Iron questions

[2boyzmama]

**Cross posted in breastfeeding

At Gavin's ped appt yesterday, the ped again expressed concern that I got so anemic. He said that a maternal hemoglobin below 8.3 means insufficient transference of iron to baby, putting Gavin at risk of becoming anemic (I was an 8.0 at discharge). I told him that I've been taking a tablespoon of straight blackstrap molasses every day, plus eating other iron rich foods (red meet, green veggies, fortified cereals, etc). He said that blackstrap molasses isn't very absorbable by my body, so it won't bring my hemoglobin up as fast as I think it will.

Are both of those true??

He said that he wants me to make sure that my OB rechecks my hemoglobin before Gavin's next appt because if it's still low, then the ped is going to recommend that we start Gavin on an iron supplement. Of course I'll request that he check Gavin's hemoglobin first, no sense in supplementing if he isn't truely anemic.

But here's the thing...I've always read that babies are born with sufficient iron stores to last approx 6 months, sometimes longer. I was NOT anemic during pregnancy, at 36 weeks I was an 11.8. So either I became anemic in the last month of pregnancy, or I lost a LOT of blood during delivery (I really don't know which it is, my doula said she thought there was more blood than normal, but not a ton either) Either way, Gavin should still have sufficient iron stores, right?? Is this ped just over-reacting?? This same ped got very concerned when Connor wasn't on solids yet at 9 months, but his hemoglobin was fine. So maybe anemia is just his "thing".

[aleatha5]

You know, I have been reading that iron needs are really a lot lower than previously thought, except for women that are fertile age. Because your body doesn't lose iron except through bleeding. The tables seem to be turning and more doctors are saying men especially, but most women too, don't need as much iron as they used to think.

I'd def. have the doctor check his level before you start supplementing. You are right, no need to treat something that doesn't need treating.

[cristeen]

I can't speak to the other, but I can say that heme sources of iron are more absorbable than none heme (blood - red meat). And I believe you want to avoid eating that red meat with calcium sources, but do want to eat it with Vit C sources, to improve absorption. So if you're having that molasses with a glass of milk or eating fortified cereals with cow's milk, then you're kind of defeating the purpose.