Breastfeeding/celiac

[SharonF]

I am not sure if this is the right forum, as it is not my kid who has celiac (as far as I know), but me. However, I have some concerns.

My daughter is one year old. I was diagnosed as having celiac when she was about 9 months. I have been nursing her since she was born, still am.

Today she had her one year phsyical, and her weight is off the charts, on the down side. She's at less than the 3rd percentile. Although her length and head circumference seem fine, the doctor is concerned about her weight.

I am concerned that my celiac is somehow affecting my breastmilk. Is that possible? I have been gluten-free since September, with a regrettable lapse at Thanksgiving.

[flboysmom]

I'm not very qualified to answer your question, but I can tell you my experience. My sons were both breastfed and once I started introducing solids their weight dropped. Ds1 is 7 now and ds2 is 2.5, they are both in the 5% for their age in weight and height. Since we have gone gluten-free on January 1, ds1 has gained 2 lbs. and grown an inch. That's a huge deal for him. Ds2 has been pickier with his new diet so we are not seeing much gain from him yet. I am currently nursing my daughter who is 3.5 months. She's a little chunk, but quite frankly I am expecting to see her size shift just as her brothers did. If it does not, then I'll be thrilled but I'm not counting on it. I only wish that I would have been aware of this disease when my first one was younger. My husband has recently tested positive and that's when we started researching celiac in children. Of course, if you're not eating many starches and only sticking with protein types of meals then that could also cause her low weight. What has ger growth pattern been up to this point?

[SharonF]

She was at 20th percentile at her last appointment (9 months, I think?), and she wasn't in any category of concern before that. She was even big at birth--8 lbs, 11 oz. Now she weighs 17 pounds.

We've been keeping her away from gluten because of my diagnosis, although we did recently start her with some Cheerios, and she had cake on her birthday.

I am eating starches in the form of potatoes, rice, and gluten-free pastas.

It's possible that she's just a peanut, but I was wonder if my milk could somehow be not as nutricious because of my celiac disease.

[flboysmom]

My boys were also normal birth weights. Ds1 was 7.5 lbs. and ds2 was 8lbs. (12 days early). By the time they were a year old they were both at 18lbs. Ds1 is 7 now weighing in at a whopping 38lbs. and ds2 is 2.5 years, weighs 25lbs. Ds1 did not start having intestinal problems until the past 6 months. Ds2's stomach issues are constipation related, however he has had diaheara when ingesting gluten during the past month. (A few times his Nana tried to sneak it in )

Because of the history I have experienced with them, I would simply encourage you to continue to moniter her growth.

I have been eating gluten-free for the past month while breastfeeding dd....she's still booming along with weight gain and growing out of her clothing.