In response to Maria, Nancy put the link to my general feelings about iron supplementation.  As to the impact of vitamins on breastfeeding, I have read statements about Canada's use of vitamin D drops having no impact on breastfeeding rates as evidence that it doesn't matter.  The problem I have with such a statement is that I don't think anyone has looked at how VERY EARLY (in the first days of life) supplementation might impact breastfeeding.  There is a huge difference between starting some drops with a four month old when iron deficiency may be a problem and when SOME infants may actually be ready for food even if they are not the AVERAGE baby that is ready at six months or later and starting drops immediately after delivery which is the latest recommendations for supplementation.  

In fact, iron is NOT a vitamin it is a MINERAL.  Given the evidence on permanent delays in cognitive impairment I would definitely feel the risks of finding a source of iron for a deficiency infant at four months might outweigh the risks to breastfeeding which are probably minimal at that stage. At 1 or 2 or 3 days of life, I would argue the opposite.  You cannot replenish lack of iron stores in 3 days, so why mess with a delicate relationship so early on.

Best, Susan Burger

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