Re:breastfeeding and CD

March 24, 2006

Hi all. I've been out of touch for awhile with a newborn - and have a

question for you regarding the benefits of breastfeeding as a

protection against celiac.

I don't really want to spark a debate about the benefits of

breastfeeding - I know that it is the best thing for baby. However, I

have been breastfeeding my son for almost 6 weeks now, and have been

suffering through a very painful breast (yeast) infection that is not

clearing up despite rounds of antibiotics, etc. After weeks of

torture, I really, really want to quit nursing. This would not be

such a difficult decision if it were not for the studies that I am

aware of that suggest that breastfeeding (for a longer duration)

" protects " against celiac. Does anyone know anything about these

studies and/or what " protects " means? I guess I always understood

celiac to be more controlled by genetics than anything else, so I'm

not sure how breastfeeding could " protect " someone against it - I

always thought either you would test positive for celiac (even if

asymptomatic) or not. It could be that I have misunderstood this all

along. Anyway, I guess I really would like to quit nursing for my

sanity's sake, but don't want to put my son at any greater risk than

he already is (my older son, 2 years old, has celiac (and for the

record, was breastfed exclusively for 3 months)). Any thoughts?

Thanks a bunch, Kayce in VA

March 24, 2006

I breastfeed my oldest son exclusively for 6 months and then he weans by age 3. He was diagnosed just resently with celiac at 11. My youngest nursed exclusively until he was 16 months (due to a swallowing disfunction, he couldn't eat solids without aspirating) and then weaned totally by 3. He is 8 now and his Promethus test came back negative last week. I think I read that breastfeeding helps to delay the onset on celiac. btw, are you treating your son for the yeast infection also? If not, your are probably passing the yeast back and forth between the two of you.kayce_compton wrote: Hi all. I've been out of touch for awhile with a newborn - and have aquestion for you regarding the benefits of breastfeeding as

aprotection against celiac.I don't really want to spark a debate about the benefits ofbreastfeeding - I know that it is the best thing for baby. However, Ihave been breastfeeding my son for almost 6 weeks now, and have beensuffering through a very painful breast (yeast) infection that is notclearing up despite rounds of antibiotics, etc. After weeks oftorture, I really, really want to quit nursing. This would not besuch a difficult decision if it were not for the studies that I amaware of that suggest that breastfeeding (for a longer duration)"protects" against celiac. Does anyone know anything about thesestudies and/or what "protects" means? I guess I always understoodceliac to be more controlled by genetics than anything else, so I'mnot sure how breastfeeding could "protect" someone against it - Ialways thought either you would test positive for celiac (even ifasymptomatic) or not. It

could be that I have misunderstood this allalong. Anyway, I guess I really would like to quit nursing for mysanity's sake, but don't want to put my son at any greater risk thanhe already is (my older son, 2 years old, has celiac (and for therecord, was breastfed exclusively for 3 months)). Any thoughts?Thanks a bunch, Kayce in VA

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March 24, 2006

Thanks, . Yes, my lactation specialist prescribed both me and

baby Nystatin, which we've been on for two weeks to no avail, and I've

just been prescribed the stronger Difulcan (which I'm not really

optimistic about, but I guess I'll try).

Thanks again for your message.

>

> I breastfeed my oldest son exclusively for 6 months and then he

weans by age 3. He was diagnosed just resently with celiac at 11.

My youngest nursed exclusively until he was 16 months (due to a

swallowing disfunction, he couldn't eat solids without aspirating) and

then weaned totally by 3. He is 8 now and his Promethus test came

back negative last week.

>

> I think I read that breastfeeding helps to delay the onset on celiac.

>

> btw, are you treating your son for the yeast infection also? If

not, your are probably passing the yeast back and forth between the

two of you.

>

March 24, 2006

Hi Kayce,

I'm sorry to hear about the infection. I know how much that hurts. I

don't have any advice in that area. I did nurse all three of my dc

for more than 12 mos. each. From what I understand, breastfeeding

will not keep a child from developing CD, but it may delay onset, and

the symptoms will be less severe/different. My 5.5yo dd is a typical

example. She was nursed exclusively until 6mo, then weaned at 21mo.

We discovered she has CD last summer through a family screening and

then biopsy. She was always a little constipated, and seemed to be

not growing as much as I thought she should, was tired and lacked

energy, had a small appetite,and was irritable. As far as we knew

those were the only symptoms (though since then she's told me she had

stomach aches). From what I've read on this list it could have been

much worse. So far my other dc are negative for CD, and we are

waiting for gene test results.

HTH,

Laurie

>

> Hi all. I've been out of touch for awhile with a newborn - and have a

> question for you regarding the benefits of breastfeeding as a

> protection against celiac.

>

> I don't really want to spark a debate about the benefits of

> breastfeeding - I know that it is the best thing for baby. However, I

> have been breastfeeding my son for almost 6 weeks now, and have been

> suffering through a very painful breast (yeast) infection that is not

> clearing up despite rounds of antibiotics, etc. After weeks of

> torture, I really, really want to quit nursing. This would not be

> such a difficult decision if it were not for the studies that I am

> aware of that suggest that breastfeeding (for a longer duration)

> " protects " against celiac. Does anyone know anything about these

> studies and/or what " protects " means? I guess I always understood

> celiac to be more controlled by genetics than anything else, so I'm

> not sure how breastfeeding could " protect " someone against it - I

> always thought either you would test positive for celiac (even if

> asymptomatic) or not. It could be that I have misunderstood this all

> along. Anyway, I guess I really would like to quit nursing for my

> sanity's sake, but don't want to put my son at any greater risk than

> he already is (my older son, 2 years old, has celiac (and for the

> record, was breastfed exclusively for 3 months)). Any thoughts?

>

> Thanks a bunch, Kayce in VA

>

March 24, 2006

I don't believe BFing " prevents " CD. It is supposed to keep CD from

developing while BFing which is the critical age of development and

need for nutrition. Although that was not the case in my ds2, he was

reacting to Gluten in my breastmilk at birth (arguments are out there

that gluten is not in BM, but if dairy protiens are then so can gluten

protiens and our Pedi GI agrees!!!), I may have had a leaky gut

allowing more protiens into my blood stream thus affecting my BM --

I'll never know. I BF him until he quit at 14mo old, not knowing my

BM was part of the constant problem. I would have changed my diet, I

was already completely 100% dairy free, I would not have stopped

nursing, I would have gone GF had I known.

I truly hope you can get relief from the yeast to continue BFing. I'm

glad you have the aid of a LC, they can be very helpful. A La Leche

League meeting might also give you some advice, support and hope for a

cure.

Massaging the affected breasts while nursing or pumping can

dramatically speed up the healing process. Nurse very often, every

hour if you can. I got mastitis when my dd was 13 months old (which I

thought was unusual), I didn't need antibiotics, I did home treatment

and thankfully it worked. I felt ill, feverish, etc -- awful. I can't

imagine w/ a newborn feeling that way.

BFing does also help protect children against developing asthma and

allergies. It's not a 100% science, but with the rise of asthma and

allergies in children, it makes sense to do whatever you can to help

give your child the best possible health no matter what their genetics

are like.

Rejoyce

Winchester, VA