Low Iron May Impede Mom-Baby Bonding

New mothers who don't get enough iron are more likely to have a difficult time bonding with their babies than women who take their vitamins, according to a landmark Penn State study that is the first to look at how iron deficiency affects new mothers' ability to tune in to their children emotionally.

"Our new results suggest that the effects of mild iron deficiency ... can disrupt the solid foundation that is established by healthy mother-infant interactions," said the study's lead author, Dr. Laura Murray-Kolb.

Women who forgo vitamin supplements commonly experience iron deficiency after childbirth, the researchers said.

"New mothers should be aware of their iron status, which we now know affects the child as well as the mother," Murray-Kolb said in a statement. "Iron deficiency is easy to correct and could be a big part of postpartum problems with mother-child interactions."

Courtesy of Reuters 4/5/05