Celiac & Breastfeeding Info

[Fiddle-Faddle]

As KayJay probably knows, when the baby has reflux, feeding half as much twice as often is MUCH easier on baby's tummy and esophagus, not to mention Mommy's shoulder. When you do this, you are pretty much feeding constantly, but most of us moms-with-sick-children will do whatever it takes to keep our child as healthy as possible.

I actually had a young, female pediatrican tell me that I should let my then-7-month-old (the one with heart problems) cry it out. He had mild reflux, and when I explained to her (in horror--I hadn't even been complaining about his night nursings, she just asked what his nights were like) that he nearly always upchucked when he cried for more than a minute or two, she said, "Well, then, you go in like a robot, clean it up, and leave without picking him up or nursing him until he gets the idea."

I never went back to her.

Incidentally, unlike our other children, who I nursed on demand exactly the same way (#3 had major reflux), it took him until he was 8 to put himself to sleep--but he had so many other issues to deal with--open-heart surgery, Autism, a mom who works 3-4 nights a week as well as 3-4 days--it was NOT a problem for me and my husband. Lying down with him for a few minutes became our "Relax Time."My husband and I would chat quietly about our day, and Michael would doze off prettty quickly. More importantly, he felt connected to us and secure.

I am convinced that one of the reasons he does so well today (his diagnosis has moved from Autism to Asperger's, and he is even losing most of the Asperger's hallmarks) is the constant holding, nursing, and sense of connection to his parents those early years. And with the celiac/autism connection being so strong, that's something to pay attention to during those first few years. The autistic kids I see who did not do as well were not nursed, were left in cribs to cry it out, and wheeled around in strollers instead of being held close to mommy in a sling. Not a scientific study, just what I saw, so, yes, that could be total coincidence. Certainly, lots of kids do just fine after crying it out--or do they? In this day and age where every ear seems to be connected to either an iPod or a cell phone, and every eye is glued to either a computer or a television screen (guilty here,a s I'm obviously on the computer ), do we really want our infants to be NOT connected to us?

[PBJ]

Hi, I am currently breastfeeding my third child. When I was diagnosed with celiac disease she was only three months old. I nursed both of her brothers with no problems for them or I. When my daughter was 8 months old I had her tested for the gene for celiac disease. An HLA test. It was positive for the gene for celiac disease. All the other lab test were normal. I was told by the pediatric GI doctor to continue breastfeeding and not to hold off on gluten containing foods. Anyone with a gene for celiac disease has only a 40% chance of developing the disease over their life time. She will be tested yearly by blood work to see if she has developed celiac disease. I am comfortable with this management. My daughter is growing well and eating well with no evidences of celiac disease. Her brothers tested negative for the gene. My advise is to have your baby tested for the gene at three months old prior to beginning solid foods. Good luck.

I was diagnosed three months after my son was born. Neither my GI doctor or his pediatrictian said anything about holding off on gluten containing foods. Basically, if he has it he has it, if he gets it he gets it. I don't want any of my children to have it but if they do at least I will be prepared for them. My son is 16 months now and seems to be doing fine. I think I will start testing him yearly once he turns 2 (or unless there are problems sooner). Plus, I've had symptoms of Celiac my entire life, so I must have had it while I was pregnant and breast feeding. I ended up only breast feeding until he was 5 months by choice and then I gave him Similac. Honestly, I think it's your own opinion and not any doctorly advice.

[ladyx]

Just curious, for those who talked about breastfeeding every 1 to 1.5 hours, for how long did you do this? I know I am going against the grain and most lactation specialists disagree with me, but I don't believe in on-demand feeding. Not that I think scheduling is right either, if you ignore the baby's hunger cues. I read a really good book called On Becoming Babywise, by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam. I know many moms who have followed their approach, and their lives are so much more sane and their babies happier than when I had my son. I just fed him when it seemed like he was hungry, but he would fall asleep at the breast, then cry when I unlatched him. He became a "snacker" and I don't believe he was getting full feedings, just partial feedings way more often. The book really put into perspective the reason I was feeling so stressed and frustrated the first time around. I was literally a human pacifier, and I was miserable. So was my baby! He had no structure, stability or routine. Just "cry, get the boob, and calm down again".

I am definitely going to take the advice of the LLL people with a grain of salt and try the PDF (Parent Directed Feeding) method this time. It makes sense that if a baby gets a full feeding each time, he won't NEED to feed again for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. There is a difference between ignoring when your baby is hungry and helping him establish a routine. This is a really good book, and I recommend anyone who is going to breastfeed at least read it and then judge whether it is right for them.

Lisa

I don't know anything about this book but I nursed all three of my kids, I tried to put my daugter on a schedule like the nurse told me and have here feed for ten min a side also what I was told in the hospital...it was horrablie...she was a nipple nurser as well and didn't like to latch on...I was cracked and bleading...finally I went to a lactition in the hospital (there free and they love their jobs some even make house calls) she showed me how to know when the baby was sucking to get milk or just using me as a pasifier. My first daughter needed to nurse for 45 min. before she was done...my son 5 min. tops and didn't eat again for 4 hours even when he was a newborn. Last daughter I had to set an alarm to wake up and nurse her cause she was to lazy to cry to wake me up at night to eat...she would root around a little....if she didn't find a boob she would go back to sleep. The first night I was home from the hospital I was so tired I slept 8 hours and she never cried enough to wake me up. That didn't mean she didn't need feed...also your body learns when to produce milk by when a baby nurses....if baby nurses speritically then he or she may not be getting enough milk and they can be fussy this happens some time with on demand feeding when moms pop a boob in babies mouth when they cry and then take them off when they fall asleep...I am not saying make your baby be on your schedule but if your lactition shows you what it looks like when your milk lets down and then what the baby's sucking looks like when there done and you take the baby off when they are done then they won't be hungrey again for a certian amount of time...your baby may get hungrey every 2 hours...or like my son every 4 hours. But let the baby set the scedule and stick to his or her schedule. Don't just give him or her a boob cause he or she is crying and it is convient for you. If a babies stomach is properly filled it will take a certian amount of time for it empty out...believe it or not our bodies do want to be on a schedule but that schedule should be determined by the baby and not forced on them by the parent to make the parents life easier especally in the first critical weeks of life. Most of all see a good lactition...get one that is recomended by other mothers... they will teach you how to wake your baby if they fall asleep during nursing and make sure that babies tummy gets filled and just because your tired don't be lazy about burping...if baby falls asleep nursing it is tempting to put them down and let them sleep but that means they will probably just wake up and cry cause they haven't been burped...also let your lactition show you how to burp the baby right...most people are afraid they might hurt the baby and don't burp there baby hard enough to get the bubbles out and end up with really fussy babies. I guess my point is find a good lactition that is highly recomened and see her as long as it takes to figure out what your baby needs to be happy. Of course if your baby has a medical condition then you will need alot of help. No question is a stupid question. Of course this is not medical adivice just from my own experience....after three kids (two very close together) this kept my babies happy and me sane. (Oh as an after thought...if you want your baby to sleep don't drink caffine while your nursing...caffine and happy sleepy babys just don't mix...you can live without it for one year) Everyone whos having a baby good luck and enjoy every moment of that first year its gone before you no it...take lots of pictures too

[CarlaB]

My battery is almost gone in my computer, so I can't read everything here, unfortunately.

I breastfed most of my kids for almost two years. They didn't eat a significant amount of solids until 1 year old, only the stuff they would pick off my plate when I was eating. Breastmilk gives the best nutrition of any kind of other food and has many components that are still being discovered that cannot be duplicated in formula. I definately would hold off on introducing grains since all people with the celiac genes don't develop the disease!

I fed on demand. Sometimes they would go for hours, sometimes not very long at all ... just like me!! Sometimes they're just thirsty ... sometimes hungry ... sometimes just want the cuddling. You cannot spoil a child with love, only things.