My Top Ten Pregnancy List with Celiac

I have celiac disease and I'm pregnant! 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 new (and sometimes exhausting!) season of life.

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About This Celiac & Pregnancy Blog Post

Dylan and I are expecting a baby girl in January 2024 and are over the moon with excitement. This rainbow baby is so special for many reasons, but most of all, I truly believe she's a gift I prayed for. I'm so grateful to be pregnant with my autoimmune conditions (celiac and hypothyroidism) and have a healthy pregnancy with no major issues or concerns.

In this blog post, I'm sharing a little bit about my pregnancy journey so far and the products that have been the most helpful throughout this experience 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 I believe it will all be so worth it in the end when Dylan and I have our baby girl earthside.

So without further ado, here's a little background on my experience with pregnancy (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 my pregnancy as well.

First, I continued meeting with my primary care doctor on a regular basis (at least 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.

Finally, when my thyroid TSH levels were off the charts at the start of Trimester 1, I met with an endocrinologist to discuss my symptoms and plan to keep my thyroid at a healthy, normal level. This meant increasing the dosage of my thyroid medication, which has been successful and in the normal range since then. However, it did take a few days for my body to adjust (and included massive headaches, a skin rash, hot flashes, and insomnia!)

I'm really grateful to have a supportive healthcare team to help me in this process. I think it's not only important to have during your pregnancy, but before and after as well.

My Pregnancy: Trimester 1

I found out I was pregnant while on a business/blogging trip in Europe. Specifically, I was in Florence, Italy traveling solo, and had to run to the bathroom at Ciro and Sons to vomit. I went to the pharmacy and asked for a pregnancy test and something to help with the nausea. That afternoon, I went back to my Airbnb and realized the little nagging feeling/intuition I had for the last week was right. I was indeed pregnant.

For the rest of my trip, I had good energy and walked everywhere, even keeping the pregnancy a secret from my friends (and my parents for an entire week in Paris!) I would get nauseous only a little bit from time to time, usually if I was hungry. I had chewable tablets with peppermint that were gluten-free from the Italian pharmacists, which helped a ton. I also walked around with a special secret that only Dylan and I knew, and that was pretty magical.

In the weeks that followed for Trimester 1, I struggled the most with nausea. I was nauseous in the morning, afternoon, or evening - it wasn't just "morning sickness". Brushing my teeth made me gag. Not eating made me dry heave. Strong smells made me nauseous. Getting too hot and worst of all, being super hungry, was what hit me the hardest. It really picked up during weeks 6-9, and this was when I had the most vomiting and queasiness.

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. I was definitely one of those people! While I didn't have hyperemesis gravidarum (extreme morning sickness), I definitely suffered from nausea, queasiness, and vomiting during Trimester 1. These are the items that helped me the most in dealing with this unpleasant pregnancy symptom.

Tummy Drops

My wonderful sister-in-law Lindsay sent me a pregnancy care package when she found out we were expecting. 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/hanger 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.

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.

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 so quickly 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.

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, 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!

My Pregnancy: Trimester 2

Thankfully, my nausea subsided a lot in Trimester 2. As mentioned, I was able to drop the Vitamin B6 and Unisom, add back my normal prenatal vitamins with iron, and definitely had a big boost of energy and felt much better. The nausea subsided a lot, and really only happened if I was super hungry. Vomiting became rare and to be honest, I can't even remember the last time it happened, it's been so long! I was very grateful for that.

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. Getting comfortable was a challenge as my body began growing and changing to accommodate my growing belly!

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.

And similarly, I also had my hands going 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. Again, not painful, just annoying at times!

Toward the end of Trimester 2, when baby girl was larger in size, I began noticing common similarities each morning. Lower back pain, groin pain, or hip pain was 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.

For Relaxation & Sleeping

Trimester 2 came with a burst of energy and also a burst of discomfort in the form of aches and pains. However, the nausea subsided significantly, and for that, I was very grateful.

Since your body goes through massive changes when you are literally growing a human being, it's common to experience aches, pains, and other not-so-pleasant feelings. I noticed this a lot in Trimester 2 with my lower back, hips, and round ligament pain. These are some of the products that helped me with that specifically.

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 in 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 which 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 now sleep with the Boppy pillow between my legs, and another pillow behind my back to stay supported. This continued into Trimester 3 and I might even add more pillows as time goes on!

Calm App

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 4 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 use these comfortable Bluetooth headphones at night when I go to sleep (usually just one in my right ear, as I sleep on my left side) and I find everything on this app to be so wonderful and helpful. I'm a huge supporter and believer in mindset work and the power of meditation. It's helped me tremendously in dealing with feelings of anxiety, fear, and even burnout.

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.

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.

For Hydration & Stretch Mark Prevention

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.

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.

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 all 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 it. 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 PJ sets, and I couldn't resist, so I grabbed those too.

If I was 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.

My Pregnancy: Trimester 3

I am just entering into Trimester 3! With baby girl due at the end of January, it feels crazy to me that I'm already at this point in pregnancy. She's an active one, moving around often and letting me know she's there. I've been feeling quite well. The leg numbness has gone away for the most part (I'm sure it could come back) but I'm definitely having to run to the bathroom a bit more now as baby girl is getting bigger. I'm feeling a little anxious now about everything we still have to "do" before the baby arrives, but I know it will all work out. My nausea is just in the morning now before I've eaten breakfast.

For Comfort

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 snuggling on the couch with blankets and my Dylan.

Arch Support Slippers

I am someone who NEEDS arch support in her shoes. So when we moved into our house last month 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 pop up time and time again, 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.

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 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.

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 experience.

I can't believe baby girl will be here in January! I'm so excited to meet her. Do you have any guesses on her name? We know it, but we aren't telling!

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!