My Top Ten Pregnancy List with Celiac

I have celiac disease and I'm pregnant (again!)

It's been quite a journey, but as I'm entering into my third trimester, I thought it might be helpful to share the top 10 things that have helped me navigate this very exciting (and sometimes exhausting!) season of life.

Update: I am pregnant with baby #2 (a boy due December 2025) and am updating this list with items that were helpful for round 2 of pregnancy with celiac disease. This post was updated in October 2025.

About This Celiac & Pregnancy Blog Post

Dylan and I had a baby girl, Harper, in February 2024. She is our world!

And now, we are expecting a baby boy in December 2025.

We are, once again, over the moon with excitement.

I'm so grateful to be pregnant with my autoimmune conditions (celiac and hypothyroidism) and have a healthy pregnancy again after suffering a miscarriage in the fall of 2022.

In this blog post, I'm sharing a little bit about both of my pregnancy journeys and the products that have been the most helpful throughout these experiences with celiac disease.

I hope that as you go through this, you might find something that makes your life a little bit easier or helps you feel less alone.

Pregnancy is a wild ride of emotions, aches, pains, joys, celebrations, and quite the rollercoaster. But like giving birth to our daughter Harper in 2024, I know that when baby boy arrives, it will all be worth it.

So without further ado, here's a little background on my experience with both pregnancies (Because everyone is different!) and the products that have helped me the most!

Celiac & Pregnancy Top Ten List

Disclosure/Disclaimer

I am not a doctor or medical professional. Please speak to your doctor, OBGYN, midwife, or healthcare team regarding your pregnancy and celiac disease. I am sharing products & things that have worked for me. Please make sure they work for you and your needs. Thank you!

My Pregnancy: Things I Did Beforehand

Since I have celiac disease, osteopenia, and hypothyroidism, there were a couple of things I did to help prepare my body for pregnancy, which also continued into postpartum care after our daughter Harper was born.

First, I continued meeting with my primary care doctor on a regular basis (at least once 1x year) before getting pregnant. She would also run my celiac panel, bloodwork, and thyroid bloodwork, in addition to standard check-up procedures.

Secondly, I met with a celiac-specialized dietitian before getting pregnant to make sure I was covering all of my bases for celiac safety and getting the proper nutrition my body needed. I saw Christianna Moran, RDN, who is fabulous and based in the Boston area, and has been living with celiac disease for most of her life.

Thirdly, I met with an OBGYN/midwife at 8 weeks and continued to do so regularly throughout my pregnancy.

Update for Baby #2: I followed these same practices before my second pregnancy with baby boy. I met regularly with my endocrinologist to check my thyroid levels, kept in touch with my dietitian, and had regular appointments with my OBGYN.

Celiac & Pregnancy Trimester 1 Products

For Nausea

Nausea is really common in the first trimester of pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, an estimated 70% of pregnant women experience it.

For my pregnancy with Harper, I was definitely one of those people who suffered with nausea, queasiness, and vomiting during Trimester 1, but it subsided at the start of Trimester 2.

For this pregnancy with our baby boy, the nausea was 5x worse.

I've heard that symptoms you had the first time around can be amplified in your next pregnancy, but I do think a lot of my nausea (I mean, all-day nausea, especially on an empty stomach) was due to breastfeeding.

Harper fully weaned herself when I was about 5 months pregnant, and after that, the nausea improved significantly. At 5 months, I was able to stop taking my nightly Unisom/B6.

Tummy Drops

My wonderful sister-in-law Lindsay, sent me a pregnancy care package when she found out we were expecting Harper. One of the items inside was a package of these certified gluten-free tummy drops.

They are lozenges/drops, essentially, made with ginger, which is a known herb/supplement to help with nausea. And I began keeping them in my purse at all times. They aren't super strong in the ginger category but would do the trick to help me curb any nausea/hunger if I felt it coming on.

The drops, as mentioned, are certified gluten-free (score!) and come in multiple flavors. I only had the ginger ones and would find myself having them more when out and about, like in the car, running errands, or when waiting to eat! You can find them at Whole Foods or on Amazon here.

Update For Baby#2: I honestly didn't have these at all this pregnancy.

It wasn't that I didn't like them - I just was in the habit of having food and small snacks around instead of losenges. But I still recommend them as an easy way to curb nausea quickly. The other thing I would do is smell peppermint essential oil, which also helped.

Lollipops

Before I even found the Tummy Drops, I was a lollipop queen. I could've taken over for the CandyLand character! Having something to suck on that was sweet and distracted me from my nausea was crucial in the latter half of Trimester 1.

I would keep these also in my purse with me and take them everywhere! My favorite lollipops are from Yum Earth, which are also certified gluten-free, and they come in delicious, naturally sweetened flavors. You can find them on Amazon here.

Update for Baby #2: I didn't have a single lollipop 😂.

Instead, I was more likely to have a peanut butter Larabar in my purse or some string cheese. More on my favorite gluten-free pregnancy snacks below!

Gluten-Free Snacks

When I went in for my first appointment at 8 weeks, my OBGYN and midwives were asking questions about how I was feeling, what was I eating, etc.

I had been eating whatever was light that my stomach could handle - usually Good Thins crackers, Snyders Gluten-Free Pretzels, and Canyon gluten-free toast. Or I'd have plain rice with some ginger ale.

While these went down okay, I would be hungry again so quickly that the nausea would start over again!

They suggested having more protein-based snacks, like crackers with peanut butter, some cheese, or something else that would be more filling. They also suggested having small meals throughout the day, which I was already doing. I'd gone from 3-4 meals a day to 6-7 even smaller meals/snacks per day!

But to be honest, having more protein really helped. It kept me fuller longer, prevented the nausea from creeping up as much during the day, and made a difference.

Some of the gluten-free snacks I kept handy:

Polly-O String Cheese

Baby Carrots with Sabra Hummus

Snyders Gluten-Free Pretzels

Apple or Banana with Jif Peanut Butter

Larabars or Bob's Red Mill Bars

For more snack ideas that are gluten AND dairy-free, check out this list of 20+ products to try.

Update For Baby #2: I snacked just as much (if not more) as I did with Harper. My nausea was all day and lasted for much longer than just Trimester 1, so I was constantly snacking on string cheese and Larabars.

What Made My Nausea Worse

One of the biggest things that I think contributed to my nausea was my choice of prenatal vitamins.

As much as they contained great vitamins and minerals to support pregnancy (I used these ones from Pure Encapsulations, which are certified gluten-free), they were like massive horse pills and I found myself throwing up entire meals after taking them.

I had taken them up until I was pregnant just to prepare my body/nutrition for conception, but once I was actually pregnant, they were a huge problem!

After consulting with my OBGYN, I switched to these VitaFusion gluten-free gummy prenatal vitamins for Trimester 1 without iron. They are gluten-free. They were much calmer on my system, and I was not throwing up as often once I switched to the gummies. I was able to go back to the larger, iron-based pills in Trimester 2 when the nausea subsided.

In addition to switching to different prenatal vitamins, I also began taking Vitamin B6 and Unisom (Doxylamine Succinate) as recommended by my OBGYN office for nausea. I took Vitamin B6 during the day, and half a Unisom at night. These helped tremendously when I took them on a regular schedule. By the start of Trimester 2, I was able to drop the Vitamin B6 during the day, and by the end of Trimester 2, I dropped the Unisom at night. Remember to ask your provider about these items, dosage, and use, and be prepared to be extra sleepy from the Unisom!

Update for Baby #2: I followed the same practices. I used my gummy vitamins for Trimesters 1 and 2 due to nausea. But then I discovered I was anemic at the start of Trimester 3, so I really had to implement my iron supplements (along with a stool softener to prevent constipation, which is SO PAINFUL but even WORSE in pregnancy). Fingers crossed the iron is working so I don't have to do infusions!

I also had to take the Unisom & B6 daily until pretty much the end of Trimester 2. Once Harper weaned, the nausea significantly improved.

Celiac & Pregnancy Trimester 2 Products

As I headed into Trimester 2, I began noticing some body changes and things that were definitely different. Suddenly, lying down, sleeping, and even sitting were a lot more difficult.

The biggest challenge I had in Trimester 2 was leg numbness. I couldn't lean back or sit comfortably sometimes because the back of my thigh, side, or butt would start to go numb! This was more annoying/frustrating, but not painful in any way. It felt like an extreme version of when your hand/foot would fall asleep.

Similarly, I also had my hands go numb sometimes when sleeping. I had to make a conscious effort to try and sleep with my hands open (and not lay on them by accident) to prevent this from happening.

Toward the end of Trimester 2, when Harper was larger in size, I began noticing common similarities each morning. Lower back pain, groin pain, or hip pain were common upon first getting up, but then would subside within a minute or two once I began moving around. Having some support while sleeping really helped, as I'll explain below.

Update For Baby #2: For this pregnancy, my body was much more prepared to accommodate me as I grew a human. It had already been stretched in many ways, so I had hardly any hip, back, or groin pain.

But I still experienced hand numbness at night. I only had occasional pins and needles in my right leg when sitting, which I could quickly adjust as needed.

For Relaxation & Sleeping

Boppy Pregnancy Pillow

I never thought I would need a pregnancy pillow until I tried one! And then, I was hooked.

No, I didn't buy one of the crazy ones that are as big as an entire queen mattress, because I didn't know how my husband was supposed to sleep next to me with that thing! Instead, I opted for this small boppy bean-shaped pillow that goes between my legs while side sleeping. This helped to keep my hips aligned, so I would wake up with less hip and lower back pain.

The benefit of purchasing a Boppy pregnancy pillow was twofold. First, to have the pillow that I now have been using to sleep every single night. And secondly, I bought the pillow through Babylist. Since I was setting up a registry anyway, you can actually get an entire Babylist welcome box with tons of free samples and products if you create a registry, add items to it, and make a purchase on the Babylist website. So I did, and was really impressed with the gift box that arrived!

Since Trimester 2, I slept with the Boppy pillow between my legs, and another pillow behind my back to stay supported. This continued into Trimester 3 until I gave birth to Harper.

Update for Baby #2: Yes, this pillow is still my FAVORITE. I began sleeping with it every night at the start of Trimester 2. It's the perfect size, comfortable, and helps me sleep better on my side every night. Occasionally, I will use a pillow behind my back, but again, I'm not experiencing as much body aches as I did while pregnant with Harper.

Calm App & Nightly Routine

I cannot say enough AMAZING things about the Calm app for meditation, breathwork, sleep, and relaxation.

I've been using it on a weekly (usually daily) basis for the last 5 years, and it is incredible.

From soundscapes to guided meditations, to breathing, to sleep stories, to music, I have been using this app nightly throughout my pregnancy to calm my body and mind, release tension, practice acceptance, and fall asleep.

I used to use these comfortable Bluetooth headphones at night when I go to sleep, but now, as Harper is a toddler, I sleep with a monitor on my nightstand! To make sure I can hear her if she needs us, I just play the meditation on low volume.

This is a heartfelt recommendation - I pay yearly for their subscription and it is worth every single penny. They also have a version that is COMPLETELY FREE, but you just won't have access to everything. Check out Calm's website and app right here.

My favorite meditations: Daily Calm or Loving-Kindness Meditation from Tamara Levitt

My favorite sleep stories: Blue Gold by Stephen Fry, Crossing Ireland by Train by Cillian Murphy, Islands of the Puget Sound by Erik Braa, and anything read by Anna Acton or Chiké Okonkwo.

Update For Baby #2: I still use the Calm app almost every night. In addition to the Calm App, I have also incorporated other aspects into my nightly routine, including lavender essential oil spray on my pillow, lotion on my hands (and lotion for my baby bump, more below), plus a nightly affirmation card from Gabby Bernstein's Super Attractor Deck. If you've been following me for a while, you know I am a huge believer in manifestation and the law of attraction. This deck is perfect to keep that mindset strong!

I do all of this and then finish my routine with the Daily Calm meditation on the Calm App. I barely make it all the way through these meditations - they are only 10-12 minutes, but my body is exhausted from growing a baby AND working AND chasing around a toddler, so I pass out usually within the first few minutes.

Baby Powder

Let's just say things are growing and expanding a LOT in Trimester 2. 😂

So much so, that you may notice that parts of you that were previously on the smaller side are now...considerably larger! (Ha!) And no, I'm not just talking about your belly!

Baby powder has been really helpful for me to prevent chafing, sweat, and clammy skin in these places. I find it extremely helpful to apply after showering, before bed, and when I don't want to be sticky in any way (Which is usually, daily, considering how much warmer my body temperature is being pregnant! I am always hot.)

There are lots of baby powders available on the market today. Most are made with corn or arrowroot starch, which are both gluten-free. I'm not someone who usually worries about gluten-free skincare products unless it's going on or around my mouth, but to each their own. You can find this on Amazon here.

Update for Baby #2: I haven't used baby powder ONCE for this pregnancy, but I'm starting to think I'll need to soon. Everything is bigger the second time around, and I'm having a harder time fitting into even my Trimester 3 pregnancy clothes (and even some nursing bras!) from last time. I think I may go back to using it ASAP.

Burt's Bees Belly Butter

Another fabulous find that my sister-in-law Lindsay, sent me in a pregnancy care package was Burt's Bees Belly Butter. Shortly after Lindsay sent it to me, another friend who had previous pregnancies recommended this product (Along with drinking lots of water!) to help prevent stretch marks.

This lotion comes in a small tub that I've placed on my nightstand so I remember to apply it every night. It's not super sticky and just feels like a thicker lotion. No strong smells (thank goodness) and rubs in very easily. Its ingredients include sunflower, jojoba, shea, sweet almond, and cocoa oils/butter, which are all great for your skin.

There are no gluten-free claims on this body butter, but again, I'm not someone who has concern/need for my skincare to be gluten-free unless going in/around my face and mouth. I'm sure there are other products or natural ways you can prevent stretch marks using a homemade body butter or something similar if this product doesn't work for you. There were no ingredients that gave me cause for alarm.

You can find this product at Whole Foods or on Amazon here.

Update For Baby #2: I can confirm I had no visible stretch marks at all from my pregnancy with Harper, and I think staying hydrated and using this lotion helped. I'm usually pretty good about applying this every week, but I might miss a few nights. However, I still have the same tub, still love it, and enjoy using it.

Stanley Water Bottle

I didn't understand the hype of these Stanley water bottles for at least a year. Seeing them on social media and at a few friends' homes, I started to wonder - what WAS the big deal with the Stanley water bottle?

If you're someone who drinks a lot of water and is now pregnant too (meaning you find yourself drinking even MORE water than usual) - this thing is clutch. I absolutely love it and don't know how I didn't buy one sooner.

First off, the size of this water bottle is fantastic. Usually, the Hydroflask or insulated water bottles I use are not this big. But this Stanley not only fits even more water into it and keeps it cold, but it also fits in my car cup holder. Definite bonus.

Secondly, the straw. I've been sipping out of insulated water bottles for a few years now, and forgot the convenience of a straw! It seems so simple, but it makes a difference.

With the cute colors and the handle on the side, I find myself bringing my Stanley water bottle around the house, in the car, to bed when I go to sleep. It's helping me stay hydrated throughout this pregnancy, and I'm sure it will continue to do so when I start breastfeeding too.

Unfortunately, I did have to deal with constipation twice during this trimester, which was awful. Drinking more water, eating more fiber, and adding a stool softener to my vitamin routine has been a game-changer.

Stanleys come in tons of beautiful colors! You can buy one on Amazon here, but heads up, it may take a few weeks.

Update For Baby #2: Yep, still constantly filling up my Stanley. 3-4x a day! Hydration is KEY in pregnancy, especially to help prevent constipation and stretch marks. I also have this water bottle that I use and rotate through as well.

Maternity Leggings & PJ pants

One thing that was super frustrating about trying to find pants that fit me (once I couldn't fit into my normal pants anymore!) was the fact that there's hardly ANY maternity clothing...in stores!

It's mostly online, which makes it much more challenging to shop for yourself and determine what you do/don't like.

A lot of my friends who are moms recommended Amazon, Gap, or Old Navy for pregnancy leggings and maternity wear. I primarily ordered mine from the Gap and Old Navy, and if I found a style I liked, I'd order multiple colors. I didn't think I would like the leggings coming up really high over my stomach, but turns out, I love them. I also bought myself new cotton stretch underwear from the Gap in a larger size, which was way more comfortable on my hips.

I bought comfortable pajama pants from The Gap as well, specifically for maternity. I began noticing that even my comfiest sweatpants weren't fitting on my belly, or were too tight! And since the holidays were approaching, Old Navy started selling matching PJs, and I couldn't resist, so I grabbed those too.

If I were going to be pregnant in the coldest months of the year, I was going to be warm, cozy, and comfortable!

These are the leggings I loved from the Gap.

These are the fleece-lined leggings I love from Old Navy (Helpful for winter here in New England).

This is the pair of pajama pants I bought from the Gap.

And this is the matching PJ set I bought from Old Navy.

Update for Baby #2: YEP, still love all of these leggings, pants, and outfits!

Unfortunately, some of the maternity leggings are almost too tight on my belly this time around, so I had to order a size up. But besides that, I still live in these, especially in the winter here in New England. I even wore most of these maternity pants and leggings into my postpartum period as my body adjusted back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

This pregnancy, I really loved the Isabel Maternity line from Target! And I was even able to find items IN stores for once! I loved their shirts, tank tops, and shorts with the expander belly band.

Celiac & Pregnancy Trimester 3 Products

Right now, I'm really leaning into comfort items as much as possible. This means saying no to things that don't serve me (or things I might feel bad about saying no to, but I know later on, I'll be glad I did), and being as cozy and relaxed as possible.

I'm doing a lot more journaling and mindset work to prepare for childbirth, and also relishing in this season of shorter days, cooler temperatures, and doing cozy activities.

Update for Baby #2: I still stand by all of these.

Especially spending as much time with Harper as possible, because I know our family dynamic will shift when baby boy arrives. But like my first pregnancy, I'm letting go of the idea that I'm "in control" of when baby will arrive (mother nature is gonna do her thang, just as she did before!) and prepping as much as I can now to feel more relaxed when baby is here.

I am just praying and hoping for a healthy labor & delivery for both me and baby, and that's all I am asking for!

Some of the things I'm doing now include preparing some gluten-free freezer meals for our basement freezer, doing some redecorating in our house, organizing clothes for baby boy (I have SO much less for him than I did for her, but that's okay - and he can rewear a lot of her newborn stuff!), and also thinking about the holidays.

With baby boy due at the start of December, I am already planning out ideas for Christmas gifts because I know I won't have the capacity to do ANY of that with a newborn and toddler!

For Comfort

Slippers

I am someone who NEEDS arch support in her shoes. So when we moved into our house in October 2023 and the temperature started to drop, I realized I definitely needed a stronger pair of slippers.

And not just a cheap pair from Target or Kohl's, a good one that would last me a while and would be comfortable to wear and be on my feet.

I polled my Instagram audience and got over 100 responses! After seeing the same name for arch support keep appearing, I decided to purchase a pair of Vionic slippers. I'm so glad that I did.

I did have to wear these 2-3x to break them in a little bit, but now I wear them all the time. I wear them all through the house, and put them on the second I get home! They are soft, warm, and comfortable, and I can wear them for hours without having my feet feel sore. You can find them on Amazon here.

Update for Baby #2: I actually had to stop wearing these slippers sometime last winter. Not because they weren't comfortable, but because they absolutely STUNK. No matter what I tried to clean them, they smelled terrible, and it just started to gross me out.

So, I invested in some Wicked Good moccasins from LL Bean, and they have been wonderful. Super soft, cozy, and comfortable - and perfect for my needs postpartum. If I need more support for my feet, I'll also put on compression socks from Bombas. These ones are fantastic when my feet get a little swollen.

BONUS Item: Find Me Gluten-Free Premium

Something I've already been using for years, but has become super helpful as a pregnant woman with celiac disease, has been my go-to favorite app: Find Me Gluten-Free. I'm sure you have heard of this app before, but have you tried their Premium Version?

Since getting glutened is something I avoid like the plague on a normal day (And now being pregnant, I'm even more careful about dining out!), this app has saved me time and time again. But it's their Premium version that I think is so worth it because it makes filtering and finding restaurants that are celiac-safe way easier.

FindMeGlutenFree can help you get an idea of what gluten-free restaurants, bakeries, and safe menus are available in your area, or wherever you are traveling to. This app is used around the globe!

And with a Premium Subscription, you can filter by most celiac-friendly restaurants, meaning those that have been rated by other celiacs. You can also see what's open now (so you don't drive all the way to a bakery for breakfast and discover it's closed), and what's gluten-free in the direction you're headed. Plus, you can create collections of restaurants for different destinations to save on your phone. It's like Google Maps, but a gluten-free version. And no Ads!

I've been a FMGF user for over a decade, but I think their Premium version is much more effective for traveling, and for being pregnant, it's just helping conserve mental energy and keep you safer. Take $5 off a Premium Subscription with the code THENOMADICFITZ to try it out.

Update for Baby #2: I still swear by Find Me Gluten-Free.

I love the app, support the founder Jason (he's a good friend!), and appreciate their transparency and efforts to help make life easier for the gluten-free community. I'm a bit more cautious about dining out with baby, which is why this app is clutch to help me make well-informed decisions.

Our go-to restaurant is still Burtons Grill - and since Harper has dairy and egg allergies (and with my celiac) - they are a FANTASTIC restaurant chain that not only serves delicious food, but accommodates allergies & celiac top notch. You can read more about their amazing protocols and food right here.

Final Thoughts: Celiac & Pregnancy Top Ten

Thank you so much for reading!

I hope this post was insightful and perhaps helpful for ways you can manage the ups and downs of pregnancy with celiac disease.

As always, make sure you speak to your doctor, OBGYN, midwife, or healthcare provider about any medical or nutritional questions. I can only speak to my experiences with both pregnancies.

I'm so grateful to have had a positive pregnancy experience that led to our rainbow baby girl, Harper. And now, I'm counting down the days until she has a little brother and our family will be complete.

If you have celiac disease and have had children, how was your pregnancy?

If you have been pregnant, what items helped you the most?

Let me know in the comments!