Expectant mothers worry about everything, but if they have a chronic disease, they worry more.
So a new study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology offers pregnant women who suffer from celiac disease some hopeful news.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Nottingham in England, discovered that celiac patients did NOT have an increased risk of major complications during pregnancy nor problematic births than women without the disease.
Celiac disease damages the intestinal lining because of an immune reaction to gluten, which is contained in wheat, barley and rye. It also prevents people from properly absorbing food’s nutrients, a particular concern if you’re carrying a baby.
The study tracked 364,000 pregnancies from 1997 to 2012, with almost 900 of the patients having celiac disease. It found that mothers-to-be with the disease had a slightly higher risk of heavy bleeding after childbirth as well as needing more medical help during delivery – i.e.. special tools – than women without the disease.
But celiac patients carried their babies to term, gave birth to babies at a healthy weight and suffered stillbirths at the same rate as pregnant women without the disorder.
Happy news for a happy time in a woman’s life, even those with a chronic illness.
Pamela Hasterok