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Maternal Iron Deficiency Anemia Affects Postpartum Emotions and Cognition

This study examined the effects of maternal iron deficiency anemia (IDA) on postpartum emotions, cognition, and the mother-infant interaction in South Africa. The study followed 81 mothers from 10 weeks to 9 months postpartum, assigning them to control, placebo, or iron treatment groups. While baseline cognitive and behavioral variables did not differ between IDA and non-anemic mothers, iron treatment resulted in a 25% improvement in depression, stress, and cognitive performance for previously IDA mothers. IDA mothers receiving placebo did not improve. Multivariate analysis found strong associations between iron status indicators and cognitive/behavioral measures. The study demonstrates IDA's strong relationship to postpartum depression, stress, and cognition in poor African mothers

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26 views2 pages

Maternal Iron Deficiency Anemia Affects Postpartum Emotions and Cognition

This study examined the effects of maternal iron deficiency anemia (IDA) on postpartum emotions, cognition, and the mother-infant interaction in South Africa. The study followed 81 mothers from 10 weeks to 9 months postpartum, assigning them to control, placebo, or iron treatment groups. While baseline cognitive and behavioral variables did not differ between IDA and non-anemic mothers, iron treatment resulted in a 25% improvement in depression, stress, and cognitive performance for previously IDA mothers. IDA mothers receiving placebo did not improve. Multivariate analysis found strong associations between iron status indicators and cognitive/behavioral measures. The study demonstrates IDA's strong relationship to postpartum depression, stress, and cognition in poor African mothers

Uploaded by

Jabber Paudac
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Mohammad Jabber M Paudac BSN-2A

NCM 107 Group 3 Ma'am Sylvia Garcia


JOURNAL READJNG

Maternal Iron Deficiency Anemia Affects


Postpartum Emotions and Cognition
John L. Beard, Michael K. Hendricks, Eva M. Perez, Laura E. Murray-Kolb, Astrid Berg, Lynne
Vernon-Feagans, James Irlam, Washiefa Isaacs, Alan Sive, Mark Tomlinson

The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 135, Issue 2, February 2005, Pages 267–
272, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/135.2.267

Published:
01 February 2005

Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine whether iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in mothers alters
their maternal cognitive and behavioral performance, the mother-infant interaction, and the
infant's development. This article focuses on the relation between IDA and cognition as well as
behavioral affect in the young mothers. This prospective, randomized, controlled, intervention
trial was conducted in South Africa among 3 groups of mothers: nonanemic controls and
anemic mothers receiving either placebo (10 μg folate and 25 mg vitamin C) or daily iron (125
mg FeS04, 10 μg folate, 25 mg vitamin C). Mothers of full-term normal birth weight babies were
followed from 10 wk to 9 mo postpartum (n = 81). Maternal hematologic and iron status,
socioeconomic, cognitive, and emotional status, mother-infant interaction, and the
development of the infants were assessed at 10 wk and 9 mo postpartum. Behavioral and
cognitive variables at baseline did not differ between iron-deficient anemic mothers and
nonanemic mothers. However, iron treatment resulted in a 25% improvement (P < 0.05) in
previously iron-deficient mothers' depression and stress scales as well as in the Raven's
Progressive Matrices test. Anemic mothers administered placebo did not improve in behavioral
measures. Multivariate analysis showed a strong association between iron status variables
(hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and transferrin saturation) and cognitive variables
(Digit Symbol) as well as behavioral variables (anxiety, stress, depression). This study
demonstrates that there is a strong relation between iron status and depression, stress, and
cognitive functioning in poor African mothers during the postpartum period. There are likely
ramifications of this poorer “functioning” on mother-child interactions and infant development,
but the constraints around this relation will have to be defined in larger studies.
REFLECTION
Postpartum stage is the first 6 weeks of the mother after childbirth. We have learned in our
lecture during the midterms how the mother loses blood during giving of birth. This is why from
their very first prenatal assessment, they were already advised to drink Ferrous Sulfate in
maintenance to support the mother’s supplementation of iron and prevent iron deficiency
anemia. During our duty in the delivery room, I have seen how much blood a mother loses during
childbirth. We have learned that the normal amount of blood loss is not exceeding 500 mL which
is still a lot. This is also why in the postpartum stage, one of the medications given to them is
Ferrous Sulfate to avoid Iron Deficiency Anemia. During postpartum, the mother's emotional and
cognitive state can be very much affected due to their hormones. This study has shown how
having IDA can affect them, considering how susceptible they can be. This is why it is important
to prevent IDA and take their medications on time. Iron deficiency and anaemia during the
postpartum period may have long-term health implications for the mother and her infant.
Mothers with low iron stores at the time of delivery and following childbirth may experience
fatigue, altered cognition and depressive symptoms. These alterations in the mother’s emotional
and cognitive functioning may, in turn, affect her interactions with the infant and may negatively
impact infant behaviour and development.

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