Going Gluten Free

I have been thinking about going gluten free for sometime now, but am finally taking the plunge!  When I started doing a little research back in April I got completely overwhelmed and decided that it was just going to be too hard, as it seemed that virtually everything had gluten in it.  I have been reading a wonderful book called Wheat Belly, by William Davis, and it has really enlightened me. Although it is still quite overwhelming for me, I have since changed my attitude.   Before any of you say "hey wait a minute, she is pregnant, this can't be healthy".  Think again, it really is no different than if I were diagnosed with "gestation diabetes" (which is tested for at 28 weeks gestation, and by the way I am not...yay!) and having to eat more proteins and minimal carbohydrates.

Don't know what gluten is?

glu·ten 1. The mixture of proteins, including gliadins and glutelins, found in wheat grains, which are not soluble in water and which give wheat dough its elastic texture. 2. Any of the prolamins found in cereal grains, especially the prolamins in wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats, that cause digestive disorders such as celiac disease.

Why do I want to go gluten free?  I have suffered from daily headaches pretty much since Kennedy was born.  I had been told it was just hormones and had to take a daily prescription to help with this, but in addition to a daily pill that is supposed to be taken at night because it makes you drowsy, and gives you pretty severe dry mouth, I also have to take migraine medication for the times it isn't successful.  Well, now that I am pregnant, I can't take those medications and although my headaches seemed to be few and far between early in my pregnancy, they have ramped up in the recent weeks.  I am now taking the maximum dose of Tylenol of 4,000mg per day and getting minimal relief if any.  So, I decided that a change in my diet was in order.


How does gluten play into this?  Good question!  Gluten effects people in all different ways, from bowel issues, joint pain, headaches, exasperating symptoms of ADHD and autism.  Gluten effects all parts of our body.  I am willing to give it a try!  So far I am on Day 4 of being gluten free and it hasn't been as difficult as I thought it would be, and this is the first day in a long time that I have woke up without a headache and at 3:30PM I have yet to take any medications besides my prenatal multivitamin.  I can't tell you when the last time was that I could say that I haven't had a headache or not taken medication to prevent one.  Not to mention my body feels much less "sluggish" and at 28 1/2 weeks pregnant, that is saying something!  We will see if this is a fluke or an ongoing trend.  I am not getting my hopes up yet, but I am hoping for the positive.