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Thu, 19 Sep 1996 08:36:29 -0700 |
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Someone posted yesterday about a premature baby with a hemoglobin of 10.4.
I think the baby was now about a month old--sorry, I deleted the original
post. This level would probably be ok, though a bit low, for a healthy,
full-term baby. However, most of the baby's iron stores are laid down in
the last few weeks of pregnancy. A preterm infant has lower iron stores.
Babies' hemoglobins normally decline during the first year reaching a
nadir between 9 months and a year. So while the 10.4 is not a dangerous
level, the fact that this baby has less total body iron stores than a
full-term infant makes it more likely that the baby will be significantly
anemic within a few months. Anemia can affect growth and intellectual
development. I'd certainly consider iron supplementation for this baby or
at a minimum follow the hemoglobin closely and supplement if it falls
below 10.
--
Anne Montgomery, M.D.
[log in to unmask]
St.Peter Hospital Family Practice Residency
Olympia, WA
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