According to "Breastfeeding and Human Lactation", Riordan, 2005, p. 109
"For the first few months of life, healthy, full-term infants draw on
extensive iron reserves generally present at birth. Normally, an infant's
hemoglobin level is high (16-22 gm/dl) at birth and decreases rapidly as
physiological adjustment is made to extrauterine life." "Iron
supplementation is not usually needed and may in fact be detrimental to the
breastfeeding baby during the first half-year after birth. Excess iron tends
to saturate lactoferrin and thereby diminish its antiinfective properties."

According to the "Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics", Behrman, et al., 16th
edition, 2000., Mild to Moderate iron deficincy is 6-10g/dL.
I am not sure of the numbers you received and how they compare. Your post
did not state where you are in the world, but I hope this will help.

Leigh Erdos
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sue Pace
Sent: Monday, October 13, 2008 8:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: IRON SUPPLEMENTATION

I have had a referral from a community midwife seeking advice.
Second baby, well woman, normal pregnancy remained in primary care.
Induction of labour with cervidil. labour established after 24 hours of mild

backache. Waterbirth of baby girl after 1 hr 50 mins of active labour and
short 
few pushes. Unexplained cord rupture discovered on trandfer from pool to bed

at 3 mins. baby remained skin to skin for 10 more mins then transferred to 
SCBU. Mother visited at 30mins and re commenced skin 2 skin and first breast

feed at 50 mins. Exclusive breast feeding since, dischrged at 48 hours. Good

weight gain, output and interaction with parents and family.
Haemaoglobin day 1 114, day 2 130, day 19 100. Paediatrician wishes parents 
to commence oral iron supplement now. Very motivated parents and 
grandmother who are concerned about interrupting baby's normal exclusive 
breastfeeding and the potential problem of introducing non breastmilk iron
into 
the baby's gut.

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