Katie Allison Granju wrote:

"I have searched the archives on this question and although there is
some info on celiac, I couldn't find an answer to the specific question
as to whether celiac disease precludes breastfeeding for either mother
or baby. Can someone answer this for me?"

Katie, you don't mention who has celiac disease, Mom or Baby?
In any case, celiac is not listed as a contraindication of breastfeeding
in "A Review of the Medical Benefits and Contraindications to
Breastfeeding in the United States" by Ruth A. Lawrence, M.D.

I discovered in researching this though, that if baby is the one with
celiac, then mom should also follow a gluten free diet as the partial
proteins that do pass through the breastmilk can potentially cause a
problem with baby.  Soy is not an option for a celiac, and apparently
many celiacs are also sensitive to casein, leaving a newborn with ? for
food.

If mom is the celiac, then no problem with breastfeeding and, in fact,
it's a great idea because celiac is genetic and she may be saving her
baby from early difficulties, should the baby end up having it also.

There are some excellent sites you might want to explore, or pass on to
this mom.


http://www.celiac.com/stats2.html#Human

http://www.panix.com/~donwiss/reichelt.html#twelve

Best Wishes, Denny
--

Denny Rice, RN, IBCLC
Dallas Texas USA

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