PeachLabUGA

Today we celebrate Margo’s graduation earlier this month. We are extremely grateful for her contributions to our Peach Lab!

Congratulations! We are so proud of you, Margo!

Today we celebrate Valerie’s graduation. We are extremely grateful for her contributions to our Peach Lab!

Congratulations! We are so proud of you, Valerie!

Please join us in wishing Alyssa Johnson, one of our wonderful dietetic interns in the PEACH Lab, the very best of luck as she begins her clinical rotations this summer at Children’s Healthcare Atlanta. We know you will do an incredible job and look forward to welcoming you back this fall!

Freezer meals can be more than just convenient. They can be a powerful tool for postpartum recovery.

Research in maternal health continues to show that adequate nutrition after birth plays a key role in supporting healing, energy levels, and overall well-being for new moms. Having balanced, ready-to-go meals on hand can help reduce stress around food and make it easier to meet increased nutrient needs during this critical time.

In our work at the PEACH Lab, we’re especially interested in how practical strategies, like meal prepping and accessible nutrition, can support maternal health outcomes in real life, not just in theory.

Saving meals today = supporting recovery tomorrow. 💛 Click the link below to learn more about the study!

https://redcap.ovpr.uga.edu/surveys/?s=DFDHM3PLHNA9AHJC

Please join us in wishing Fibia Gee, one of our wonderful dietetic interns in the PEACH Lab, the very best of luck as she begins her clinical rotations this summer at Emory in Atlanta. We know you will do an incredible job and look forward to welcoming you back this fall!

Bringing home a baby can be joyful, overwhelming, beautiful, and exhausting—all at once. The postpartum period often comes with major physical recovery, changing routines, sleep disruption, and new emotional demands. While so much attention is placed on caring for a newborn, mothers need care too. Many new moms benefit from support, but finding the right resources can feel difficult when you’re already navigating recovery and adjusting to life with a baby.

If you’re in Athens, Georgia, there are local resources available for healthcare, nutrition guidance, mental health support, feeding assistance, and community connection. Whether you need a provider, someone to talk to, help with meals, or simply a place to meet other parents, support can make a meaningful difference. Access to care, nourishment, and social connection are important parts of maternal well-being.

This is also why postpartum research matters. Studies continue to show that a mother’s health after delivery can be influenced by factors such as nutrition status, stress, sleep, and support systems. Our lab is committed to learning more about how we can better support women during the postpartum period and improve long-term health outcomes for moms and families.

Save this post or share it with a new parent in the Athens area. Supporting mothers strengthens families and communities. 💛 Click the link below to learn more about the study!

https://redcap.ovpr.uga.edu/surveys/?s=DFDHM3PLHNA9AHJC

Postpartum recovery is often centered around the baby, but mothers need care too. Support during this time goes beyond occasional help. It includes consistent, practical, and emotional care that allows moms to meet their own basic needs while adjusting to a new routine.

Simple actions, such as helping with meals, creating time for rest, checking in emotionally, and ensuring access to reliable healthcare and nutrition resources, can make a meaningful difference in a mother’s recovery and overall well-being. When these needs are met, it can positively impact both maternal health and infant outcomes.

Our research focuses on understanding how support, including access to nutrition and practical resources, influences the postpartum experience. By highlighting what support can look like in real life, we aim to promote strategies that are not only effective, but also realistic and accessible for new moms.

Click the link below to check your eligability in the study!

https://redcap.ovpr.uga.edu/surveys/?s=DFDHM3PLHNA9AHJC

Starting solids is an exciting milestone, but readiness is more important than age alone. While many babies are developmentally ready around 6 months, it’s best to look for signs like sitting up with minimal support, good head and neck control, bringing objects to their mouth, and showing interest in food.At this stage, breast milk or formula is still the primary source of nutrition, and solids are meant to complement, not replace, those feeds. Begin with small amounts once a day and gradually increase as your baby shows interest. Iron is a key nutrient to focus on early. Babies’ natural iron stores begin to decrease around 6 months, making iron-rich foods like fortified cereals, pureed meats, beans, and lentils especially important. Pairing these foods with vitamin C sources (like fruits or vegetables) can help improve absorption.

It’s also normal for babies to need multiple exposures to accept new foods, so don’t be discouraged if something is refused at first. Creating a low-pressure, positive feeding environment can help support long-term healthy eating habits. Our research continues to highlight how clear, practical nutrition guidance can help caregivers feel more confident during these early feeding transitions.

Click the link below to check your elgability in the study:

https://redcap.ovpr.uga.edu/surveys/?s=DFDHM3PLHNA9AHJC

Postpartum nutrition doesn’t have to be picture-perfect to be effective. In reality, this stage is often about quick, accessible meals that provide steady energy, support healing, and fit into an unpredictable routine with a newborn. Prioritizing simple combinations of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats throughout the day can help with recovery, hormone regulation, and overall well-being, even when meals are eaten in between feedings or while multitasking.

Our research highlights how nutrition during the postpartum period plays a key role in maternal health outcomes, including energy levels, mood, and recovery. By focusing on realistic, nutrient-dense options like the ones in this example day, we can better support moms in meeting their needs without adding extra pressure. Small, consistent choices can make a meaningful difference in both maternal wellness and the early environment a baby is growing in.
Postpartum nutrition isn’t about “bouncing back”, it’s about giving your body what it needs to recover, heal, and keep up with a newborn. Small, consistent meals make a difference. Save this for later or send to a new mom who needs easy ideas!

Click the link below to check your eligability in the study!

https://redcap.ovpr.uga.edu/surveys/?s=DFDHM3PLHNA9AHJC

ResearchInPractice

Caring for a baby comes with many questions, especially when it comes to meeting nutritional needs. Iron is an important nutrient to monitor as babies grow. It helps form hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen throughout the body, and supports developing tissues, organs, and the rapidly growing brain. Babies are born with iron stores, but these naturally decline over the first few months of life. Premature infants often need iron supplementation earlier because they have less time before birth to build up these reserves, and some full-term, exclusively breastfed infants may also benefit from additional iron around four months when stores begin to drop.

Between four and six months, many infants begin showing readiness for solid foods, making this an important time to introduce iron-rich options such as meats, beans, and iron-fortified cereals. For infants who consume formula, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using iron-fortified formula throughout the first year to help meet needs. Because iron requirements can vary, working with a pediatrician can help determine whether dietary intake is sufficient or if supplementation may be appropriate.

Understanding when and how infants meet their iron needs is an important focus of our study. By examining feeding practices and sources of iron during early infancy, our research aims to better understand how babies achieve adequate iron intake and identify opportunities to support optimal growth and development.

Click the link below to learn more about the studyd!
https://redcap.ovpr.uga.edu/surveys/?s=DFDHM3PLHNA9AHJC

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