, but the soy sauce ingredient that is the problem. I have found Heinz worcestershire sauce (in Canada) that has soy sauce without wheat...and there is no barley malts in the ingredients either.

Michelle

Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce varies from country to country with respect to the vinegar: "Some ingredients are sourced locally." Here in Canada, the first ingredient listed is "Malt Vinegar (from barley)." In the United States, it is my understanding that the vinegar used is distilled, which would make it safe regardless of source (but it is not barley-- understand that it is corn). I can't use the L&P sold here, but I expect to be in the states next month and will pick some up gluten-free bottles and bring them back with me. I cannot speak to the UK formulation. The stuff sold in the US is made in the US. The stuff sold in Canada is made in Canada (under license by E.D.Smith).

As far as I know, French's is gluten-free, but I can't find it in any store.

Always read labels.

NOTE: This is an old thread, recently revived. The information in the early part of the thread may no longer be correct, as formulas change.

I bought a small spray-on Benzocaine and used it a couple of times for a couple of days on a cut and I don't feel great the next day. I'm not eating anything different - this is the only new thing that I am using.

There's nothing in the ingredients that I'm able to see but since this isn't a food product who knows?

Has anyone had any experience using products like this?

You may simply be sensitive or allergic to Benzocaine.

Michelle

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Any recommendations for what? Are you asking for brand names?

Dairy Free is the brand name. In Canada it is made by English Bay Batter. In the US I think it's Vance's???

I like Blue Diamond Almond milk (comes in Original w/ or w/out sugar, Vanilla or Chocolate...the chocolate, heated up, tastes a lot like commercial hot cocoa.), and Rice milk I try any brand that is gluten free...lots of choices out there.

Michelle

We don't drink milk at our house. We use almond milk or rice milk. But the favourite, especially for my kids, is Dairy Free...especially with cereal.

Michelle

I can't do a raw diet, as my allergies would surely do me in. I cannot eat raw tree fruit or raw nuts because I am allergic to them all (in their raw form) due to cross-reactivity with birch pollen (to which I'm severely allergic.)

I am curious though, when one is on a raw diet, do they miss out on specific nutrients...is supplementation necessary? What comes to mind for me is how light cooking can improve the bioavailability of some nutrients in certain veggies and fruit such as broccoli (vitamin A, C, folic acid, calcium), tomato (lycopene), carrot (carotenoid), garlic, onion, etc, not to mention make some produce easier to digest (as has been my experience.)

Michelle

I've had problems with internally itchy ears. I know it if because of allergies though. Have also had it deep in the tissues of my toes and fingers...it coincided with a sudden drop in temperature last summer, so I had chalked it up to maybe being raynauds...likely tied to seasonal allergies.

Wouldn't be surprised if it happens elsewhere in the body too!

Michelle

I think BOTH the above lists are way, way too many foods for a six-month-old! Heck, for four of my five kids I didn't introduce any solids until they were eight months old (and I fed my oldest solids earlier because I had a bad doctor and didn't know any better), and they didn't miss a thing. And even at eight months they didn't eat a lot of stuff, I introduced solids very slowly.

Oh I agree with you there! I just posted the complete list as it was given to me. What I didn't show was how slow the process actually is for introducing foods. It starts with simply putting the food on the cheek and waiting for reaction. If no reaction shows within 20 minutes, then apply to the lip. If no reaction there, then for breakfast you feed 1/2 teaspoon. Looking for reaction within a 4 hour period. If no reaction, then 1 tsp at lunch, watching for reaction. 2 tsp at supper. Watching for reaction including changes in behaviour and sleep disturbance. The next day you avoid the food altogether and watch for delayed reaction....Day three try feeding a bit more, Day 4 is another day off, etc. The process of introducing a food takes a week. Based on this schedule, it would take more than 4 months to get through that entire list of foods!

Now that is if you choose to start foods at 6 months as suggested (which is 2 months later than is typically recommended by the health nurses and doctors!) I agree waiting 'til 8 months or later can be a good idea. However, some kids do show that they are ready to experiment with foods at six months...and others will give clear signals they are not interested until later. It's all about reading baby's cues, and applying caution based on family history.

Michelle

When my first child was a baby, we had a consult with an allergy nutritionist about safe introductions of food. She provided me with guidelines for introduction, timing for specific foods and a Food Allergen Scale.

Based on these guidelines, cherries (cooked) and all RAW fruits are not recommended for into until 12-24 months old. Apples (cooked) and grapes are not recommeded until 9-12 months.

The safe foods (all must be cooked) for 6 to 9 months intro are:

Rice

Millet

Yam

Sweet Potato

Squash (all types)

Carrot

Beets

Broccoli

Potato

Green Beans

Cabbage

Pear

Peach

Banana

Apricot

Nectarine

Blueberry

Lamb

Turkey

I personally don't agree with starting with grains, as they are all hard to digest. Also don't believe that animal protein is necessary at this point either. Breastmilk should still be provided through the first year and beyond.

The reasoning for this choice of first foods is based on their potential for developing allergy. While cooking does change the allergy potential of many foods, some see less change with cooking than others. Raw apple is up near the top of the allergy list, and cooked apple doesn't fall too far below. Raw carrot has the same allergenicity as raw apple, but, when cooked, carrot drops to near the bottom, making it a fairly safe choice for a first food.

Michelle

only give your baby (your milk)

cherries, pit and smash them

banana

prunes

blackberries

applesauce

grapes, remove seeds and smash

pears

blueberries

carrot

beets

yams

That is recommemded by my naturepath. Recommeded foods for 6 mo old.

I think that you should stick to gluten-free, dairy free, soy free, etc. for your diet and only give your baby these foods which are very easy on the digestion.

Ehlers Danlo? I have never been evaluated for that. I am flexible, but not hyper mobile(I don't think). I am not flexible in my shoulders, where I have a lot of pain. Yet it goes out all the time. My spine won't stay straight either. My PT says it is muscular, that the bones can be straightened. She can't find anything wrong with my joints. I trust her, she's my mother in law. My chiro just puts it straight, but that doesn't last. I will definately investigate this further. Thank you.

Building muscle strength helps too.

Joint pain has been an issue since I was 10(knees). It was better for about 6 years as a teenager except when I would get heavily involved in a sport. At 20 it came back in my shoulder.

Thank you so much.

It may be worth looking into Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which is a genetic collagen disorder. I was just diagnosed with it myself a few months ago. It is not uncommon for those with EDS to have digestive issues too (chronic constipation for example), and well as a tendency towards certain autoimmune issues (like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome) or even celiac disease. There are different forms of EDS...not all are the hypermobility type. For me, I do have flexibility in my shoulders and hips, but not so much in my knees and elbows (they don't bend backwards at all.) I also have very soft, sensitive, stretchy skin, and have health issues related to stretchy tissues: hiatial hernia, constipation, redundant colon.

With EDS, if you keep your muscles strong, then it should help to support the joints. My joints have become painful as I have aged. I was very active and fit as a child and teenager, so I had no noticeable joint issues then. Also, there is some evidence that mega doses of vitamin C can help with collagen production to help keep tissues healthy.

Check out more info on EDS here: Open Original Shared Link

Michelle

I hope that you're able to find a product that is gluten free, I don't have any suggestions for you.

Unfortunately, no amount of cream will prevent stretch marks. Some develop them in the first pregnancy, some are lucky enough to never develop them, and some, like me, only develop them (on the belly) after multiple pregnancies...I had stretch markes elsewhere before pregnancy, likely because of EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome).

Michelle

Hello all,

I'm 6 weeks pregnant and I want to try and prevent stretch marks. I've heard that coco butter is the best thing to use but so far the couple of creams I've looked at contain wheat. Does anyone know of a brand that does not? Does anyone know if Palmers brand is ok? I was told that is the best kind to use. If anyone knows of something else that is supposed to prevent stretch marks I could use that instead.

Actually, the abbreviations/acronyms predate texting by many years. I've been using these short forms since I started participating in newsgroups in the early 90s...this was well before I had an internet browser that actually showed images. If I'm not mistaken, L337 speak predates phone texting too.

YMMV - your methods may vary

IMHO - in my humble opinion

DH - can also mean dear husband or darn husband

DS/DD/DW - dear son, daughter, wife

ROTFLMAO - rolling on the floor laughing my ass off

AFAIK - as far as I know

etc

You can do a Google search for a list of common acronyms...pretty easy to find.

Michelle

This is just a guess: I don't know

I wish the abbreviations would be kept to a minimum as many of us aren't up to date with text messaging lettering. For a while I thought POS meant Positive... and I couldn't figure out a sentence such as this:

The new thing I purchased was a pos.

Then I finally figured it out days later. Since we aren't being charged by the "letter" as we would be if this were cell phones and Blackberries could we avoid the less common abbreviations.

alright i will show my ignorance here too...why would you not want a colonoscopy? and what is the difference btween a endoscope and an gastroscope? i had an endoscopy and results were "fine" but celiac was never discussed in fact i was not aware of it yet, i'm wondering though should i have a gasrtoscopy now after 8 months, should i have a colonoscopy as well, will these tell me anything? i though they could get farther in the intestines from the other end....and was the better test for celiac---i was right about to call the GI spec. to set up my colonoscopy too...cuz i got to figure out if i am really fighting the gluten or what here

I believe endoscopy and gastroscopy are virtually the same thing. They are both examining the upper portion of the intestinal tract (duodenum), which is where villous atrophy would be seen. During gastroscopy, the dr will be looking for health issues of the esophagus and stomach as well. Colonoscopy will look at the colon, and can be useful in detecting other potential health issues such as chron's, colitis, tumors, redundant colon, etc. Neither procedure gets too far into the intestines.

Michelle

I react to adhesive bandages as well. I had patch testing done that confirmed I am not allergic to latex, but am allergic to other things (potassium dichloride, nickel, cobalt) that, unfortunately, are used in many adhesives, as well as many other common products. I always remind medical personnel of my sensitivity, but it doesn't always help. When I had my second c-section, they ignored my requests and used a tape over the incision & staples that caused blistering...very uncomfortable to say the least!

Try different brands to see if one works better for you. If you continue to have problems, or they get worse, consider patch testing to narrow down what you're sensitive to.

Michelle

These laws need to address gluten as well. You'll still be out of luck with hidden barley, rye, oats and related gluten grains.

Michelle

Thanks again for the site!

~Laura

You can order from Kinnikinnick directly:

Open Original Shared Link

Apparently their chocolate doughnuts are good, and I really like their pizza crusts.

Michelle

(who really appreciates that Kinnikinnick is located nearby. )

Reply I received today from Campbell's Soup:

we received your message and appreciate your taking the time to contact Campbell Soup Company to learn more about the use of gluten in our products.

The Campbell's Bean with Bacon Soup is not a gluten free product however,

I would be happy to send you a copy of our gluten free list via the mail.

Please keep in mind that product recipes change frequently and ingredients

are periodically added and replaced. Therefore, I advise you to check the

ingredient statement on each package to be certain that the product is

still gluten-free.

We appreciate your feedback. Please accept the coupon we have sent to you

via the mail with my apologies for any inconvenience you may have

experienced. The coupon can be redeemed for any product in the Campbell

family of brands including V8, Prego, Pace, and Pepperidge Farm.

I hope I've been able to answer your question. Please contact the

Consumer Response Center or visit Campbell's website if you have

additional questions.

Thank you for visiting the Campbell Soup website.

Campbell Soup Web Team

TLA

Is this from Campbell's in the US or in Canada? The information I have is that the Bean & Bacon made for Canadian consumers was gluten free...of course, that could have easily changed.

Michelle

Thanks for all the replies they are really helpful. I am off to the store tomorrow to get a new pillow and a dust cover for it now that we are home from holiday visits. We cleared out all the lovies except for three favorites that take a regular spin in the washer with blankie!

Another question for you though, Michael has had 6 bm's per day for the last 3 days. They are green in color which the GI says is normal however 6 seems a little much to me. However it is not D.

Have you reintroduced soy and dairy? Perhaps this has contributed to the frequency and colour of his bms. Be aware that allergy tests can be hit or miss...just because a test comes back negative doesn't mean there is no allergy. I've had allergy tests show up as negative, but still have obvious reactions to those foods.

Michelle

Okay, I have a question possibly related to all this, lol.

Last Monday I got a B-12 shot at my doctor's office. They put on a little round tweety bird bandaid. All was fine, no itching that first day and most of the second day. In fact, it didn't itch until towards the end of the second day when I removed the bandaid. As soon as I removed it, the spot started itching and continued itching for a couple of hours. The itching stopped for a while, then came back the next morning, and several times throughout that day and the next two days. INTENSE itching, lol. Funny thing is, there was NO redness or swelling or marks of any kind (except for the microscopic spot left by the needle).

Does that sound like a sensitivity or allergy? I would think there would be swelling or redness if that was the case. I've been trying to figure out (and still need to call the doctor's office, lol) if it's the B-12 or the bandaid. I am allergic to trees, but mostly oak and a couple of other.

I think it's something worth talking to your doctor about.

Through patch testing, I found out I'm allergic to cobalt...which means I'm allergic to vitamin B12. I'm not anaphylactic to it at this point, but it doesn't mean I won't be down the road. Apparently anaphylaxis & death have occurred after B12 injection due to a cobalt allergy (a Google search will turn up info on this.) I don't know what treatment I would take if I had pernicious anemia.

Michelle

Allison, some women do get pregnant during the fist six months, but statistically studies show it's not likely if exclusively breastfeeding ...I'm not going to reference the studies, but the are available .... we all know women who have, but they fall into the smaller percentage who do ... we also all know women who have gotten pregnant on the Pill ... in fact, I know MORE of those than women getting pregnant the first few months breastfeeding.

I think this is an area where the info needs updating...perhaps more studies need to be done. The information I have read is that far more women are able to achieve pregnancy during exclusive breastfeeding than once believed. Perhaps better nutrition has something to do with it? I know more women able to get pregnant while breastfeeding than those who had no cycles until many months after birth.

I breastfed 100% on-demand and exclusively until 6 months (solids intoduced at that point) with my babies (and breastfed each until 2, 2.5 and 2 years.) With my first, I had obvious signs of ovulation and then my period at 4 months. As I mentioned earlier, my cycles started earlier after each birth. I also get pregnant very easily, so being aware of my cycles was essential. I was able to time their conception even though I was breastfeeding...and continued to breastfeed until about 4 months into my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies.

I taught NFP for years and used to have the stats, but don't anymore, I'm sure they're online .... I also used to teach how to recognize fertility when it was returning, most but not all, have a warning period. Also, when you're ovulating, you will see cervical mucus, but if you are still having ammenorrhea, mucus will be scant.

I think that's a YMMV thing...mucus amounts vary from woman to woman, and whether or not she notices will depend on how in tune she is with her cycles and how much mucus there is during the rest of the cycle.

Michelle

I was one of those lucky women who started ovulating "early" even though I was breastfeeding on demand. First baby my period started at 4 months, second baby it started at 2 months, third baby it started at 8 weeks. Of course one ovulates a couple of weeks preceding a period...so, essentially I would have been fertile 6 weeks after that third birth. I suspect if I were to have a fourth baby, my period would start again immediately after birth!

My cycles are regular as well, they vary slightly in length...and now, there are the odd times when it seems wonked out, but I attribute that to aging...especially since my youngest is 5yo now.

If you are pregnant, then obviously your body is ready. Your incisions should be fully healed at around 6 weeks and will not get any stronger over time. Pregnancy would be taxing, because your still likely healing from pregnancy and birth, but it wouldn't be dangerous.

Michelle

Yes, if you are eliminating dairy, it means ALL dairy. You can get dark chocolate that has no dairy. You can also get "milk" chocolate made with rice milk. I just bought a bar the other day made by Terra Nostra that was 100% gluten-free and CF. I was really impressed with the taste...the kids loved it too!

Regarding soy, you may want to try eliminating it as well. And, again, ALL soy. Almond Breeze has some soy in it BTW.

Good luck! Hope you're able to sort it all out soon.

Michelle