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On your next shopping trip, be prepared to fight back against the tactics most supermarket chains use to get you to spend more money on extras! Read More
Banana Raisin Muffins Bake these over the weekend, and enjoy throughout the week for breakfast or a snack. See Recipe
Iron May Benefit Bonding with Baby
Post-Pregnancy News Flash -- By Nicole Nichols, Fitness Instructor & Health Educator
Women who are anemic and have low iron stores following delivery are more likely to suffer from post partum depression. However, new research suggests that low iron stores can also affect the bonding process between a mother and her newborn baby. In one study, iron deficient women were given an iron supplement, and the bonding between baby and mother improved. Mothers became more involved in their baby's care and more responsive to their baby's needs. This improvement was also seen in mothers who were experiencing only mild iron deficiency.
Babyfit Tip: Iron is an important component of healthy mother-infant interactions, so continue taking your prenatal supplements or a multivitamin-mineral supplement following delivery. If you're concerned about your iron levels, discuss the need for iron deficiency testing with your physician and check out the articles (in the nutrition resource section) on ways to increase iron in your diet as well as improve iron absorption.
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Member Comments About this Article
"The point about calcium and iron not working well together is a good one. I generally try to eat a calcium-rich diet in the morning (eggs, milk, cheese, etc.) and an iron-rich diet at night (spinach, meats, beans, etc.) with some Vitamin C (tomatoes, orange juice, etc.). I also take my iron supplement & Vitamin C supplement in the evening after a full meal (with doctor's go-ahead to take these supplements, of course), when I find that they are best tolerated. Note that tea and coffee also inh..." -- ETHELE
"If you are worried about iron supplements causing constipation, go for a liquid iron supplement. You can drink it straight, or mix it with morning orange juice." -- ALIENNA21
"Be careful not to take iron supplements OR pre-natal vitamins with milk or other calcium enriched foods. Calcium will block the iron from absorbing. The way my doctor explained it was that "calcium and iron fight against each other, and calcium ALWAYS wins."" -- JANINE226
Nicole Nichols
Nicole earned her bachelor's degree in health promotion and education, specializing in exercise and fitness, from the University of Cincinnati. She maintains several fitness certifications, including prenatal and postpartum exercise design.
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