EBFers - iron question for ya

catycombs

E's doctor told me that she needed to be eating iron fortified cereal twice and day plus one meat for the iron. Kellymom says, "The original iron stores of a full-term healthy baby, combined
with the better-absorbed iron in breastmilk, are usually enough
to keep baby's hemoglobin levels within the normal range
well into the second six months."

I feed her a lot of sweet potatoes, prunes, squash and chicken which are also high in iron. Those are her favorite foods. Her doc is not uber pro-breastfeeding, so I tend to question his suggestions. I know every doctor is different. But, what have you docs told you?

ssmith325

I was told that we'd be okay until the 9 month or so mark, then would need to make a conscious effort to watch iron intake....

 

jonnygurl76

pedi told me cereal twice a day, i mix it in her veggie or fruit.

 

Ivana_Stolichnaya

catycombs:

E's doctor told me that she needed to be eating iron fortified cereal twice and day plus one meat for the iron. Kellymom says, "The original iron stores of a full-term healthy baby, combined
with the better-absorbed iron in breastmilk, are usually enough
to keep baby's hemoglobin levels within the normal range
well into the second six months."

I feed her a lot of sweet potatoes, prunes, squash and chicken which are also high in iron. Those are her favorite foods. Her doc is not uber pro-breastfeeding, so I tend to question his suggestions. I know every doctor is different. But, what have you docs told you?

Above it says, "usually enough" meaning sometimes but not always.  My pedi is pro-breastfeeding and she even said that it was important to add in the fortified cereal because the baby's natural iron supply starts to deplete after 6 months.

catycombs

Ivana.Stolichnaya:

catycombs:

E's doctor told me that she needed to be eating iron fortified cereal twice and day plus one meat for the iron. Kellymom says, "The original iron stores of a full-term healthy baby, combined
with the better-absorbed iron in breastmilk, are usually enough
to keep baby's hemoglobin levels within the normal range
well into the second six months."

I feed her a lot of sweet potatoes, prunes, squash and chicken which are also high in iron. Those are her favorite foods. Her doc is not uber pro-breastfeeding, so I tend to question his suggestions. I know every doctor is different. But, what have you docs told you?

Above it says, "usually enough" meaning sometimes but not always.  My pedi is pro-breastfeeding and she even said that it was important to add in the fortified cereal because the baby's natural iron supply starts to deplete after 6 months.

Good point. Thanks Ivana

Mereou12

We were told the same...iron fortified cereal twice a day, aiming for 4 Tbsp. I don't often give him that much, but I try for at least one big serving a day.

littlemaybaby

catycombs:

E's doctor told me that she needed to be eating iron fortified cereal twice and day plus one meat for the iron. Kellymom says, "The original iron stores of a full-term healthy baby, combined
with the better-absorbed iron in breastmilk, are usually enough
to keep baby's hemoglobin levels within the normal range
well into the second six months."

I feed her a lot of sweet potatoes, prunes, squash and chicken which are also high in iron. Those are her favorite foods. Her doc is not uber pro-breastfeeding, so I tend to question his suggestions. I know every doctor is different. But, what have you docs told you?

What's interesting is that my pedi is not extremely pro-breastfeeding either and she told us this initially.  Well DS can not tolerate iron fortified cereal - it gives him terrible raging tummy aches.  We've tried several different kinds.

When we talked to the pedi about this, she said, "Eh, skip the cereal, just make sure you are still taking your prenatals.  And add in iron rich foods to his diet and yours when you can."

So apparently, it's not an absolute necessity.

littlemaybaby

Two very interesting articles (first one not-so-scientific, the second one is from a pediatric journal):

https://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/iron-supplements-for-infants.html

https://www.pediatricnews.com/article/S0031-398X%2809%2970296-6/fulltext#article-outline

catycombs

littlemaybaby:

catycombs:

E's doctor told me that she needed to be eating iron fortified cereal twice and day plus one meat for the iron. Kellymom says, "The original iron stores of a full-term healthy baby, combined
with the better-absorbed iron in breastmilk, are usually enough
to keep baby's hemoglobin levels within the normal range
well into the second six months."

I feed her a lot of sweet potatoes, prunes, squash and chicken which are also high in iron. Those are her favorite foods. Her doc is not uber pro-breastfeeding, so I tend to question his suggestions. I know every doctor is different. But, what have you docs told you?

What's interesting is that my pedi is not extremely pro-breastfeeding either and she told us this initially.  Well DS can not tolerate iron fortified cereal - it gives him terrible raging tummy aches.  We've tried several different kinds.

When we talked to the pedi about this, she said, "Eh, skip the cereal, just make sure you are still taking your prenatals.  And add in iron rich foods to his diet and yours when you can."

So apparently, it's not an absolute necessity.

I gave her some oatmeal mixed with BM the other day and she acted like it was poison. So, I mixed it with apple/plums and she tolerated it.

Nikibug

I will ask at my apt next week, though Q's doc is kinda old school too, unfortunatly.  So far I don't even have him eating solids on a regular basis yet.