New Mum’s Food Adventures

Having a baby who is now a toddler with celiac you have to check absolutely everything. I figured it out early. It looked like colic. It wasn’t. The pain screams and pain stretches were awful and the watery stools were two early signs. Taking away gluten made an instant difference after the first 24-48 hrs post gluten consumption. It’s in formula and he had to do some bottle feeds with breastfeeding before going fully breastfed BEFORE we knew he had celiac so he not only suffered but he had bottle aversion. I couldn’t get him to bottle feed breastmilk. Bottle aversion often comes from but not always, experiencing pain after bottle feeding. I read a book on bottle aversion and the one thing not mentioned was celiac bowl pain. Mostly lactose allergies. His bottle time was short but enough to have caused problems. I had GDM and sometimes babies born from mothers with GDM have sugar drops and mums milk for whatever reason isn’t quite enough so I had to do a formula feed now and then. It was awful. But luckily it wasn’t for long and he was able to breastfeed and not have any blood glucose issues. Most of his baby purées were home made or fruits and vegetables. Australian baby food has a lot of variety and I gave him pouch baby foods with quinoa early. He had oats just fine and luckily again a lot of our oats are not contaminated or thickened with wheat but some are.

I first noticed the issue with one particular brand of rusks and his baby spaghetti. I usually used a gluten free rusk because in the back of my mind I worried he might have his father’s gut. We didn’t have a proper diagnosis for his father, my husband and I was very suspicious that it wasn’t gluten intolerance because of the pain. But being in the last phase of the pandemic and poor supplies there came a week where I couldn’t get his normal rusks. This was before we knew or realised. He had a risk though mild in gluten it effected him within an hour and at night. He was an amazing sleeper unless he had consumed gluten. The late night screaming and pain stretches, a rock hard abdomen without being constipated and taking days to have a bowl movement which was when passed, passed with screaming and explosive liquid and doing loud hard pushed out adult sized farts. The gas frequency and noise was so bad that my Aunty who I was living with at the time and an ex nurse said how often and how loud is unusual where she said something might be wrong. The gaps between these instances were months apart. The doctor treated me like I had first-baby-itis. Paranoid first mum in other words. Instead I went with my gut and listened to my Aunty. One of the last reactions he had cramps at the exact same time as his father who consumed gluten and I cut him off gluten for good. I pushed for my husband to get himself and baby tested and a second opinion and I didn’t go in the doctors office. Because I was furious with being ignored for so long I didn’t go. They both have celiac and I felt relieved because it’s always nice to hear confirmation and that you’re not a paranoid overly worried mother. Though I wasn’t in the appointment it was nice to hear that the doctor had said it was very good to see the signs and do something so early because he is young enough to heal from any possible damage. Hearing we did the right thing brought a lot of relief. You can see a pattern in my blog where I aired my thoughts and suspicions as I went along with feeding.

Today I share this just in case it could help someone out. He used to do the loudest poops but they were all as thin as water if he had gluten. He did too many and adult loud farts. He screamed all night with a hard abdomen. Relief did not come after passing gas. Often felt worse. The hard abdomen could last for days going 3+ days without pooping and it was always runny or too runny. That one is a big one. The stomach cramps cannot be eased with baby Panadol (baby paracetamol) or baby ibuprofen which being an anti inflammatory you would think would help. It often happened and worsened with teething. He could eat bananas all day and remain too runny. I had to make him banana mash mixed with rice to help bind him back up. It takes anything from a day to a week to recover from gluten. Once recovered you seem to have a whole new baby. Happier, super happy in fact. Sleeping and napping, more energy and regularity with far less gas.

The least obvious symptom was lethargy which made it look like his blood sugar might be low. But it was good. It was scary at times. Don’t let doctors blow you off. I feel bad for not going to the appointment but I felt like, in all honesty, if a man went then he would be listened to. I don’t like being treated like a hysterical woman but it happens. Especially to first time mums. I was definitely ignored as well because I had been infertile for 13yrs and the whole pregnancy was scary. I had lost every pregnancy for 13yrs but I didn’t lose this treasure. So apparently that means I’m more hysterical. So I made a decision in hopes of being listened to and get results.

The signs were there, I just needed someone to listen. Thankfully my Aunty listened and I said about the gluten and she said I’m not stupid, I care a lot and do a good job, follow my instincts. No one knows him better than his own mum. So I did. And she noticed the changes too. She said to keep doing what I’m doing.

His weight was perfect going gluten free. He lost some weight with gluten. When he was totally gluten free he almost never vomited. When he had gluten from formula and later a few baby foods, he vomited. His vomits were often projectile and absolutely everything he had in his stomach vs normal sized and frequency off gluten. There is such a thing as an unusual amount of vomit for babies. If there’s no fever docs tend not to care or listen. Which is sad. No fever no problem right? Well not always. Sometimes there is a problem.

Going gluten free is not harmful even if you don’t have a gluten issue or allergy. And you shouldn’t let anyone make you feel bad about trying what works for your family. Just don’t forget to add fibre to that mix. Rice, quinoa, wheat free oats. If your baby has celiac symptoms with oats it could be an issue with avenin. Some celiacs can eat oats, others can’t. Some gluten intolerant people can’t eat oats either but they don’t know about avenin. My family can eat oats but I have to buy untainted oats which can be hard to find sometimes. Chia is another good fibre and linseed. Brown and gold linseed/flaxseed are great. They make good fluffy muffins.

There will always be at least one person who is rude and tells you you’re wrong. Go with your gut. My own mother is one of those people that thinks celiac and gluten intolerance is fake and a scam. It’s not. And it’s not right to make snide comments or rude assumptions regardless of who you are. If you suspect something is wrong you should consult a doctor but if they don’t listen after many consults, might be time to try a doc that listens. Could you imagine if I just listened to being told to chill out and stop worrying over “nothing” and he had a lifetime of abdominal pain before anyone listened? Having to grow up and then figure it out as an adult like so many people do? It took me years of more or less nagging my husband to do something and he was misdiagnosed as gluten intolerant and even then they didn’t care to listen. He had noticeable changes but he kept making bad choices and being lax going oh well I’m intolerant so it’s not hurting me right? Wrong. Celiac is autoimmune and does damage each time. Then the pain got worse and worse and I said it’s becoming obvious it’s not intolerance. It’s something else. There was a lot of denial. Because he had been conditioned to think “this is normal. This is who you’re supposed to feel. Everyone feels like this after eating.” And it’s not and that was the gluten intolerance. So I pushed the issue. I felt like the most annoying person but I said honestly I want the peace of mind. If it’s intolerance then there’s no big deal. If it’s not you have to do it for your health and set an example for our son who has the same gut issues. He eventually found a doctor who listened and he has made serious and huge diet changes. Though I don’t have to be gluten free I am on board for the journey because I feel like if I eat gluten in the house or while we are out, it would be a tease and rude. So I don’t eat any gluten either. If I was by myself I probably would. The other reason was I read it can be beneficial for people with PCOS to go gluten free. I have noticed more regularity but that is normal after a baby. I have noticed less intensity to my period pains but that could also be because of having a baby and getting older. I have however, noticed I am not stacking on weight like I used to and losing weight has improved. I think a lot of it has to do with the introduction of flaxseed and resistant starches.

This whole experience has been interesting. I have no regrets joining them in being gluten free. It’s had quite a few advantages. The only thing that has been difficult is a quality GF flour and flour stock. We moved out into the country so it got harder to shop gluten free but when we are in the our old city to see family and friends we stock up. It’s also been difficult but understandable finding so many recipes are behind a paywall or “in my book that’s coming out” that never seems to release. But I’m a decent little home baker. I’m curious. I’m in it for the long haul. I WILL figure it out eventually and when I do, I will be sharing it here.

Since I can’t disable comments please don’t be negative. I don’t want to deal with any negativity that may come from my choices I spoke about honestly. I’m just a regular person figuring out the best ways to make enjoyable food for my family who have celiac disease. Food that is both inclusive and delicious.