Vicky York wrote: "...ABM causing capillary bleeding thus necessitating the
need for iron."

I found some information on the rarity of iron deficiency in breastfed
infants in Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (Riordan & Auerbach 1999)
while researching Breastfeeding at a Glance (Michels, Good Mojab & Bromberg
Bar-Yam 2001) in which I wrote:

"Human milk contains carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and
trace elements. So does infant formula. But the bioavailability (the amount
of a nutrient that the body can actually absorb) of the nutrients in each
fluid differs markedly.... Similarly, a human infant can absorb up to 50%
of the iron in human milk, but only 10% of the iron in cow's milk and just
4% of the iron in iron-fortified formulas. Breastfed babies are rarely iron
deficient because of the high lactose and vitamin C levels in human milk
that facilitate iron absorption."

Michels, D., Good Mojab, C. & Bromberg Bar-Yam, N. Breastfeeding at a
Glance: Facts, Figures and Trivia about Lactation. Washington, DC: Platypus
Media, 2001.

Riordan, J. & Auerbach, K. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. Boston, MA:
Jones & Bartlett, 1999.

From one Oregonian to another,

Cynthia

Cynthia Good Mojab, MS Clinical Psychology
(Breastfeeding mother, advocate, independent [cross-cultural] researcher
and author; LLL Leader and Research Associate in the LLLI Publications
Department; and former psychotherapist currently busy nurturing her own
little one.)
Ammawell
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web site: http://members.home.net/ammawell

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