Gluten and Breastmilk

[JaneSmith1010]

I have Celiac Disease and suspect that my baby does as well. However, no studies show that gluten in a mother's diet can get through breastmilk to irritate baby. But when I get gluten in my diet accidentally my ds gets very fussy, very gassy, has diarrhea (spelling?), etc. Does anyone else who is gluten intolerant have this problem with their baby? Should this post be in the breastfeeding section?

[bluets]

if it isn't the gluten itself, it could be the gluten peptide (gluteomorphin, i think) that has opiate-like effects. these peptides DO get into one's bloodstream and (in our cases) into breastmilk.

casein is the same way - betacasomorphin is a peptide (small chunk of protein) that has similar opiate like effects.

both these peptides pretty much act as numbing agents in the gut then they float off to do their thing in the brain.

[mamaverdi]

Gluten is a protein, and since milk proteins pass into breastmilk and irritate babies, I don't see why gluten wouldn't.

My oldest son has the issue. He & I are both awaiting tests for celiac.

[grisandole]

Gluten absolutey can go through breastmilk, that's how I figured out that ds2 was gluten senstive....if I ate it, he was in pain. When I stopped, no more fussiness

[JaneSmith1010]

Well thank you ladies!!! Now that we have some anecdotal evidence would someone please tell medical professionals that?! I can't tell you how often I have complained about this to docs/peds and get told that it can't irritate CD babies. I want to jump up and down and stomp my feet right now! Ugh. I'm waiting to hear how many more of you say that same thing. I guess docs feel safer trusting the conclusions of a few badly done studies rather than listening to their patients.: : :

[grisandole]

Not celiac specific, but www.askdrsears.com has info about an elmination diet to determine what a nursing baby is allergic to....most docs are aware that babies can be sensitive to what the mother eats!

Can I ask why you get gluten in your diet if you are Celiac?

[mamaverdi]

Maybe the docs are just uneducated.

Our ped gastro is a celiac himself, and I'm willing to bet he would have good information if we ever see him again.

Celiacs usually get gluten in their diet by cross contamination.

[greencat]

I believe everything you eat can/will come out in the breastmilk. I found out my DD's gluten issue via breastfeeding. When I took all the gluten out of OUR diet, I found I should do without as well. For some reason, she and my DS is more sensitive to gluten than me. (or, I should say, the gluten is problem for all of us, but they break out in eczema where I don't. I have different issues with gluten and other grains.)

Since babies who are breastfed will inherit immunity from breastmilk, their gut colony will more likely to resenble their mothers. I will start taking probiotics, and get on diet that will suite your Celiac condition. When your diet and digestion improves, so does your bowel movements, lactation and your babe's digestion/immune sys.

[JaneSmith1010]

Originally Posted by grisandole

Not celiac specific, but www.askdrsears.com has info about an elmination diet to determine what a nursing baby is allergic to....most docs are aware that babies can be sensitive to what the mother eats!

Can I ask why you get gluten in your diet if you are Celiac?

Yeah, it is from cross contamination. I am not intentionally ingesting it at all. That would be terrible pain for me and very unhealthy for my ds since it can, in some cases, prematurely halt lactation and cause other problems. I think the fenugreek I was taking may have had some gluten in it, or it could be my husband's bread crumbs. He is usually careful but sometimes uses my toaster with his bread, etc.

[larkish]

Originally Posted by jhow32000

or it could be my husband's bread crumbs. He is usually careful but sometimes uses my toaster with his bread, etc.

^Not good. When my mother first found out she had celiac the rest of us still ate gluten in the kitchen, but there would be a crumb left on the table and it would get picked up from her food, etc, and bad news. It didn't take long for the kitchen to become gluten free and I would suggest you do the same. We had an apt fridge upstairs where we could have lunch meat and bread and such that was away from her food. But most of us just ate gluten free as well. She also had issues with things like rice floor being milled where wheat was. She now gets the rice, rinses it and mills it herself. I think they have gotten much better within the last few years about labeling things that are processed in the same facility so that helps.

When my mom found out more than 15yrs ago the only Dr. open to the thought was one who's son had celiac. Others said it was too rare, yada yada. If you could find a Dr. more familiar with it or allergies that may help.

I don't know about gluten specifically, but DS is allergic to wheat, among other things. So when I eat it he gets a rash. I have even had a problem with something that did not have wheat but was manufactured in the same facility to wheat.

I hope that you can get the cross contamination under control so that ya'll will be feeling better. Best Wishes!

[Skiesmama]

gluten in breast milk

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/con...3785300~db=all

The research was done - and it's not even new, Drs just don't keep up with this stuff.

Add me to the list of mamas with babies who reacted.

Heather

[Panserbjorne]

Me too. Dd has celiac (as do I) and she was in terrible shape long before she ate anything on her own.

Where are you getting fenugreek that you think it could be contaminated?

[JaneSmith1010]

Originally Posted by firefaery

Me too. Dd has celiac (as do I) and she was in terrible shape long before she ate anything on her own.

Where are you getting fenugreek that you think it could be contaminated?

I bought Solaray fenugreek, which was stupid b/c the bottle doesn't say gf. I just was in a hurry and assumed that such a popular company would have gotten with it by now. I can't even find out about gluten in their products from the website.

[Panserbjorne]

Ah. You can either try a tincture or get the actual seeds and grind them yourself....that it what I do. I have found it to be the most effective in terms of increasing milk supply too.