Iodine Deficiency in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women

     The American Academy of Pediatrics has just come out with a Policy Statement about iodine deficiency in pregnant and breastfeeding women in the United States. A good review of the issue is here. Iodine is needed for your thyroid gland and for normal brain development. Ideally, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers would take in 230 micrograms of iodine per day. Make sure your prenatal vitamin contains at least 150 micrograms per day -- it will say on the label. Not all do. The rest of the iodine will come from foods that we eat. Here is a good article listing foods that contain iodine.