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Home » Anemia No More

Anemia No More

How one mother successfully battled anemia in her baby…

without using iron supplements

Sierra was diagnosed with anemia when she was seven months, one week old – her level was 9.1. I was told to give her iron supplements three times a day, but after doing a lot of research I decided not to. The side effects of the iron seemed too severe since her iron levels were not very low, and she has a very delicate tummy!

Instead I decided to give her a combination of iron-rich and vitamin C-rich foods. She does not eat a lot, but she does like to feed herself little bits here and there whenever I eat, so I just made sure all of the little bits had iron or vitamin C. She insists on feeding herself – even things you need a spoon for!

Now infants can get
all their vitamin D
from their mothers’ milk;
no drops needed with
our sponsor's
TheraNatal Lactation Complete
by THERALOGIX. Use PRC code “KELLY” for a special discount!

Sierra had just started eating solid foods the week she turned 6 months, just over a month before this happened. She was barely eating at the time we were going through all of this. She was eating about 1 tablespoon of food per day total when we started, and by the time we finished she was up to almost 2 tablespoons per day.

Her diet consists of cheerios, avocado, all kinds of fresh veggie chunks & fresh fruit chunks, fried potatoes, fried tofu chunks, iron-fortified oatmeal (now with molasses), homemade rice cereal cookies, and soy yogurt. But it is still mostly breastmilk since she still nurses every two hours.

Well, we got her re-tested after 5 weeks (aged 8 months, 2 weeks). She is no longer anemic – I just found out. I am so happy!! Ironically, I almost caved and went and bought iron drops Saturday because she took a one hour nap two days in a row (she normally takes no more than a 10 or 15 minute nap) and I was convinced it was the anemia! Anyway, her levels are now normal. Her new level is 10.4 (10.2 is normal). I am amazed that we could get it up that much in such a short time with diet alone, considering how little she eats. I am going to continue giving her foods high in iron and vitamin C since I would like her numbers to be higher and she likes what she eats. Besides, I think a healthy diet in the first few years is exceptionally important and she has one healthy diet – I wish I ate so well!

I am so happy that it worked out without the iron drops! And I know Sierra would be too, if she had known about them!

Story used with the permission of Lori & Sierra (12/24/97)

Updated on August 2, 2011Filed Under: Baby's Health, Vitamins/ Supplements

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  • Hot Topics
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      ▼
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      ▼
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      ▼
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  • Ages & Stages
    ▼
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    • Premature Infant
    • Newborn
      ▼
      • Breastfeeding Basics
      • Common Newborn Concerns
      • Newborn Challenges
    • Older Infant
    • After the First Year
    • Tandem Breastfeeding
    • Weaning
      ▼
      • Considering weaning
      • How to wean
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    ▼
    • Parenting FAQ
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