Giving Gluten Free Another Whirl

My nursing experience started off on shaky ground.  As I've mentioned in my Nursing Diaries, it was a bit of a challenge.  Whether trying to get my daughter to latch correctly, coping with sleepless nights, or pumping at work.  I was prepared for all of these situations, but I wasn't nearly prepared for how my daughter reacted to my breast milk.

The only thing I was allowed to munch on was those stupid ice chips during labor.  After 17 hours, I was so hungry I could have eaten anything or anyone in sight.  The nurse offered me lunch, along with a small can of soda.  I remember telling her that I wasn't able to drink soft drinks, since I'd be nursing.  She assured me that it was ok to have.  So I scarfed down the entire meal and washed it down with Sprite.  It was so nice to finally have food in my stomach.  But, the relief that I felt didn't last.  Following a nursing session, my newborn baby girl cried uncontrollably.  My hubby and I tried everything to calm her down.  Nothing worked!

What I thought was a one time thing became like an everyday scream-feast.  Her peaceful demeanor would be followed by low moans, pushing, and a load cries.  Not even the pediatrician could give me a clear cut answer as to what was going on.  I began writing everything down, and my further investigation led right back to me.  That's right!  I realized that the food that I consumed was affecting my baby's stomach.  Every time I ate something, Princess would cry out in agony hours later.  She became so gassy that she wouldn't sleep at all.  I started to wonder if my daughter was allergic to my breast milk.  

I called a lactation consultant who broke it all down for me.  She said there was no way that my baby girl could be allergic to my milk.  However, there is a chance that she was developing gripe as a result of the food I was consuming.  She recommended that I start from scratch which meant completely stripping down my diet.  I began omitting dairy and certain leafy veggies which lead to some improvement in her condition.  A friend of mine from work recommended that I try a gluten-free diet.  Even though I don't suffer from celiac disease, I figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a whirl.  

Low and behold, Princess's gas subsided.  On top of that, I felt less tired and bloated.  I couldn't believe the difference.  Once her digestive track matured (around 6 or 7 months), I began slowly adding dairy and eventually went back to my old eating habits.  

Princess is still nursing, and is doing much better. I no longer follow a strict gluten-free diet. But, I'm beginning to think maybe I should go back. For those of you who aren't familiar with gluten. Here's some info for ya. In a nut shell, gluten is a type of protein found in foods like wheat, pasta, and rye. It can affect the intestines in those who suffer from celiac disease. Gluten can prevent vitamins and minerals from being absorbed which can lead to fatigue, bloating, and bad skin.  Even though I don't suffer from the condition, I am still very sensitive to gluten.  With that said, I've decided to go back to my old gluten-free diet.

Who would have thought that nursing would lead me to a gluten-free path?  As I mentioned, it's been a  hard road.  I've taken many detours along the way trying to alleviate my daughter's problems with gas, and mine too.  But, I've finally reached my final destination.  It's only been a few days and I'm starting to feel much better.

For more information on Celiac Disease visit PubMed Health.

Do you suffer from digestive problems?

Weather Anchor Mama