Breastfeeding

[mommy2be]

I am exclusively pumping my breast milk and feeding my baby. My question is...if I were to accidentally ingest gluten, could I "pump and dump". If I can, how much should I dump? How long should I dump? How long does it take for the gluten ingested to enter into my milk and effect my baby?

Any information on this would be much appreciated.

[tarnalberry]

Is your baby celiac? If not, I wouldn't bother dumping, honestly.

[mommy2be]

I'm not sure if she is or not. She is only 1 month old.

[StephanieL]

There is no reason to pump and dump. Well, a very few reasons (think surgery with heavy meds or chemo). Even an occasional drink of alcohol isn't a reason to pump and dump.

On the off chance you do ingest gluten, it isn't a 100% thing that it will get into your breastmilk. It may, it may not and no one knows how long it does stay in the milk. Also, even if you do ingest it and the baby gets some, they may or may not react to it. I spoke about this with Dr. Fassano when I was pregnant with #3 and he said there is NO REASON to not nurse a baby even with a family history UNLESS there is an obvious reaction to the milk, then you need to cut gluten.

Hope you are enjoying your new one. I already miss it with my 10 month old giant! lol

[tarnalberry]

If you have no reason to think that she is celiac, then there is really no reason to pump and dump. Baby is going to need to ear, after all.

[jebby]

I have 4 children. I was undiagnosed while breast feeding my 3 oldest and they were fine. I am now gluten free while breast feeding my 4th and there is no difference in her health or digestion compared to her gluten exposed siblings. Congratulations on your baby!!

[Celiac Ninja]

This is interesting, I am glad this was posted and multiple mom's have experience with this. I got 1 week until I'm breast feeding my 1st and I am celiac, no where near certain if baby will be celiac though. Will just have to see by the way he reacts to milk if he ingests any gluten I've accidently gotten in my system. I think his skin would be a first sign and any difference in sleep pattern or pale stools. I'm not sure what exactly to look for but that's my first clues I go by for myself.

Interesting situation we moms have to go through.

[lil'chefy]

I am exclusively pumping my breast milk and feeding my baby. My question is...if I were to accidentally ingest gluten, could I "pump and dump". If I can, how much should I dump? How long should I dump? How long does it take for the gluten ingested to enter into my milk and effect my baby?

Any information on this would be much appreciated.

You don't need to pump and dump unless your baby is celiac! About the only reason you should pump and dump is because you drank too much or you have HIV or hepatitis, that's it!

[mommy2be]

Thank you all for the comments! So my next question is...if I do ingest gluten and my baby does seem to have a reaction, what should I look for? And will that mean she was "exposed" to gluten already and "the longer she is breast fed to delay the onset" go out the window?

Thankyou

[StephanieL]

There is no 100% on any of it. Nursing your baby as long as you are wanting to is what's best for your baby. Please do t let the off chance of a gluten exposure freak you out into not nursing as long as you want to. There are a ton of reason to breastfeed so even if the "exposure" kicked one benefit out there are 100 others that make it worth it to keep going!