Coelic Disease

Question 1

What is coeliac disease?

Answer 1

A common lifelong, inflammatory condition of the mucosa of the small intestine

Question 2

What is coeliac disease induced by?

Answer 2

Gluten
Wheat
Rye
Barley

Question 3

What does the inflammation lead to?

Answer 3

Malabsorption in the proximal small intestine

Question 4

What is the cause of the condition?

Answer 4

Unknown - related to genetic predisposition and environmental factors such as; amount of gluten ingested, stress of pregnancy, gastrointestinal infection.

Question 5

What is the role of the midwife?

Answer 5

• Appropriate referral if required - dietician / obstetric
• Increased awareness for signs of anaemia
• Make woman aware of risks of coeliac disease and pregnancy, including risk of miscarriage, fetal growth restriction and lower birth weight babies.
• Promote breastfeeding; it appears to offer protection and decrease the risk of development of coeliac disease in the newborn.