i have some queries regarding my son health.

i have read earlier in these boards that supplements did not prove beneficial in long run. they affected health when the solids were started or when baby was having some health problems.

my baby is 3.5months old and i am asked to give him iron and calcium drops.
i have question that how long should i continue them ?
i have read your post to Joan and some other posts in bowel and bladder board where the supplements were stopped after a certain period. i asked my doc when he prescribed these supplements, he said i have to continue giving them until my child is 1 year old.i have a concern after reading all the posts of supplements, how do i know that my child no longer needs the supplements ?

all the previous cases i read, the supplements were stopped in 2-3months. my doctor has asked me to give it for 9months, do you think this period is very long for child to be on supplements?

does it mean that my child is not getting enough from my breastmilk. if so, can you guide me in how to increase the quality of BM ? or is it possible to increase the quality of breastmilk?

my other concern is when doctor said that he needs supplements until 1year, is there anything to worry ? does it mean that he is having any major health issues ? will this affect his life in future after the supplements are stopped ?

my family members are very much concerned about this.my mother in law says that if i start solids, the child will not need any supplements. but doctor said that if i breastfeed for 6months, it will help my baby developments to be on time.my mother in law tried introducing solids but the child vomits. he can't swallow solids. so it is difficult for me to decide.

i also take multivitamins and i plan to breastfeed my baby for another 2-3months. my baby was born 1 week after my due date and was healthy baby. his weight was 7.5lbs. current weight is 15lbs.is this normal. does low weight mean that baby is slow ?
sometime back also someone had posted this question but it was not replied by anyone.
please reply, i am really concerned.
anybody else who had personal experience, please let me know your experiences. it will help me.

Anu Hetal replied. 1. how do i know that my child no longer needs the supplements ?
--- your dr will let you know that,,or if your child starts having some irregular health conditions which are not explained like in all cases you have read,, some had irregular bowels,,some started vomittng after certain period the supplements were started and when all of them stopped the supplements,,the health conditions had improved...so it means now body no more needs to it and its unlikely that a healthy body will accept unnecessry high dose of ne nutrient,,thru supplements or even by food.

2.do you think this period is very long for child to be on supplements?
---- it dpends on health conditions of your child...since your dr wants your child to have it until 1year, its likely that your child need one until that long,,however, this does not rule out that he will have to take these supplemnts that long ! it might happen whenever your child starts accepting solids//whenever,,,or by then if his body is able to absorb proper nutrients from watever food he is given//may it be formula,bm or solids,,,its after that the supplemnts might not be required !
if your dr is asking you until 1 year it might mean that he sees that your child is havng deficiency of these elements,,when it comes to calcium and iron,its well seen in nails, eyes and skin of the baby ! or if the baby is malnutrition...

3. does it mean that my child is not getting enough from my breastmilk. if so, can you guide me in how to increase the quality of BM ? or is it possible to increase the quality of breastmilk?
-------- yes, it might be a possibility but to rule that out is difficult,,,because it also depnds on how your baby is able to absorb the nutrients that your bm has..because i read that you have been taking multivitamins, and your supply has been good as of now/3.5months,,which means that its unlikely that your milk does not have good quality...however, i would like you to contact your gyn and ask for iron supplement and an additional calcium supplements,,and see if by next 1 month, your child is doing well with muscle and bone strength...
if not,,i would rather consider that its baby own capacity/limits and he will have to continue supplements !

also enrich your diet with lots of greens, fresh foods/dairies and calcium,,it will help him,,check some good alternatives on good quality of bm:
http://www.indiaparenting.com/boards/showmessage.cgi?messageid=1314&table_name=dis_breastfeeding

4. my other concern is when doctor said that he needs supplements until 1year, is there anything to worry ? does it mean that he is having any major health issues ? will this affect his life in future after the supplements are stopped ?
----- that dpends on your child health conditions,,like if your child does not give proper results as expected by your dr even after say couple months even after all the supplemnts and full solid diet,,,thn its likely that his late developments were the early or prilimnery signs of severe health conditions ! it could be nething,,its too early to determine.
about future health,,most kids having developmental problems recover in first 2 years of thr life,,esp if its physical and only a boost of nutrition is required,,hwoever if the child is havng ne heredty probs or some prob related to some disordrs/functional prob or is not able to grow physically well/built himself well because of some mental disorder or pyschological/neurological disorders,,thn and only thn he is likely to be slow kid..
however,its too early to talk about these,,right now..your child is just starting his life and his health conditions on periodic basis will show his growth in long run,,so ruling out all the severe possiblty is not wise ! m just answering as you asked !

5. not acceptng solids/child vomits :
---- let him be ready on his own, dont force him for solids..if baby is not accptng solids its not worth forcing him to do so..many kids did not accept solids orlet me say were not comfortable with solid feeds/other than milk/formula until first 8months of thr life,,,let thr mouth muscles/tongue muscles become strong enough and give him time to be ready for that. avoid offerng in liquid consistency, if solid is not acceptable..or avoid from bottle..until your dr feels the need of it, and he recomnds you startng solids with pure liquid consistency....

6. with birthwght 7.5lbs, and current wght 15lbs, at 3.5months, your baby is doing good by wght and he is gettng good hindmilk from you,,which shows your steady and good milk supply..so in your case, adding an iron supplement and an additional calcium supplment in your diet, should help !!!!

7.. his developments are ok but at 3.5months he should not cry while holding his head up during tummy time unlesshe is crying because he is not feeling good on tummy !
check on his belly button,,press it gently,,see if the area around the belly button is soft enough,,give a firm but gentle pressure,,and if its soft,,thn he is doing good with tummy and is crying because he has to work hard on putting his head up ! many babies did not like tummy time, because of the struggle they have to do in keeping thr head up..it requires alot of efforts,,so they cry...
at 3.5,,he should not leave his head when left unsupported..atleast for 1min or so, his head has to be steady and if not,,your baby requires supplements..esp calcium.
i want you to also check if the toy is moved from left to right and viz versa,,see if he moves his head,,if he does,,he is doing fine with muscle co-ordnatn and only muscle strengthng is required,,which supplemnts will help..but if he does not follow the toy by moving his head while sleepng position,,thn his reflexes needs to be examined !
ask your dr about it,,likewise,,,

rest all skills are okay..
hope this suffces...

Anu replied. i don't know whether these details are enough, but want to mention in case it helps in answering my queries.
baby head is steady but when we try to leave the support, he leaves the head.he holds his head when i give him tummy time. but many times i see him struggling to hold his head up. he cries.
he is able to hold small toys in hands.
his co-ordination skills are okay.sometimes he grabs the toy and the other times he does not even try to take it.
if anyone wants more details i will give.