anemia

[Anonymous]

My daughter (9 months adjusted age) had her hemoglobin level tested yesterday because the doctor suspected anemia. It turned out her hemoglobin level was 12.1 and hematocrit was 34%, whatever that means! The doctor said these numbers are in the normal range, but on the “low” side of normal, and they wouldn’t want the numbers to get any lower.

Do any of you have children (refluxers OR nonrefluxers) who had anemia at this age and got it resolved? The doctor is not recommending iron supplements at this point because they are constipating. My daughter does not eat solids – she refuses and so we are starting eating therapy. She gets iron-fortified enfamil formula. But I am going to start adding rice cereal to her bottles and give them with a vitamin drop (I know you must give vitamin C at the same time as iron in order for it to absorb). I’m brainstorming on other ideas…I’ve heard meatballs are high in iron and you can chop them up as finger food. She does eat finger food but tends to be “gaggy” so I don’t usually try much other than cherrios and puffs.

[Anonymous]

Mary

Matthew was anemic at 4/5 months of age… but he was also not eating much. Once we got him eating, it resolved… what vitamins are you giving… my ped suggested Trivisol or something like that…. he usually recommends them for babies 9months old or so because it is when babies are usually switching between foodsd and not getting proper nutrition (Matthew test were perfect, obviously because we tube feed…)

[Anonymous]

Just wondering what symptoms she had that made her ped test? Hailey is always tired (but doesn’t sleep so that could do it), lying down with her head on the ground.

[Anonymous]

Happy Birthday, Mary!!!!!!

Sorry I can’t help with the anemia (although Carter just had another blood transfusion for anemia while in the hospital) I am not familiar with anemia in babies that are Mary’s age. I know a crit of 34 is great in a baby that is preemie or newborn, but I am not sure about at a year old. I am not familiar with the hemoglobin…..

Oh, can you also thicken her bottles with some rice cereal? There is iron in that as well. Not sure if you could start thickening at this point if you haven’t been all along, but she may take it if you slowly add rice…….

monty1232006-6-28 16:5:37

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies. Ann Marie, my daughter had to have 3 transfusions while in the NICU so I know what you are going through.

At the appt yesterday, the doctor wanted to test her because she looked very pale. Actually, I had brought her in for something completely unrelated. I had noticed she was pale with purple circles around her eyes for a few days but I didn’t bring it up because I wasn’t worried about it. But now that I think about it, she has been very tired and cranky. When she’s awake, she acts like she wants to be asleep. She has her one-year appt next week so I’m sure we’ll address it then.

Yes, thanks for the idea about thickening bottles with rice cereal. I had been doing that for the reflux but once it resolved last month I stopped. I’m going to start again.

[Anonymous]

Hi there

Tyler is slightly anemic and he has a supplement everyday. His levels at the last blood test were 10 which is borderline for anemia. His doctor decided that a supplement was the safest thing to do as low iron can cause delays in brain development. It is not constipating at all for him and we have had no problems with it at all. Apparently babies with reflux/MSPI lose iron through their gut so anemia is common. I am hoping we can get tested again soon so we dont have to give it to him anymore as I tend to forget it sometimes. Tyler didnt have any symptoms, it is just a routine test that is done here for babies with reflux. Red meat is great for iron, just dont give it at the same time as milk.

[Anonymous]

Happy birthday Mary!

[Anonymous]

That’s right – happy birthday!

[Author]

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