I'm becoming increasingly concerned about the new AAP recos regarding  
giving ALL exclusively breastfed babies iron drops at 4 months.  I think we  
need to be getting a couple of messages across:
 
1.  All pregnant moms should request that the cord not be cut until it  has 
stopped pulsating.  Period.  Bring the OB a cup of coffee to give  him 
something to do for the four minutes until it has stopped.  Meanwhile,  baby on 
mom's chest, skin to skin....
 
2.  All babies have their hgb checked at 4 months and IF necessary,  then 
iron can be prescribed.  However -- a question for the group  here:  which 
would be more innocuous?  Iron drops or starting solid  foods?  Inquiring 
minds want to know.
 
3.  Keep in mind that the vast majority of mothers are not going to be  
"compliant" (I HATE that word) with giving iron drops "just because."  They  
are nasty and babies spit them out, and moms give two doses and forget it.   
So let's eliminate the perceived problem at the get go -- stop cutting the 
cord  prematurely.  But that request will have to come from the moms, as we 
know  it takes 17 years for a study to actually make it into practice.... Not 
sure I  will be alive in 2027 to see the results of this...
 
 
Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCA
Lactation Education  Consultants
Wheaton IL, USA

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