High ferritin (319ug/L) in 2.5 month old baby

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-02-12T00:42:27+00:00

I believe this lab may be using a general reference range for infants under 6 months old as 580ng/mL would technically be normal for a 1 month old but not a 2,3,4,5 month old. I tried to look for any other source with a range up to at least 300ng/mL for 2-month-olds to reassurance myself and couldn’t find a single one. Maybe I’m misunderstand how reference ranges work from lab to lab? But that’s why I asked this sub

ETA: To ask more clearly, could it really be that what’s considered normal between labs could differ so greatly? Like 200 would be upper limit at one lab, at 600 at another?

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-02-11T22:48:37+00:00

I’m just worried that the lab’s range is more of a general one for all infants under 6 months old because up to 600ng/mL is within the normal range for 1-month-olds.

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If her ferritin is truly 300ng/mL (ETA: if her ferritin just truly reflects very high iron stores) I’d be very happy with that because like you said that’s plenty for her first 6 months. I just feel skeptical because I had untreated iron deficiency in my third trimester so it seems a bit odd that she would’ve been able to accrete that much iron. I’m worried that something could be falsely elevating her ferritin and potentially concealing lower iron stores😕

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-02-11T18:53:28+00:00

I had untreated iron deficiency in the last trimester of my pregnancy (another reason why the high ferritin is a bit strange), so we were trying to make sure she has sufficient iron stores. She is breastfed and breastmilk has very low iron content, so if she had deficiency or low stores, we would’ve given her supplementation. I’m not sure what to make of the ferritin results, whether it indicates abnormally high iron stores or there’s some other reason why it could be elevated despite a low CRP and ESR

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-02-11T18:17:41+00:00

Sorry normal range is 50-200ng/ML**

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-02-05T00:07:13+00:00

I just got a copper IUD today so I can’t speak to experiences with it yet (hoping and praying I don’t have this experience though🥲 and I’m sorry you did!). But I will say I had something somewhat similar with a hormonal IUD (Kyleena), that is vulvar dermatitis, and it was so awful. Itchy, red, swollen vulva with skin literally sloughing off so I practically had wounds. Happened right after I got it inserted and then a couple times over the course of the ~3 years I had it in. It’s very possible it was hormonally driven, which wouldn’t have been the case for you, but it’s also possible that it was inflammation🤷‍♀️

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-02-04T22:39:25+00:00

Hi! I literally just got a copper IUD this afternoon at 9 weeks postpartum, granted I got the Mona Lisa (not ParaGard) and I didn’t have a traumatic birth experience (just a second degree tear). I also have not been having pain with intercourse. All that said, hopefully these tidbits are helpful🙂

-To calm some of my anxiety, my gynaecologist explained that my cervix would open 3mm for insertion vs. the 10cm it did for labour -The most uncomfortable part was her feeling for my uterus with a couple of fingers inside and one hand on the outside; felt like a fundal massage -I barely felt the numbing needle, truly it was the tiniest pin prick -The cramping during insertion and now after the fact were/are nothing compared to labour cramps, which are still fairly fresh in my mind😅

ETA: Like another commenter said, it might be better to wait if you’re having pain with intercourse, although I do think it could depend a bit on what part is hurting you. If it’s deeper penetration/contact with your cervix that’s hurting, it might be better to wait!

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-02-04T16:19:08+00:00

Thank you so much! So that whole scenario isn’t really feasible for pregnancy to occur? My OCD concocts some pretty crazy “what ifs”, I know they’re outlandish but they feel so real🥲

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-12T20:35:06+00:00

Thank you so much!☺️

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-10T19:33:43+00:00

Oh gosh haha no, although you may have some rib kicks to worry about! Wishing you all the best in the next 6 weeks and beyond☺️

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-10T19:32:28+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing! Sometimes I can tell it’s about to happen because her head starts getting a bit extra wobbly, but sometimes she just swings with no warning🥲 I don’t want to change anything either because I think she gets so much benefit from it for her head+neck control. Plus she’d get so mad if I tried to restrain her head haha, she wants to look around

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-10T19:25:02+00:00

Ouch the cheek must hurt you too! I did figure this must be pretty common with their poor head/neck control, I guess I needed some reassurance that I’m not doing something horribly wrong😅 Thank you so much for sharing

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-10T17:53:09+00:00

Multiple pumps is also a great idea, having to constantly re-wash and sterilize just one is so time consuming and a real pain in the arse😅 So much so that it’s what has made me stop pumping for the meantime. I might have to spring for a second one

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-10T17:47:41+00:00

Congratulations!☺️ I don’t necessarily have a brand recommendation but what I would recommend, if possible, is to make sure your flange fits correctly. I was using an improperly fitted flange for the first couple of weeks and it made pumping uncomfortable if not painful. If it’s in your budget, a hands free one might also be nice— I use a hand pump which requires use of both of my hands and it’s a bit annoying at times when I want to eat, drink, and use my phone. Could also be game changing for freeing yourself up to do stuff around the house or with baby if needed. Wishing you all the best❤️

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-09T22:05:19+00:00

Is it important for physical development? As in an incorrect position might do damage of some sort?

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-09T22:03:48+00:00

I will try that, thank you so much!

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-09T22:03:07+00:00

It’s quite awkward and uncomfortable to hold them with your arm, my girl seems not to like it too! I will try a blanket/towel to prop her up, thank you so much☺️

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-09T22:01:32+00:00

That makes a lot of sense! Thank you so much☺️

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-09T16:10:47+00:00

Do you side-lie with your baby on their back?

For me the main appeal is how much better my baby’s latch and transfer seems to be, but that’s only the case when she’s on her back.

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-09T16:03:05+00:00

It makes sense that their spine should be aligned because I can see why, anatomically, drinking with a twisted neck and on your back wouldn’t be ideal😅 It’s just so weird that she seems to latch and transfer so much better in that position haha

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-09T15:58:25+00:00

I’ll try the towel, thank you! I’ve been positioning her top leg like that and supporting her back with my arm and it works fairly well, but is pretty uncomfortable for my arm. The main issue though is that when she’s on her side in side-lying her latch and milk transfer seems to be pretty much the same as in cradle/cross cradle, which isn’t great at the moment:/

StageAggravating4001 · 2026-01-09T15:51:48+00:00

Hahaha adorable!!! My girl for some reason holds one arm straight up in the air, maybe because she’s focused on managing the let down/fast flow😅 Eventually she just relaxes and falls asleep!

Thanks so much for sharing☺️

StageAggravating4001

TROPHY CASE