Gluten free mama and breastfeeding - Does incidental gluten get to the baby?

[MommyPixie]

I was looking through the archives and having a hard time finding this answer...

I have celiac disease and eat as gluten free as possible. I am sensitive to the point of being able to tell I are a small amount of soy sauce, which in itself usually only has a small amount of gluten. However, it is pretty hard to keep all incidental gluten out of my diet and I just deal with the times it happens.

There have been a few occaisions when I had a reaction to gluten and my 8mo breastfeeder had some gastro symptoms of his own. Does gluten make it into the breast milk? Does it make it into the breast milk if, like me, the mother is not breaking down the proteins properly?

Should I read anything into his reactions to my possibly glutinous milk as far as long term gluten intolerance? I am hesitant to give him any gluten yet. I have read reports saying to introduce by 6mos, but have also heard to wait for until 1 year in cases where the baby is higher risk. So, I have not yet seen if he reacts badly to gluten in his own diet. :

Any info on gluten proteins in breast milk would be appreciated.

[Ruthla]

If you have classic Celiac disease, I don't understand why you're not being more careful. I buy a gluten-free soy sauce for home cooking, and rarely if ever eat out.

There could be two reasons why the baby reacts when you get glutened. It could be that gluten gets into the milk and the baby reacts directly to the gluten. But it could also be that YOU react to the gluten and your body creates "reaction" substances in response to the gluten, and then those substances get into the milk. So the baby might be "sharing your reaction" rather than reacting directly to the gluten.

Isn't there a blood test for Celiac Disease that doesn't require eating gluten for the test to be accurate? I would have the baby tested before I'd even consider introducing gluten to the baby.

Not to mention, if you have CD it's safer for YOU to keep a gluten-free house. It's safer for you to not have to clean up gluten crumbs from things your child ate away from home. I can't see any reason to introduce gluten at all, at least not until preschool when they might serve crackers or pretzels and the child will be old enough to feel left out.

[gurumama]

Current research says that introducing gluten between *either* between 4 and 6 months, OR 7 and 9 months of age (research studies are conflicting, but NOT later than 9 months), especially in families with CD, can reduce the risk of developing CD. I have a DH with CD and wish I'd known this when our boys were younger.

One study: http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl...sl-allversions

So delaying beyond 9 months could, according to current research, put the baby at GREATER risk of CD.

As for gluten in the breastmilk, yes--it transmits.

And I agree with Ruthla that if you have a confirmed CD diagnosis, you need to weed out ALL gluten, period. Especially with pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, because you're putting your body at serious risk of malabsorption, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and other related issues.

[MommyPixie]

Originally Posted by gurumama

One study: http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl...sl-allversions

So delaying beyond 9 months could, according to current research, put the baby at GREATER risk of CD.

As for gluten in the breastmilk, yes--it transmits.

And I agree with Ruthla that if you have a confirmed CD diagnosis, you need to weed out ALL gluten, period. Especially with pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, because you're putting your body at serious risk of malabsorption, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and other related issues.

Thanks for the study. Yes, that is what I was interested in as far as the timing of introducing wheat. I have also heard that non-gluten intolerant children can have a harder time adjusting to gluten if it is introduced late enough, which is a reason not to wait until pre-school.

This instance was eating at a friend's house, they are usually very good but everyone makes some mistakes! Believe me, I am usually pretty good.

There is a genetic CD test, but my results were complicated and I am not sure if they would constitute a positive diagnosis. Sounds like it is possible he is reacting to BM gluten, but it may be best to try gluten in his diet before 9mo if we want to know more definitively.

[MamaKickyPants]

I do not have CD, but have a history of gluten intolerance in my family. My LO (7 mos) is VERY sensitive to gluten, even incidental gluten. It makes him cranky, gassy, rash on face, elbows, knees and bum, and have trouble breastfeeding (he can taste the ickiness, I think!) I'm not going to be introducing gluten into his diet for sometime, as it is very clear that he reacts badly to it.

HTH