If Jay's client's children were in the UK, and the doc suggested they were
screened for anaemia, I would suggest (as has been hinted at already) that
the doc has simply equated breastfeeding with milk feeding.

There have been concerns in the UK (and I think elsewhere, too)  that some
groups of toddlers, mainly Asian (in the UK that means India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh) , may be running the risk of anaemia because some profs have
observed that they bottle feed (with ordinary milk) for a longish time, to
the exclusion of other foods. Some studies have shown a higher proportion
of toddlers with anaemia in these groups. In the UK these children  might
be tested if there were clinical signs of anaemia, or very poor growth, or
if the diet seemed to be almost all cow's milk with virtually no solids.

There's never been any suggestion in any of the research I have seen that
bf is an issue, whether it is 'prolonged'  ie over six months  : ( , or
otherwise.  So I would guess this doctor has his wires crossed, and if he
seeks out  his references for this mother, he'll understand where he's
mistaken.


Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK