LactNetters,
        Here's another post about solids and iron deficiency that I sent to
parent-l.


>>With regard to the schedule Joy posted about Rachel, and eating solids --
I think these pediatricians who are recommending solids over breast milk
should probably consult a registered dietician, who can give specific
detailed comparisons of the caloric content of breast milk versus other
foods.  I wouldn't think that cereal would have even *as many* calories as
an equivalent amount of breast milk (since breast milk has protein and fat,
and cereals have very low protein and fat).  I don't see any *problem* with
replacing the 9 am bottle with solids and water/juice, but I don't think it
will make her gain weight either.  The iron issue I have mentioned several
times before -- there is currently some controversy over whether anyone
needs extra iron.  The argument, briefly, is that one side says that the
levels of iron in breast milk are the appropiate level, and that current
"standard" levels of iron are set way too high.  They go on to say that
iron-hoarding by the body (keeping blood levels low) is the body's response
to bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections.  The same way the body
generates a fever as an adaptive response to an infection *in order to keep
the bacteria from being able to use the iron they need to reproduce*, so it
also tries to keep blood levels of iron low in other ways (hoarding in cells
and passing out through the feces) to keep the bacteria from having the
amounts of iron they need.  The other side, of course, is the status quo,
who say that the current standard levels are appropriate for everyone.  Ask
your pediatrician if she is aware of this controversy -- many are not,
because they don't keep up with the literature.  The definitive book is
"Diet, Demography, and Disease: Changing Perspectives on Anemia" by Patricia
Stuart-Macadam, Susan Kent, and Eugene Weinberg.  So, if the only reason the
pediatrician wants to add cereal is to get more iron into the kid, ask her
what she thinks of this new research, and if she hasn't heard of it, suggest
she read it, think about it, and get back to you.  In the mean time, is
there any reason you couldn't give Rachel iron-fortified vitamins?
>
>Hope this helps.
>
Kathy Dettwyler
e-mail to [log in to unmask]
Cockroach queen