In a message dated 5/23/2005 6:34:30 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

Henly didn't examine thyroid levels.
However, 22% of 630  first-time mothers were anemic,  with HgBs less than  
10g/dl.
warmly,



I think some are getting confused on the 2 types of anemia we  are talking 
about here.  Typical anemia, which is the amount of hemoglobin  in the blood is 
the type treated with iron supplementation.  The type we  were discussing as 
pernicious anemia is not.  It is measured by the amount  of B-12 in the body.  
Both types can manifest by a tired, drained mom,  however the "cure" and the 
blood test to diagnose are 2 very different  things.  I wish if we have a mom 
with milk supply issues or is showing  signs of being tired etc, we could make 
it common practice to recommend a B-12  level, TSH, and a CBC.  These 3 tests 
can help diagnose a problem, perhaps  even before a mom leaves the hospital, 
and save needless suffering from the  mom's standpoint and the baby's too.  You 
are right, the vast majority will  have normal levels, but the ones that are 
deficient can have all the difference  in the world made to them and their 
babies.  One of which being the  possibility of milk supply being affected.  Just 
because there have been no  studies done to prove otherwise, doesn't mean 
there isn't a potential for a  problem to exist.  Perhaps someone would like to 
do such a  study?
 
Renee Drake RN CLC
 

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