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 to all who replied thank you.

Summery:
Yes, it is amazing how fast gluten goes through breast milk to the baby.  I
am nursing our 13 month old son that I believe to be celiac.  I have not had
him tested, because there is no way I would expose him to that much gluten.
I didn't know about avoiding gluten when I was nursing the other children,
and of course wasn't aware of celiac disease at all until we were trying to
find answers for our (then) two year old daughter's condition.  She is
almost eight now, and I believe a lot of the allergies she has are due to
damage to her intestines as a baby.  Her younger brothers, who are now
almost six and four, have never been tested for celiac but have obvious
reactions when exposed to gluten, as does the baby.


Next:
 I am sure that extended breastfeeding helped protect my
children very much, though it would have been better if I had known I needed
to be gluten free too.  I still think there are so many important benefits
to nursing, that even with gluten contamination, it was much more helpful
than any harm done.

    I often wonder just how sick my oldest child would have been if we hadn't
breastfed so long.  She nursed until about 21 months when I was 6 months
pregnant.  I nursed her younger brothers about the same length of time, and
as soon as they weaned, they also started showing the same symptoms.  That is
one thing different about this child, because he shows reactions now.  I
don't know if it is because he has a higher degree of sensitivity to gluten
or what.  I try to avoid gluten as much as possible, but sometimes (rarely)I
know I may be eating something with gluten in it and since we can't find out
for sure I will go ahead and try it.  I can usually tell right away, as he
reacts quickly.  Then it takes a few days for him to get over it.

next:
I breastfed about 14-16 months, beginning after birth.  Diarrhea began the
morning after delivery.  It magnified when I began to wean him.  We
self-diagnosed celiac at 18 mo.  after trial and error with milk and soy.
Although this child was never diarrhea-free, I think it did help tremendously
to be nursing.

next:
I am mother to Leah 10 months and I am still nursing. Unfortunately I think
she IS celiac anyway :-( But I'll continue with the B-feeding until she a
year old or a little longer........

Here in Sweden mothers are encouraged to nurse minimum a year and that's what
I will do.

I guess I can see the signs of Celiac quite easy since I've had all of them
myself for over 25 years. I talked to her doctor the other week and he
thought my suspicions may be right. But we are going to wait until she is
over a year, then the tests are more accurate.


next:
I nursed my celiac son for almost 4 years and am now nursing my daughter (11
mo) who we're keeping gf at least for now. It's hard because I'm not as
vigilant at my diet as I should be, but when you see how sick and
uncomfortable, or downright painful your eating makes them, you stick it out
especially since breastfeeding is definitely the best for a celiac baby
(who, IMHO, are more likely to also have other allergies). Good luck!

next:
I was a breastfeeding Mom and my baby is now 9 years old.  She
enthusiastically nursed until she was 3 years old.  When Stephanie was 8, we
moved to Arizona and her personality changed.  She was hyperactive, moody,
talked very loudly, was starving all the time, craved waffles and syrup.  The
pediatrician said it was hypoglycemia.  At 8 1/2 years old she developed a
bumpy, painful rash on her thighs (very symmetrical).  We tried cortisone and
anti-fungal cremes.  The pediatrician said to try a stronger cortisone creme.
No change, except now it was on her elbows, forearms and knees also.

At 9 years old, her Mom (me) was diagnosed with Celiac Disease after months
(years?)  of illness and 3 gastroenterologists.  That's when the 100 watt
light went on and I knew what had been bothering Stephanie for all these
years.We started her on a GF diet on July 13, 2000 and within 5 days her
bumps had begun to fade and were no longer painful.  She stopped blowing her
nose upon awakening and all symptoms of hypoglycemia/hyperactivity
disappeared.  It was a miracle!!!!!  The best part was - she felt great.
Right now she has been doing a gluten challenge for 2 weeks.  Tomorrow is her
biopsy.  Her blood test results from a few weeks ago were:  Antigliadin IgA
and IgG antibodies over 200 (under 20 is negative).  No matter what the
results of the biopsy tomorrow, she will be on a gluten-free diet.  All her
symptoms came crashing back this week and last, and she feels yucky and moody
and fidgety and starving again.

Did breastfeeding delay (protect her from) the symptoms of Celiac Disease?
I think so.  Was it hard to diagnose?  I would say yes for many years.  Was
the diagnosis atypical?  It definitely wasn't your standard textbook case of
CD in children (no bowel problems, her growth pattern was good and DH was
said to be an adult symptom).


any length of time breastfeeding is SO beneficial to babies but extended
breastfeeding in my opinion is even more beneficial!! Good luck to all the
mommies nursing there celiac children they are very luck little ones.
Holly