[beautifulboy]

I was just reading about how babies have stores of iron that run out at 4-6 months of age. The article suggested that you give the baby an iron supplement if they are BF (formula is usually enriched with iron). Does anyone know if enough iron passes from mom to baby through nursing to nourish a baby? Are there any moms out there who take iron becuase of this? I'm not anemic so I wouldn't take it otherwise.

 

[kiara7]

Iron passes just fine. Formula/baby food companies will tell you otherwise. Yes, there is much less iron in bm than in formula, BUT its absorbed at a much higher rate (around 70% I think) and its only available to the baby, not bacteria, etc. That's part of the reason AF usually doesn't return for awhile with a bf baby - mom needs the iron for the baby.

 

[MountainMamaGC]

I have read it takes more like 6-12 months for their iron stores to run out. As the PP said there is lower iron in breast milk but its really bio-available. I wouldnt worry about it. Especially if you plan on introducing solids sometime after 6 months.

 

[tanyalynn]

Iron is not one of the minerals that transfers directly into milk proportional to how much mom consumes each day. My understanding is that the amount of iron in your milk would not be affected unless you were quite anemic and then you started supplementing yourself (and if you're not anemic, supplementing iron is a bad idea).

Babies born prematurely or at low birthweight are at higher risk of becoming anemic, and other than that, I'd use deficiency signs or other risk factors/family health issues to see if we should just test baby for anemia.

 

[beautifulboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez Iron is not one of the minerals that transfers directly into milk proportional to how much mom consumes each day.

that's great news

:

Does anyone have any expereince with an anemic baby? Just checking what those signs would be.