Dear Lactnet Friends:

Anemia reduces one's ability to fight infection, so it is worth it to check
a mother's blood when she has recurrent mastitis.

Anemia is also a risk factor for early weaning; mothers who are anemic are
tired, and may not feel like or be able to respond to a healthy baby's
needs for play, carrying, and breastfeeding. Such mothers blame their milk
supply, perceiving that they have insufficient milk, never dreaming it is
their own level of health that is the major factor.

Birth. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7779228#> 1995 Jun;22(2):86-92.
Anemia and insufficient milk in first-time mothers.
Henly SJ<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Henly%20SJ%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=7779228>
, Anderson CM<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Anderson%20CM%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=7779228>
, Avery MD<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Avery%20MD%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=7779228>
, Hills-Bonczyk
SG<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Hills-Bonczyk%20SG%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=7779228>
, Potter S<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Potter%20S%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=7779228>
, Duckett LJ<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Duckett%20LJ%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=7779228>
.
 Abstract

Insufficient milk is a poorly understood problem that is often identified
as a major reason for early discontinuation of breastfeeding. This study
explored the relationship between anemia and insufficient milk in 630
first-time mothers. The frequency of anemia (postpartum hemoglobin < 10
g/dL) was 22 percent. Anemic mothers reported a higher level of
symptomatology associated with insufficient milk and were more frequently
classified as having insufficient milk syndrome. Mothers with the syndrome
reported a shorter period of full breastfeeding, and weaned at an earlier
age. They identified not having enough milk, baby nursing too often, and
baby not gaining enough weight as the main reasons for discontinuing
breastfeeding, compared with baby's disinterest and conflicts with school
or work as main reasons among mothers not reporting symptoms related to
insufficient milk syndrome. The study results suggest that anemia is
associated with the development of insufficient milk, which in turn, is
related to duration of full breastfeeding and to age at weaning.
 warmly
-- 
Nikki Lee RN, BSN, Mother of 2, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI, ANLC, CKC
craniosacral therapy practitioner
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com
https://www.facebook.com/nikkileehealth

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