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