Low iron = low supply?

[sattygirl99]

I found out today my iron level is low... This is the first time my iron has ever been low post birth and this it the first time I've had true supply issues where my milk isn't up to the amount it should be... Is there a connection?

This was my first vaginal birth and I did need a shot of pitocin after the birth because of hemorage (sp?)... I guess I should have been more proactive with my iron given that I did bleed a lot at first. It slowed to normal and my uterus retracted normally after the pit but I guess I didn't think I should take an iron supplement.

I sent DH to get some floradix+herbs so I can start it ASAP. How long does it normally take to get iron up? My level wasn't super low (it was 10.9, the cut off is 11.9 and I usually sit at 15, so 10 is very low for me)...

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

Yes low iron does cause low supply but I am not sure how long it takes to see improvement once you start iron supplements.

[CheriK]

Anemia has been linked to low milk supply, but causation has not been established. In other words, a relationship has been seen in several studies, but it hasn't been proven that the anemia is causing the low supply. More here: http://www.mobimotherhood.org/MM/article-anemia.aspx.

Other potential and possibly related causes could be retained placenta fragments (especially if you are still having any bleeding - ask for an ultrasound). Low thyroid levels can also cause low milk supply; hopefully your thyroid was checked as well when you had bloodwork done as this is very common in reproductive-aged women. There is also a relatively rare condition called Sheehan's syndrome (http://www.bing.com/health/article/m...#39;s+syndrome) that can occur in women with life-threatening blood loss during delivery.

Iron supplementation can take up to 6 months to improve hematocrit levels. If is impacting your milk supply, it's hard to know if it would also take that long to see an improvement with milk production. Sort of long to simply wait, so you'll probably want to explore other remedies for low supply. If you're using herbal galactogogues, you might want to choose one that's high in iron (nettle, oat straw or simply eating oatmeal) - treat both issues at once.

[Natanya]

I had a severe pph (postpartum hemorhage) and my hgb (hemoglobin) went down to 5.6! In 6 weeks time I got it up to 12 which is the low end of normal. i should have gotten a transfusion with iron levels that low but I was determined to fix myself the old-fashioned way. i ate meat 2-3 times a day, with spinach, took chlorophyll (my milk actually had a green tint to it), and iron supplement (from company Standard Process), and took floridex. I even went as far as eating liver (yuck!) and spoonfuls of molasses. It took well over a week for my milk to even come in (second-time BFer)...granted I was exclusively pumping cause of my son's cleft palate. I've been still struggling with low supply, but the iron levels are much better. You can do it, but be proactive with your food intake too.

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

after the birth of #3 was my first time being anemic, and i was still basically a guernsey, but i've ALWAYS had a bountiful supply. i know many who've felt that their low-iron issues was causative of supply problems though.