Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Breastfeeding

Rebekah3

By Rebekah3
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

Rebekah3 Rookie
Rebekah3
Posted

Hey all,

I've been diagnosed with presumptive Celiac disease (all positive blood tests, no biopsy yet. See the Gastro next week). I am nursing my 8 month old. I nursed my first for 19 months, and I planned to let this one self-wean too. My question is this: Is breastfeeding reasonable while transitioning to a Gluten Free Diet/ active celiac? My symptoms are mainly neurological and probably some vitamin deficiencies. I'm also a Type 1 diabetic, which has it's own challenges with breastfeeding. Has anyone done this? If I was a treated Celiac (gluten free already) breastfeeding would be fine, no? But will continuing to do it through the transition be ok? Thoughts? Experiences?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


tshep Newbie
tshep
Posted

You can absolutely breastfeed while gluten free! Our entire family has been gluten free since my daughter was diagnosed with Celiac a little over 2 years ago. That means my 9 month old has never had any exposure to gluten, in utero, or through breastfeeding, and now through the introduction of solids. He has no deficiency, growing like a weed, starting solids on track, hitting all his milestones wonderfully. Just eat plenty of raw, whole foods. In fact since Celiac is generally considered hereditary  (though not necessarily), by continuing to breastfeed, you are giving your baby the best possible foundation for a healthy digestive system. Way to go, mama!

  • 1 year later...
ZCeuz Newbie
ZCeuz
Posted

Breastfeeding is one of the biggest gift a mom can give her baby. Not just from a nutritional point of view but also psycho-developmental perspective.

Of course, the healthier the mom, both physically and psychologically, the better for her baby.

pschwab Enthusiast
pschwab
Posted

We have been completely gluten free in our household for the past year since my two year old was diagnosed with celiac. I had a new baby two months ago. The pediatric gi dr told me to introduce gluten through breastfeeding between 4-6 months. He said this was based on a study saying introduction at this age has been shown to help stop celiac from occurring. Just because a child has the gene doesn't mean they have to develop celiac. So if you were nursing during that time, which it sounds like you were, you should be fine going gluten free. If you are worried, I would talk to a gi doctor to see if you need to continue to expose your little one to gluten. If they recommend you do, I would ask your significant other to feed them a minimal amount each day outside the house. Then wash the baby's mouth (brush any teeth they might have) and I would assume nursing would be safe for you. This is all my opinion and I highly recommend talking to a dr to confirm, but I wouldn't stop nursing until both you and the baby are ready.

StephanieL Enthusiast
StephanieL
Posted
On 6/11/2017 at 5:40 PM, pschwab said:

We have been completely gluten free in our household for the past year since my two year old was diagnosed with celiac. I had a new baby two months ago. The pediatric gi dr told me to introduce gluten through breastfeeding between 4-6 months. He said this was based on a study saying introduction at this age has been shown to help stop celiac from occurring. Just because a child has the gene doesn't mean they have to develop celiac. So if you were nursing during that time, which it sounds like you were, you should be fine going gluten free. If you are worried, I would talk to a gi doctor to see if you need to continue to expose your little one to gluten. If they recommend you do, I would ask your significant other to feed them a minimal amount each day outside the house. Then wash the baby's mouth (brush any teeth they might have) and I would assume nursing would be safe for you. This is all my opinion and I highly recommend talking to a dr to confirm, but I wouldn't stop nursing until both you and the baby are ready.

This isn't exactly what they are saying. They suggest ACTUAL gluten introduction at that time.  There is no guarantee that gluten is passing from Mom to Baby via breastmilk at any time.  

pschwab Enthusiast
pschwab
Posted

Our pediatric gi specialist and my sister-in-law's pediatric allergist said gluten definitely comes through breast milk. My nephew has a gluten allergy and she couldn't eat gluten while nursing him or he would have a reaction every time.

Victoria1234 Experienced
Victoria1234
Posted

My mom did not bf me at all. The recipe for formula, given by the doctor, had milk, Karo syrup and cream of wheat. Can you believe it?  I was a very fat baby.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Unfortunately, the reality is that celiac experts STILL do not know when a baby should be exposed to gluten.  

Read this:

Open Original Shared Link

 

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,661
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Diver Belle
    Newest Member
    Diver Belle
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Julie 911
      Medication

      By Julie 911 · Posted

      I finally got rhe answer and Tylenol is ok. Thanks everyone 
    • dublin555
      Medication

      By dublin555 · Posted

      Hey Julie! I was in a similar situation before my biopsy and my gastro said Tylenol was fine. Just avoid ibuprofen or anything anti-inflammatory until you're cleared. Hope your surgery goes smoothly!
    • trents
      Medication

      By trents · Posted

      I don't see how cornstarch could alter the test results. Where did you read that?
    • knitty kitty
      Medication

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      For pain relief I take a combination of Thiamine (Benfotiamine), Pyridoxine B 6, and Cobalamine B12.  The combination of these three vitamins has analgesic effects.  I have back pain and this really works.  The B vitamins are water soluble and easily excreted.   Hope this helps!  Keep us posted on your results!
    • knitty kitty
      Taking Probiotics but Still Getting Sick After Gluten – Advice?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Xravith. I experienced similar symptoms before my diagnosis.  Mine were due to the loss of vitamins and minerals, essential nutrients we must get from our food.  With Celiac Disease, the intestinal lining, made up of thousands of villi, gets damaged and cannot absorb essential vitamins and minerals, especially the eight B vitamins.  The loss of Thiamine B 1 can cause muscle loss, inability to gain weight, edema (swelling), fatigue, migraines and palpitations.  Low thiamine can cause Gastrointestinal Beriberi with symptoms of nausea, abdominal pain and bloating.   Thiamine is only stored for a couple of weeks, so if you don't absorb enough from food daily, as the thiamine deficiency worsens physical symptoms gradually worsen.  If you're eating lots of carbs (like gluten containing foods usually do), you need more thiamine to process them (called high calorie malnutrition).  Thiamine works with all the other B vitamins, so if you're low in one, you're probably getting low in the others, too, and minerals like iron, magnesium, zinc, and calcium, as well as Vitamin D..  Talk to your doctor about checking for nutritional deficiencies.  Most doctors rarely recognize vitamin deficiency symptoms, especially in thiamine. Get a DNA test to see if you carry any Celiac genes.  If you do not have genetic markers for Celiac, it's probably IBS.  If you do have genetic markers for Celiac, it's probably Celiac.  I was misdiagnosed with IBS for years before my Celiac diagnosis.   Keep us posted on your progress. P. S. Deficiency in thiamine can cause false negatives on antibody tests, as can diabetes and anemia.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.