Did the doctor do any testing to find out WHY mom had the hemoglobin count
of 7? Many doctors just assume it's iron deficiency anemia. As I've
described before, I had a similar low count during pregnancy, was put on
iron pills; very little result; insinuation from my Dr that I wasn't taking
them; ordered double dosing; serious gut blocking; levels slowly climbed to
low-normal over 3-4 months' time. Several years later I learned I have Beta
Thalassemia Minor, a genetic anemia made WORSE by taking iron pills. For
me, it's a lifestyle nuisance. No problems for any of my newborns but my
daughter inherited it. Beta-T is found in people descended from the
northern & eastern Mediterranean areas. Mine came from the Crimea. Alpha-T
is found in people of Asian or Southeast Asian descent. By itself, it does
not require transfusions. It requires good nutrition and good health care.
Serious genetic counseling is necessary if both parents carry this gene.
Their baby could be born with Cooley's Anemia.

--- Phyllis Adamson, IBCLC
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