My name is Casey, I have a 10 month old baby. I love having a baby, she’s funny, loveable and makes me feel fulfilled.

However, I can’t deny that since she’s been born my partner and I have faced some trials. I have now experienced giving birth, living with a baby with colic, breast feeding (still going!), sleep deprivation, washable nappies and weaning a baby onto gluten when I can’t eat it myself, amongst other experiences.

My colleagues in NHS Dorset and I would like to share with you some of our stories about being pregnant and about having a baby. We would love to hear from you, and hope that get involved too.

I have coeliac disease, which means that I must avoid gluten at all costs. Eating gluten causes my intestines to become inflamed and I get ill, run down and tired for weeks after.

This means avoiding even the smallest amount – a rogue crumb can cause mischief.

I was doing fine at avoiding gluten at home; we don’t have bread in the house and cook any wheat products separately. Until 6 months ago…

Cue weaning my baby

  • Accidentally eat gluten while checking if her food is the right temperature – Yes

  • Get glutened when baby puts your fingers in my mouth after eating – Yes

  • Kiss baby’s lovely head and ingest a crumb – Yes

  • Baby throws her food and it lands in your food – Yes

  • Forget what you’re doing and decide baby’s finger food looks tasty – Yes
    Note to self – I must stop stealing her food

  • Puree baby food which then somehow gets all over the kitchen and on all the utensils – Yes

  • Pour out baby cereal and a fine dust of gluten settles throughout the whole house – Yes

Lessons learned? None. I would like people’s suggestions!

Let me know what has worked for you. Share your stories, ideas and tips.