What is the significance of maternal iron stores for newborns?

• A. Premature infants miss this transfer and are at increased risk of iron deficiency anemia.
• B. Iron stores only affect full-term infants.
• C. Iron from maternal stores is not needed after birth.
• D. Iron levels are fixed at birth and do not change.

Answer: (A)

Iron is transferred from mother to fetus primarily in the late stages of pregnancy, building the newborn’s iron stores. Because this placental transfer is concentrated in the final weeks, premature infants, who are born early, miss much of that iron transfer and begin life with limited iron stores. This makes them much more susceptible to iron deficiency anemia as they grow, since their bodies use iron for expanding blood volume and rapid development. Iron is still needed after birth for ongoing red blood cell production and brain development, so maternal status and gestational age influence the newborn’s iron availability and future risk.

The other statements aren’t correct because iron from maternal stores is still needed after birth, iron levels aren’t fixed at birth and can deplete, and the impact of maternal iron stores isn’t limited to full-term infants.