Iron in breastfed babies - Page 2

[MonkeysRUs]

Below is a link to a really interesting article from Dr. Hale about iron supplementation and it's potentially harmful effects:

http://www.ibreastfeeding.com/Volume%2031.pdf

[preemiemamarach]

there are (probably rare) exceptions to the rule that breastmilk will prevent anemia- my DS was 7 weeks early, and I have been anemic my entire life. Supplementing in my own diet did not improve his iron levels, and his were pretty dang low at one point (down to 7.6 or 8 by 5 months). But I'm sure the vast majority of the time, that doesn't happen.

[kiara7]

Originally Posted by MonkeysRUs

Below is a link to a really interesting article from Dr. Hale about iron supplementation and it's potentially harmful effects:

http://www.ibreastfeeding.com/Volume%2031.pdf

Thanks for posting that. I also wondered about iron in bf babies. Who and when figured out that bf babies need iron supplements? Formula isn't regulated all that much, so are they comparing bf baby iron levels to ff baby iron levels?

[smeep]

Originally Posted by kiara7

Thanks for posting that. I also wondered about iron in bf babies. Who and when figured out that bf babies need iron supplements? Formula isn't regulated all that much, so are they comparing bf baby iron levels to ff baby iron levels?

Precisely my question. Anyone know where those stats came from? I got curious because of the weight charts...most of the ones used are based on mostly ff, early solids babies with family history of obesity and poor diet. So they are useless for comparison. That made me wonder if perhaps the iron standard was based the same way (not necessarily all those factors but things like ff, early solids, preemies, early cord cutting, etc.). A recommendation should be based for ALL babies (ff included) on optimal exclusively breastfed, normal birth, etc. standards. Few are.

(Forgot I posted this...hence the uber delayed reply, haha.)

[abc123xyz]

I know from a birth aspect that before we were feeding our children solids, babies umbilical cords were kept un-clamped and un-cut for at least a hour and that was to ensure that the baby would get all vital nutrients they needed. Iron is one of those things. The iron in the umbilical cord that is stored up in the placenta is suppose to maintain the baby for a full year. Now in obstetrics, they are cutting cords far too soon and babies are losing those vital nutrients and becoming deficient sooner...more like at 6 months. If we stopped messing with nature, it would stop messing with us!!!