When/if To Introduce Gluten To Child When You Have Celiac

[aCfm18]

I don't know if this was the right place to post this, butI have very severe Celiac Disease and have been strictly gluten free since I was diagnosed 4 years ago. I'm currently 26 weeks pregnant with my first child and I'm expecting a girl (girls are more likely to develop celiac, correct?) Obviously this is way down the line, but I'm curious about when and IF I should introduce gluten into her diet once she starts eating solid foods. I've read some very conflicting information. Some websites state that I should avoid gluten until she is older and some say to introduce it immediately. I have no experience on the subject, because I had no problem eating gluten my entire childhood and didn't start having Celiac-like symptoms until my late teens, when I was diagnosed almost immediately afterward. My biopsy looked very good considering, and doctors told me that I didn't actually develop Celiac until recently and was lucky enough to catch it at the beginning. Now however, if I am "glutened" I have HORRIBLE HORRIBLE symptoms, including vomiting, severe constipation, and I feel so all around sick I've passed out. I don't want this fate for my daughter. But I'm not so sure it's preventable either way. My mother has Celiac Disease as well. 

[StephanieL]

Dr. Fassino did research on this and I do believe it came down that it doesn't matter really. 

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

It's the second question in the article. There is a more detailed research paper on it by him but I just did a quick search

 

Here's another link:  Open Original Shared Link

[cyclinglady]

I hear ha! At the time I was pregnant, I was undiagnosed, but had allergies to eggs, nuts and milk. My husband was gluten free based on the poor advice from my allergist and his GP. Oh, he is doing great, but a firm diagnosis would be great!

I avoided all my allergens while I was pregnant and nursing. My kid was super healthy. I did not feed her solids until she was eight months old and delayed gluten, eggs, nuts and milk until she was over a year per the advice of my allergist. Did it make a difference? Who knows? So far she is negative for celiac disease. Her PED always said that she one of his healthiest kids.

I read the same conflicting information. Your best bet is just to watch for symptoms and get her tested periodically. Our doc always checks her for anemia frequently since that was my only symptom at the time of my diagnosis. She is tested evey few years for celiac disease. In any case, she eats gluten-free in our house and I send her off with pre-packaged gluten things in her lunch. I make sure she gets some gluten daily.

Good luck and congratulations!

[nvsmom]

Congratulations!  

 

When you introduce gluten will not affect whether she develops celiac disease but if she does develop celiac disease at a very young age, her babyhood could be sickly because celiac disease is harder to diagnose in the very young.  The blood tests don't always pick up on early celiac disease, and it is known that it is more difficult to catch celiac disease with blood tests in those under age 2.

 

If this is your first child, you will be able to have total control of her diet. I would personally consider holding off on introducing gluten until she is at least two.  Why risk it?  Gluten is not at all needed for a healthy diet, it is just a convenience food.  Instead of snacking on Cheerios she can have cut up fruit or veggies, or if you need convenience food, get her Chex.  There really is no reason for here to have gluten in her life.

 

When you do introduce her to it, Test her for celiac disease every two years, or as soon as symptoms develop, until she is out of the house.  I've seen stats saying a first degree relative has a 1 in 10 to a 1 in 22 chance of developing celiac disease, and since you and your mother both have it, her risk is probably higher than you would like.

 

Best wishes!

[mommyto2kids]

I'd wait for as long as possible. If she does have it, why have a little baby suffer. Just feed her what you eat.