Breast milk or mother's milk is milk produced by mammary glands located in the breast of a human female. Breast milk is the primary source of nutrition for newborns, containing fat, protein, carbohydrates and variable minerals and vitamins.
Breast milk contains little iron; therefore, parents of infants receiving only breast milk should talk to their infant's health care provider about whether their infant needs iron supplements before 6 months of age.
Another source of iron is breast milk, which contains a low amount (mean iron content = 0.35 mg/L) with a bioavailability of 45%–100%. Ferrous sulfate is the form of iron available in cow's milk-based infant formula.
The iron content of human milk is low: 0.5 mg/L compared with 10 to 12 mg/L in supplemented cow-milk formulas. The absorption rate, however, is considerably higher. Breastfed infants absorb up to 50 percent of consumed iron, compared with a 7- to 12-percent absorption rate for formula-fed infants (Fomon et al., 1993).
For the first 6 months, breastfed babies will get what they need from their mother's milk. However, waiting too long after 6 months to introduce other foods increases your baby's risk of iron deficiency. If breastfeeding is not an option, use a store-bought iron-fortified infant formula for the first 12 months.
However, breast milk actually takes very little iron from your body, only about 0.3 milligrams per day. Therefore, iron deficiency in postpartum mothers is not caused by breastfeeding. Most women consume about 14 mg of iron per day. This iron loss is similar to what your body loses during your period.
When babies don't get enough iron, they may show these signs: Slow weight gain. Pale skin. No appetite.
In children iron deficiency develops slowly and produces few acute symptoms. As the deficiency worsens children become pale and weak, eat less, and tire easily. They gain weight poorly, have frequent respiratory and intestinal infections, and may develop pica.
Ferrous fumarate and breastfeeding
You can usually take ferrous fumarate while you are breastfeeding. Iron (including ferrous fumarate) is a natural part of breast milk. When you take iron as a supplement it does not affect how much gets into breast milk or how much gets to your baby.
Human milk contains small amounts of iron, but breastfed babies generally are not anemic or iron deficient. The reason is found in the gut microbes. Studies have shown that formula fed babies have higher numbers of iron-stealing bacteria in their guts.
There is 0.3 mg of iron in one-third of a medium avocado. That's 2% of the daily value (DV) of iron. Nutrient-rich avocados contain nearly 20 vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Learn more about the benefits of avocado here.
The levels of iron in both breast milk and whole cow's milk are low, less than 0.3mg/L to 1 mg/L (9). Iron in breast milk is highly bioavailable, possibly because of the lower calcium and phosphorus content and the presence of lactoferrin (9).
Some groups of newborns are at risk for iron deficiency, even without maternal iron deficiency. These include infants of diabetic mothers, growth-restricted newborns, and preterm infants.
Cow milk is an important source of macro-and micronutrients. However, it has low iron content but high content of casein and calcium thus could negatively influence hemoglobin synthesis. On the other hand, camel milk contains higher iron concentration than cow milk.
Infants and children at highest risk of iron deficiency include: Babies who are born prematurely or have a low birth weight. Babies who drink cow's milk or goat's milk before age 1. Breast-fed babies who aren't given complementary foods containing iron after age 6 months.
Low iron levels can make life – let alone life parenting a new baby – very difficult. Symptoms of iron deficiency can include feeling weak and tired, feeling dizzy or cranky, headaches, shortness of breath, trouble concentrating, and a pale appearance. It has also been found to affect postpartum emotions and thinking.
Breast milk alone does not provide infants with an adequate amount of vitamin D. Shortly after birth, most infants will need an additional source of vitamin D.
Note: Additional iron intake by the mother will not increase iron levels in breastmilk, even if the mother is anemic. Iron supplements taken by mom may produce constipation in baby. Anemia in the nursing mother has been associated with poor milk supply, however.
Recommend soy or almond milk as an alternative. While this will not completely reverse the risk of iron deficiency , these milk alternatives will not interfere with iron absorption like cow's milk does. Simple changes in diet or consistent vitamin supplements will help prevent iron deficiency.
Throughout the ages and until the end of the 19th century, animal's milk was the most common source of artificial feeding. As mentioned earlier, pap and panada were used only as supplements to animal's milk when the infant failed to thrive.
Goat's milk, by nature, is closer to human breast milk than cow's milk or soy, which means less processing and more natural goodness. It is high in oligosaccharides, similar in protein levels to human breastmilk, and is low in lactose, which makes it perfect for babies and toddlers with sensitive tummies.
Iron content in bananas is low, approximately 0.4 mg/100 g of fresh weight. There is a strategy of developing modified lines of bananas to increase their iron content; the target is a 3- to 6-fold increase.
Low iron levels are a common concern for blood donors, so you might be wondering if eggs are a good source of iron to help you out. Fortunately, eggs are a great source of iron, protein and other essential vitamins.