Failure To Thrive Prior To Celiac

[M0Mto3]

My daughter was 10 months old when we fist suspected Celiac. She was faiure to thrive due to Celiac. Since being off gluten her weight percentages haven't gone up a ton (although they stopped dropping, yay!). Has anyone else had a baby who was failure to thrive due to Celiac's? I really want to know that she may catch up in growth at some point. Is there any risk that she has lost too much ground and may always be little? She looks so much healthier, so I try not to think about her weight. It is hard to not worry about her weight because I have spent so much time worrying about it. I would love to here from someone who has been there. Thanks!

Btw, she was off gluten for 3 months, back on for 2 (gluten trial) and has been off for almost 2 months. I hope she just needs more time to heal her gut.

[mushroom]

I would think she just needs more time - two months is not very long at all. By six months I don't think you will be asking these questions. Growth spurts just 'happen'.

[Darn210]

Since being off gluten her weight percentages haven't gone up a ton (although they stopped dropping, yay!). . .

. . . She looks so much healthier . . .

Give her some more time. Sounds like she's making progress . . . and that's including the fact that she was back on gluten for a trial.

[jarcat]

My daughter was 10 months old when we fist suspected Celiac. She was faiure to thrive due to Celiac. Since being off gluten her weight percentages haven't gone up a ton (although they stopped dropping, yay!). Has anyone else had a baby who was failure to thrive due to Celiac's? I really want to know that she may catch up in growth at some point. Is there any risk that she has lost too much ground and may always be little? She looks so much healthier, so I try not to think about her weight. It is hard to not worry about her weight because I have spent so much time worrying about it. I would love to here from someone who has been there. Thanks!

Btw, she was off gluten for 3 months, back on for 2 (gluten trial) and has been off for almost 2 months. I hope she just needs more time to heal her gut.

I am in the same boat. My daughter is 17 months and 17lbs. We have had quite the year with her and her weight. We haven't officially diagnosed celiac but all the signs lead to it. Once we have put her on a strictly gluten-free diet she is gradually gaining weight. It has been about 4months now. I know it is hard not to worry but just give it time. I have to totally ignore the charts and just focus more on what she is eating and make sure she doesn't lose any more weight. I know how hard it is believe me. Hang in there.

[maximoo]

Do not worry she will grow at her own rate. Kids grow in spurts & when she goes thru one you will swear you could see her growing right b4 ur eyes. Altho my DD was quite a bit older than ur baby (age13) when we discovered the celiac. She hadn't grown in like 1 1/2 yrs As soon as she went gluten-free,(beg of jun) she grew almost 3 inches over the summer, and she gained like 6 lbs. I would suggest a gluten-free multivitamin if she isn't taking one already.

She will be just fine. Good Luck!

[M0Mto3]

Thanks, everyone. I just have this fear that since her issues started since birth that she won't make up for that important early development. It is so hard to see her so little, particularly because her brothers have never even been below the 70th percentile for height or weight. I am trying not to stress, but spent so many months worried about her growing that it is hard to shut that off. Finding out her issue was gluten was a huge relief. I was just hoping she would instantly start to catch up.

[mushroom]

Try not to look at it day by day, or week by week. Set the time limit for six months, and see what the difference is.

[Di2011]

Do you have good support from your doctor(s)? I presume they haven't tested for celiac?

Do you keep a gluten free house? It is recommended that celiacs check all the bathroom/laundry products for example.

[SilverSlipper]

My daughter has a diagnosis of failure to thrive due to celiac disease. (She is 10 yrs old by the way). She is considered very small for her age though she continues to grow (height and weight) in small increments. She has been tested in every way possible and her doctors have decided that she's simply meant to be small. Though she's small, she's very bright (gifted), and athletic (she plays both soccer and does cheerleading - she also takes karate). She also participates in Children's Theatre and just received one of the medium sized roles (which is a huge deal for her) in an upcoming musical. There's nothing wrong with being small. If you are still concerned after a few more months have gone by, talk to your gastro about it. Good luck!

[maximoo]

I always tell my DD being small has never stopped anybody from achieving their goals. Her pediatrician is barely 5ft and is very successful, many famous ppl are short, some bad (benedict arnold) some good. Physical stature is not a deterant to who/what you wanna be.

Children are amazing & your DD will grow She is still a baby & has plenty of time to catch up, but he still may be small and there's nothing wrong with that. As long as she gets all the nutrients she needs she will be just fine.

[sahm-i-am]

My baby girl was failure to thrive. Heck, I even had trouble gaining weight when I was pregnant with her! (But that was my undiagnosed Celiacs, not hers ). We didn't discover our Celiacs until last year and she was 10, almost 11 years old. She was always small, but I tell ya - it may be that she has been gluten free for 18 months or just her time to grow, but she has shot up this year! Her buddah-belly is finally gone and she is tall and lean. Her older sister always calls her "midget" (with love) but I have a feeling that name won't stick for long, she will grow taller than her older sister.

[M0Mto3]

Thanks for all the support. It isn't her size that concens me as much as the sadness that this may have permenantly effected her, does that make sense? I think you all are right, I just need to be patient. She is clearly healthy and clearly gaining. That is what is most important.

I am healthy as a horse Sahm-i-am (I believe Celiac's is coming from my husband's side, he has Type 1 diabetes), and I had trouble gaining weight during her pregnancy. She is my third child and I could not gain weight in the third trimester, no matter how much I ate. It is so strange to me that you had that problem with your child with Celiac's too. I am probably reading way into this, but I wonder if there is something to that?

[sahm-i-am]

I am healthy as a horse Sahm-i-am (I believe Celiac's is coming from my husband's side, he has Type 1 diabetes), and I had trouble gaining weight during her pregnancy. She is my third child and I could not gain weight in the third trimester, no matter how much I ate. It is so strange to me that you had that problem with your child with Celiac's too. I am probably reading way into this, but I wonder if there is something to that?

They aren't sure when my celiac disease kicked in - I think when I had emergency surgery with DD#1 a year before DD#2. I didn't have significant signs, just slight anemia. It gradually got worse over the years but nothing significant and finally I started showing obvious signs of malnutrition/malabsorption last year. Other than that I didn't have any complaints - always very healthy. It came as a complete shock when I was diagnosed. I am sure there is some connection - auto immune diseases can do crazy things.