https://www.fcs.uga.edu/fdn/research-peach-lab

PeachLabUGA, 305 Sanford Drive, Dawson Hall suite 307, Athens, GA (2026)

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305 Sanford Drive, Dawson Hall Suite 307

05/01/2026

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!

04/28/2026

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

04/24/2026

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

04/21/2026

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

04/17/2026

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

04/14/2026

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

MaternalRights PublicHealth Research InfantDevelopment

04/11/2026

Maternal health and rights play a critical role in shaping outcomes for both parents and babies around the world Access to nutrition, healthcare, education, and feeding support empowers families to make informed decisions during pregnancy and early infancy. These early experiences influence growth, development, and long-term health, including whether infants receive key nutrients like iron during the first year of life.

Our study explores early feeding practices and sources of iron in infancy to better understand how babies meet their nutritional needs. By supporting maternal health, informed feeding choices, and equitable access to resources, we can help promote healthy development from the very beginning.

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

MaternalRights PublicHealth Research InfantDevelopment

04/07/2026

Caring for a baby comes with many transitions, and weaning is one of the biggest. Weaning means gradually moving from breastfeeding to other foods and drinks as your child grows, and the “right” time looks different for every family. For babies under 12 months, if you decide to wean, breast milk should be replaced with infant formula. For children 12 months and older, plain, pasteurized whole cow’s milk or a fortified, unsweetened soy beverage can be offered instead. At this stage, infant formula and toddler milks are usually unnecessary.

A slow, gradual approach often works best. Over several weeks or more, you can replace one breastfeeding session at a time, allowing your body to adjust while helping your child ease into the change. This method supports getting used to new tastes, learning to drink from a bottle or cup, and adapting to a new feeding routine without feeling rushed. As you continue replacing feedings, your milk supply will naturally decrease until your body stops producing breast milk. Since every child’s needs and every parent’s comfort level are different, checking in with your pediatrician can help guide a weaning plan that works best for your family.

In our study, we focus on maternal and infant nutrition during key transitions like pregnancy, postpartum, and early childhood feeding. Weaning is an important period because nutrient needs remain high for both parent and child, and dietary choices can influence growth, development, and overall health. Understanding how families navigate transitions like weaning helps us better support evidence-based nutrition recommendations and promote healthy outcomes during this critical stage.

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

04/03/2026

You may have seen both “folate” and “folic acid” listed on nutrition labels, but they are not exactly the same. Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9 found in foods like leafy green vegetables, beans, citrus fruits, and avocados. Folic acid is the man-made form that is commonly added to supplements and fortified foods such as cereals and breads. Both forms help the body make new cells, support red blood cell production, and are important for healthy brain and spinal cord development during pregnancy. The main difference is how the body uses them. Folate from food is already in a form your body can use. Folic acid, however, needs to be converted into an active form first.

Getting enough folate is important not only before and during pregnancy, but also after delivery. Folate supports rapid cell growth, tissue repair, and overall recovery, which are especially important during the postpartum period. This is one reason folate is often included in multivitamin and mineral supplements being studied in postpartum women. Our research looks at how these nutrients may help support recovery and overall health after pregnancy, when nutrient needs can still be elevated.

Click the link below to learn more about the study:

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

03/31/2026

Vitamin C is best known for supporting the immune system, but it also plays a major role during pregnancy and postpartum. This vitamin helps the body form collagen, which is important for skin, blood vessels, and tissue growth. During pregnancy, vitamin C also helps with iron absorption — something many moms need more of — and supports overall maternal health. You can find vitamin C in foods like oranges, strawberries, kiwi, bell peppers, broccoli, and tomatoes.
For fetal development, vitamin C helps build connective tissues and supports healthy growth of bones, skin, and blood vessels. It also acts as an antioxidant, helping protect developing cells from oxidative stress. Getting enough vitamin C during pregnancy may also support placental function, which is essential for delivering nutrients and oxygen to the baby.
After delivery, vitamin C continues to matter. During lactation, it helps support tissue healing, immune function, and contributes to the vitamin C content of breast milk. This ensures that breastfeeding infants receive adequate amounts to support their own growth and immune health. It’s another example of how maternal nutrition directly influences both mom and baby.
By examining the effects of a multivitamin/mineral supplement in postpartum women, we aim to better understand how nutrients like vitamin C may help support recovery, overall health, and nutrient status during the postpartum period.

Click the link below to learn more about the study!

https://redcap.ovpr.uga.edu/surveys/?s=DFDHM3PLHNA9AHJC&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEyRkNFUlR2NWh2Z3U3cThRbXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5Z87zw2dbcGndgGtrimtnthQX3A1Y-o50zYe5WB09FR90Mj8_d4grbtDGe7Q_aem_wUF2BtZYEkTtR0Ore0lz2Q

03/27/2026

Staying hydrated in the postpartum period is important for overall recovery, energy levels, and, for breastfeeding mothers, supporting milk production. However, with the demands of caring for a newborn, it’s easy to forget to drink enough fluids throughout the day. Simple strategies like keeping a water bottle within reach, drinking a glass of water each time you feed your baby, and choosing hydrating foods like fruits, vegetables, and soups can help make hydration more manageable.

Quick hydration tips for new moms include setting gentle reminders on your phone and preparing a “hydration station” near your nursing or resting area. Sipping fluids consistently, rather than drinking large amounts at once, may also help maintain hydration levels. Small habits like these can support energy, reduce fatigue, and promote overall well-being during the postpartum transition.

At PeachLab, we recognize that hydration is just one component of postpartum nutrition. Our research examines how a multivitamin/mineral supplement may help support postpartum women by addressing potential nutrient gaps during a time when meeting nutritional needs — including fluids and micronutrients — can be challenging. Understanding these factors can help inform strategies to better support recovery and health after pregnancy.

Click the link below to learn more about the study!

https://redcap.ovpr.uga.edu/surveys/?s=DFDHM3PLHNA9AHJC&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEyRkNFUlR2NWh2Z3U3cThRbXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5Z87zw2dbcGndgGtrimtnthQX3A1Y-o50zYe5WB09FR90Mj8_d4grbtDGe7Q_aem_wUF2BtZYEkTtR0Ore0lz2Q

03/24/2026

Vitamin D plays an important role in maternal health by supporting calcium regulation, bone health, immune function, and cellular growth. During pregnancy, adequate vitamin D is linked to a lower risk of complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, while also supporting fetal bone and neurological development.

Low vitamin D levels are common, particularly for individuals with limited sun exposure or low dietary intake. Food sources of vitamin D include fatty fish like salmon and sardines, fortified dairy products, and egg yolks. Getting enough vitamin D through a combination of diet, safe sun exposure, and supplementation when needed can help support overall health during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

Because nutrient needs remain elevated after delivery, vitamin D continues to be important in the postpartum period. Our study is exploring whether a multivitamin/mineral supplement can help support postpartum women in meeting key nutrient needs, including vitamin D, to promote recovery and overall maternal health during this critical stage.

Click the link below to learn more about the study!

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

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