But this is a major problem I have with this mentality. Why would breast milk not have enough iron for a baby? Human evolution has gone through millions of years to be where we are today. Why should we reach 2016 and suddenly realize, oh shit, breastmilk doesn't have enough iron. In evolution science, to me the logical course would be if there were several babies born, and one mother had a gene that produced more iron in her breast, and this was beneficial to human beings, than her babies would have a more likelihood to survive, therefore her extra iron genetics would survive for longer and produce more.
Iron in human milk is supposed to be absorbed by the body much more than other iron fortified foods
http://kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/iron/
Here is a publication that mentions that,
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/104/1/119
I quote, ". For example, greater than 50% of iron from human milk is absorbed compared with typically less than 12% of iron from cow milk–derived formula"
One of the side effects of iron supplements is diarrhea. Every doctor shrugs this off as if its no big deal. But diarrhea is the body's way of telling us that what the body is receiving is dangerous. Like vomiting, the body is cleansing itself. From the same article mentioned above,
"The proposed mechanism is that the higher iron content of iron-fortified formulas may saturate lactoferrin, a protein important in protecting the intestine from overgrowth with
Escherichia coli. Infants fed iron-fortified formula, partially breastfed infants supplemented with iron-fortified formula, and exclusively breastfed infants who receive iron supplements may have a higher prevalence of
E coli in the fecal flora compared with exclusively breastfed infants who receive no iron supplementation. In the latter, lactobacillus predominate"
Check out this study which shows that unnecessary iron adversely affects growth in babies,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12421836?dopt=Abstract
And one of the worst aspects of iron drops that is issued in Iran is the psychological factor. Due to evolution, babies are programmed to trust their parents. Its a useful survival trait. So, when a mother gives a baby iron drop, the baby eagerly opens his or her mouth, and then realizes, oh shit, this tastes HORRIBLE. So, the existing trust level is declining. And this is what happens next. Baby stops eating everything mom offers, baby becomes fussy, baby doesn't eat many different kinds of food, baby's diet now is not diverse enough, baby needs a bunch of supplements so they don't get sick, but since supplements are not natural, they continue becoming a very unhealthy baby.
I'm sorry, but this really makes me angry. It's like how most women in Iran are having caesarean surgery instead of natural birth, because caesarean is so convenient for the doctors and hospital, since they can plan it well and schedule patients in such a way to maximize profitability per day, while natural births can be unexpected surprises.
Also, easy-peasy for the moms ,who don't have to have natural births, don't need to breastfeed, and don't have to both with natural, diverse food, since its easier to give cerealac and supplements.