The Baby Has It Too.....

[Mamato2boys]

As you can see in my signature, our oldest son was recently diagnosed with gluten sensitivity. For over 2 years now we had been dealing with his chronic soft stools and recurrent diarrhea. Much to our surprise, we learned he got two GS genes - neither DH or I had any idea we were gluten sensitive. To make a very long story short, I read somewhere on here that glutens can be passed on through breastmilk. Our youngest is 2 1/2 months old, and for a few weeks his poop had been pretty watery and orangy in color. I read up on it and it's supposedly still considered "normal" to look like that - but I always had a funny feeling about it. So for several days I cut out glutens, and voila ! He had more of the yellowish, seedy stools breastfed babies usually had, and not nearly the volume he was having before.

On the one hand I'm glad to have figured it out so soon and so easily so we're not reinventing the wheel, so to speak. Yet on the other hand, I can't help but be a little sad about it.

[AndreaB]

I know what you are saying. My infant son at around 2 months broke out with eczema on his face. I underwent allergy testing (IgE/IgG) and from that went gluten lite and soy free. Went through enterolab and found I was gluten sensitive, along with my oldest son and daughter. After going gluten free my babies eczema cleared up completely. I gave him oatmeal ceral for a week when he was 8 months old and he was fussy the whole week. I want to have him tested by enterolab next year, although it will probably only be gene testing since he will be gluten, soy and dairy free (need to check whether they do just gene testing).

I am relieved that we found out as soon as we did for the family. Our numbers were low (see sig) and we all have at least one celiac gene.

I know it is sad on the one hand, but think of all the pain and suffering that is allayed since you found out so early.

[shayesmom]

As you can see in my signature, our oldest son was recently diagnosed with gluten sensitivity. For over 2 years now we had been dealing with his chronic soft stools and recurrent diarrhea. Much to our surprise, we learned he got two GS genes - neither DH or I had any idea we were gluten sensitive. To make a very long story short, I read somewhere on here that glutens can be passed on through breastmilk. Our youngest is 2 1/2 months old, and for a few weeks his poop had been pretty watery and orangy in color. I read up on it and it's supposedly still considered "normal" to look like that - but I always had a funny feeling about it. So for several days I cut out glutens, and voila ! He had more of the yellowish, seedy stools breastfed babies usually had, and not nearly the volume he was having before.

On the one hand I'm glad to have figured it out so soon and so easily so we're not reinventing the wheel, so to speak. Yet on the other hand, I can't help but be a little sad about it.

Well, if it's any consolation, at least you are aware of the issue in the family and you'll be saving yourself a lot of tests, research, GI appointments as well as money over the next few years.

I know that it's still a very sad thing to contemplate....but in a way, at least now you won't feel torn between two kids being on different diets and the complications that can come up at holidays, reunions, etc. (no arguments over what so and so is or is not eating). Instead, the two boys can gang up on you and make fun of your gluten-free baking when you aren't around. They'll be partners in all of this.

In the meantime....just how are you feeling being on diet? Are you coping pretty well? And does the fact that Aiden is doing better help keep you on the straight and narrow? I know that I thank my lucky stars for my dd's sensitivity as it really motivated me to stay the course and keep gluten out of my kitchen completely! lol!! I would have eventually been able to do it, but it helps tremendously to have her smiling happy face as my inspiration. And I know that if we had another child tomorrow....sensitive or not....we'd be sticking to the diet. I honestly believe that it's just healthier (when whole-food based).

[Mamato2boys]

Well, if it's any consolation, at least you are aware of the issue in the family and you'll be saving yourself a lot of tests, research, GI appointments as well as money over the next few years.

I know that it's still a very sad thing to contemplate....but in a way, at least now you won't feel torn between two kids being on different diets and the complications that can come up at holidays, reunions, etc. (no arguments over what so and so is or is not eating). Instead, the two boys can gang up on you and make fun of your gluten-free baking when you aren't around. They'll be partners in all of this.

In the meantime....just how are you feeling being on diet? Are you coping pretty well? And does the fact that Aiden is doing better help keep you on the straight and narrow? I know that I thank my lucky stars for my dd's sensitivity as it really motivated me to stay the course and keep gluten out of my kitchen completely! lol!! I would have eventually been able to do it, but it helps tremendously to have her smiling happy face as my inspiration. And I know that if we had another child tomorrow....sensitive or not....we'd be sticking to the diet. I honestly believe that it's just healthier (when whole-food based).

I'm definitely very grateful that I've learned as much as I have along the way, and that Aiden won't have to go through all the things that Ryan went through. I wish Ryan didn't either, but that goes without saying. You do have a good point about the two different diets. I wasn't really planning on having Aiden tested, and was going to assume he had it as well. I just didn't think it would be confirmed at just 10 weeks of age ! I can tell you this - the two of them are going to gang up on me on a lot of issues (with DH's help) - I think I'm in trouble - gluten-free baking aside !

I just figured out today that Aiden definitely had it. I'm having a little trouble being totally gluten/dairy/egg free, but not horrible. I'm getting there and not quite as stubborn as I was a week ago. Like you said, I think knowing that he has it and gets glutens through my breastmilk will help keep me more honest (as I have been for the remainder of the day, once the lightbulb came on).

Statistically speaking, I knew it was nearly impossible for Aiden to escape this, but there was still a part of me that was hoping that he somehow got lucky.

At least it's not cystic fibrosis, right Vicky ??

[taweavmo3]

I know it's a sad realization to come to terms with, but it will get so much easier with time. I have three gluten free kids, and Lucy (same age as your Aiden!) will be gluten-free too. I've had some self pity moments, especially when I'm tired and really miss the days of just ordering a pizza for everyone! But what picks me back up again is knowing that I'm doing what I can to ensure that the kids feel their best, so they can do their best.

There are other benefits to this too, I have found. Alot of adults don't really correlate what they eat to how they feel.....and my kids are learning this from the start. Gluten free or not, since Celiac entered our lives, we have all become more aware of good nutrition.

When Emmie was first diagnosed, I never thought I'd have all the kids on the diet. But now it's just a way of life, a little different than most, but normal for us!

[Mamato2boys]

There are other benefits to this too, I have found. Alot of adults don't really correlate what they eat to how they feel.....and my kids are learning this from the start. Gluten free or not, since Celiac entered our lives, we have all become more aware of good nutrition.

That's a really good point - I never realized how crappy certain foods made me feel until I started going gluten-free.

I think the part that makes me sad about it all, is that they're going to be "different" in other kids' eyes. Being a kid is hard enough without having a glaringly obvious difference like that. I anticipate them being made fun of in school - and it makes me sad. I don't want that for them.

[Suzie-GFfamily]

I went through a stage back in the spring where I felt very sad for my 2 oldest children- I would think about them being different at birthday parties, about not being able to have pizza and beer with their buddies when they're in college.....

I don't feel so sad about it now- they're just starting on the diet this month and I feel glad that we know they are gluten intolerant. My daughter has her first birthday party to go to, since she's been gluten-free, this coming weekend. And it doesn't seem to bad right now.... maybe I'll feel differently on Sun if she feels sad, but I don't think she will. I'll be making gluten-free cupcakes so that she can take one with her to the party.

I definitely agree that babies can be exposed to some wheat proteins via breast milk, and I think if the mother is an untreated celiac that there could potentially be a greater amount of the protein that could get through her leaky gut and into the milk. I wonder if my 2 older kids are celiac because they were exposed to these proteins from birth via breastmilk? It's not something that I have an answer to, but I wonder about it.

It's certainly possible that your baby is gluten sensitive because of your family history. But I would be a little cautious about coming to that conclusion based on the changes you described. The BM's you described do sound like normal BM's and it is normal for baby's stool patterns to change after the newborn period. Some breastfed babies go from having a couple of BM's a day to having 1 BM every week, and the colour and consistency can vary as well. So the change could be something that would have happened anyway regardless of your dietary changes. But it's possible that it could be due to your gluten-free diet.

My baby was 8 mos when I went gluten-free- the change that I noticed was that her bowel movements didn't eat away at her skin any more. When I was eating gluten, I'd have to change her diaper immediately when she pooped and her bum would still get sore. The skin on her bum has been so much better since I've been gluten-free.

[Mamato2boys]

It's certainly possible that your baby is gluten sensitive because of your family history. But I would be a little cautious about coming to that conclusion based on the changes you described. The BM's you described do sound like normal BM's and it is normal for baby's stool patterns to change after the newborn period. Some breastfed babies go from having a couple of BM's a day to having 1 BM every week, and the colour and consistency can vary as well. So the change could be something that would have happened anyway regardless of your dietary changes. But it's possible that it could be due to your gluten-free diet.

I had looked it up, and it characterized his stools as being "normal" (the orange ones), but it just didn't seem right to me. He went through the normal newborn poops - black, green, etc. and then they went to the normal yellow, seedy ones with almost every nursing. Then he changed to pooping every couple days (which I know is normal) at about six weeks of age. But the major change I saw was that his poop turned orange right around the same time, mucusy, watery, and the volume was just HUGE - his diaper would be just filled and it would be all up his back. If I'm wrong about that being odd, please correct me !

Now granted, I don't have a great grasp of "normal" poop because my oldest has had problems since about 5 months of age, but that just didn't feel right to me. Particularly when it changed so dramatically when I adjusted my diet. Either way, I need to do the gluten-free diet anyway because I know I have at least one GS gene along with blood sugar/weight issues. Plus knowing that both DH and I carry at least one gene each, odds are high Aiden (the youngest) has at least one gene as well, and possibly two like our oldest. The gluten-free diet is healthier anyway - celiac, GS, or not !

[Suzie-GFfamily]

Hi,

Orange poop is considered normal in a breastfed baby (see a description of baby's BM's on Dr. Jay Gordon's website:

"In summary, stools in breastfeeding babies are predictably green, brown, yellow or orange."

Open Original Shared Link

Large volume of poop is also normal- I know many breastfed babies who have profusive BM's which completely load up their diaper and go up their backs requiring a complete change of clothes, not just a diaper change )

However, the mucousy part of your description sounds less normal to me. I believe that mucous is an indication that there is some sort of upset or irritation within the digestive system, also if the poop was really watery that could be an indication of a problem too. My understanding is that occassional watery poops is normal, but frequent watery poop would be less normal.

If you noticed a sudden change after altering your diet, it's certainly possible the 2 things could be related. Were there any behaviour changes, respiratory or skin changes as well? (less fussiness, less wheezing/coughing, improvement in any rashes??). Just like adults, there could be a variety of different ways that a baby might show evidence of a food intolerance- could be just evident in the poop or could be evident in other ways in some babies.

I'd keep an open mind- he might be gluten intolerant, but he might just be showing some normal variation in BM's. Maintaining a gluten-free diet is certainly not going to be harmful for you or for him, and it should be extremely helpful if he is indeed gluten intolerant.

[Mamato2boys]

Hi,

Orange poop is considered normal in a breastfed baby (see a description of baby's BM's on Dr. Jay Gordon's website:

"In summary, stools in breastfeeding babies are predictably green, brown, yellow or orange."

Open Original Shared Link

Large volume of poop is also normal- I know many breastfed babies who have profusive BM's which completely load up their diaper and go up their backs requiring a complete change of clothes, not just a diaper change )

However, the mucousy part of your description sounds less normal to me. I believe that mucous is an indication that there is some sort of upset or irritation within the digestive system, also if the poop was really watery that could be an indication of a problem too. My understanding is that occassional watery poops is normal, but frequent watery poop would be less normal.

If you noticed a sudden change after altering your diet, it's certainly possible the 2 things could be related. Were there any behaviour changes, respiratory or skin changes as well? (less fussiness, less wheezing/coughing, improvement in any rashes??). Just like adults, there could be a variety of different ways that a baby might show evidence of a food intolerance- could be just evident in the poop or could be evident in other ways in some babies.

I'd keep an open mind- he might be gluten intolerant, but he might just be showing some normal variation in BM's. Maintaining a gluten-free diet is certainly not going to be harmful for you or for him, and it should be extremely helpful if he is indeed gluten intolerant.

Yup, Aiden has had several of those poops - the ones where it fills his diaper AND his clothes, lol. It's watery almost all the time, with the occasional mucusy-look to it. The other thing I noticed is his reflux improved A LOT when I cut out glutens. My DH has reflux which improved with the gluten-free diet, which also made me suspicious about Aiden's improvement. He also seems less gassy and less fussy. Come to think of it, he's had infant acne for quite some time, which seems to be getting better too (at least I think it's infant acne - could be a facial rash). I've also gotten better about avoiding dairy - obvious and not-so-obvious. He seemed to improve quite a bit when I cut out dairy, but was still having issues. Cutting out glutens seems to have made just as much, if not more, of a difference. A couple of these things I hadn't really thought of until I thought about it this way.

[Suzie-GFfamily]

My dd used to spit up what seemed like very large amounts of milk after most feedings when she was a baby....with hindsight I've wondered if she was reacting to wheat protein in my milk back then? She is 5 now and recently diagnosed as celiac.

[Mamato2boys]

My dd used to spit up what seemed like very large amounts of milk after most feedings when she was a baby....with hindsight I've wondered if she was reacting to wheat protein in my milk back then? She is 5 now and recently diagnosed as celiac.

Could be. I know that with my DH cutting out glutens has made an ENORMOUS difference - literally like night & day. He was taking Zantac every day - sometimes he'd take 2 and then Tums on top of it, and was STILL having at least 1 or 2 reflux episodes a week. Sometimes they'd be so bad he'd cough incessantly and spit up stomach acid. This also caused a chronic cough that seems to have disappeared, and he no longer takes Zantac at all. He's not completely gluten-free, but has gone pretty gluten-light, and is still eating dairy (despite me trying to convince him to give it up, lol).

I think babies stomachs are probably more sensitive than we give them credit - after all, all this stuff is brand new to their systems.

[Michi8]

Normal breastfed baby poops (for an infant that is 100% breastfed with no solid foods or formula having been introduced) are mustardy yellow. AFAIK, orange is not a normal colour and mucous is definitely a sign of problems. Sometimes, though, teething or illness can affect the colour & consistency of poops too (my eldest son, when teething, would have poops that looked like he had eaten cooked spinach...even though he was still 100% breastfed.) He also only pooped once a week from 4 months 'til about 10 months or so, but still his poops were soft, mustard coloured and non-offensive smelling (well, until he started solids at 6 months that is!)

Michelle

[TCA]

I too was gluten-free/df/ef while nursing my daughter. Hang in there! It made ALL the difference in the world with Meg! You can always reintroduce them later to see how the baby reacts. Megan made it clear that she needs to be gluten-free!