| If you have celiac disease and are well controlled | | | | salmon. Soya, tofu, sunflower seeds, green leafy |
| because you stick rigidly to a gluten-free diet, you | | | | vegetables, lentils, beans, watermelon and black |
| are as likely as anyone who has not got celiac | | | | strap molasses are also rich sources of iron. |
| disease to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. | | | | Avoid uncooked eggs, or partially cooked eggs |
| Those who have celiac disease and who do not | | | | found in mousses, eggnog, fools etc. |
| have a completely gluten-free diet have an | | | | Avoid liver and pâtés |
| increased risk of problems for themselves and | | | | Eat plenty of roughage, as constipation is a |
| their baby. | | | | common problem during pregnancy. Gluten-free |
| Pregnancy is demanding on the body; the mum | | | | foods which have high levels of fibre include |
| not only needs a good supply of all the necessary | | | | brown rice, buckwheat, potatoes - particularly the |
| nutrients to keep her healthy but also to support | | | | skin, peas, corn, lentils, millet, seeds such as |
| the development of the baby. To do this she will | | | | sunflower or linseeds, vegetables and fruit and |
| need to eat a good, balanced gluten-free diet. | | | | dried fruits such as figs and dates. Drinking plenty |
| Foods rich in folic acid, iron and calcium are | | | | of fluids will also help. A glass of hot water with a |
| particularly important. | | | | twist of lemon juice first thing in the morning can |
| General Principles | | | | work well. |
| Your diet should be as healthy as possible. Keep | | | | It is important for all prospective mums that they |
| to the "5" rule for fruit and vegetables. Try and | | | | take proper care of themselves prior to |
| eat 5 different varieties every day. Fruit juice | | | | becoming pregnant. The benefits of eating foods |
| counts as 1 variety however many glasses of it | | | | rich in folic acid for three months before |
| you drink. | | | | becoming pregnant and during pregnancy, |
| Eat food naturally rich in calcium: milk, cheese and | | | | particularly in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is |
| yoghurts, sardines, pilchards etc. Commercially | | | | well documented. It helps prevent conditions such |
| produced gluten-free flours and mixes are often | | | | as Spina Bifida. Folic Acid supplements are easily |
| enriched with calcium. It is a good idea to use | | | | available from the pharmacist or health food shop. |
| skimmed or semi-skimmed milk and low fat | | | | Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables, which are |
| yogurts and cheese so you can keep the fat | | | | naturally rich in folic acid. |
| content down. Avoid unpasturised milk and soft | | | | Giving up smoking is very important as babies of |
| cheese or mould-ripened cheeses as they can | | | | smoking mothers are much more susceptible to |
| carry bacteria. | | | | low birth weight and other health problems. |
| Eat food rich in the mineral iron, it can be found in | | | | Cutting out alcohol or at least cutting it down to |
| lean red meat, eggs and fish - particularly the fish | | | | no more than one or two units a week is |
| rich in natural oil - herring, mackerel, sardines and | | | | advisable. |