
Many women don't get enough iron. Not only are iron-deficient moms tired but they also can be crabby, which makes them unable to enjoy their babies as much as they'd like to. Ask your health care provider to test your iron levels, especially if you feel run-down. And remember that fortified cereals, lean red meat, egg yolks, and dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale are good sources of iron.
If you take iron supplements, guard them like a hawk. The tablets look just like candy, but if your baby swallows them they can make her seriously ill and may even be fatal. Ask your pharmacist to put them in a childproof bottle if they don't already come that way. If you ever suspect that your baby has gotten into your iron tablets, take her and the bottle to the health care provider's office or the emergency room right away.