Low iron and labour

[JJ1612]

I'm currently on iron tablets for low iron (98) which apparently is dangerously low. I'm 37 weeks pregnant and have been taking the tablets for around 2 weeks but my levels have still dropped and the MW has said that I could be compromised when giving birth as regards to heavy bleeding.
I usually have to take tranexamic acid for bleeding due to heavy periods and just wondered if anyone else has been in a similar situation as I'm a bit worried I could suffer from large blood loss and feel too horrendous to enjoy my new baby

[Toobloodytired]

I have low iron (64) but that was because of losing too much blood AFTER birth. Are you having a vaginal delivery??

[harleysmammy]

98 isn't dangerous low at all, well at least every consultant and midwife I've seen in the last 9 months have said it's in the middle range. I had 97 and my iron was 127 on Monday after being on iron tablets since 28 weeks (can't say I religiously took them either, was forever missing one some days and went about 5 days without them whilst I was in hospital). You will be at risk of bleeding too much but if you keep taking the tablets, your levels should go up x

[JJ1612]

Maybe my MW was just trying to scare me into taking the tablets. She said that anything below her 100 is classed as dangerously low. I am taking them, I've even started setting reminders on my phone. Just struggling with the side effects.

[MissJC]

I was at 98 when in labour and they just give me a quick transfusion after

[MissJC]

Forgot to add, I did lose a pint on delivery with forceps!

[alltouchedout]

Mine is always low although I can't remember the numbers. Three natural births (two at home), no alarming blood loss, no problems. I drank spatone and really, really upped the iron content of my diet (felt like a bloody squirrel by the time I gave birth as I don't eat meat so had to consume a lot of iron rich foods suitable for vegetarians, also found it tiresome to avoid tea and dairy and other things that can interfere with iron absorption).

[littledinaco]

My levels were very low on first pregnancy (I can't remember what level as was a while ago) but I was told if any lower I would need a transfusion.
I was also not keen on taking the tablets.
I got very tired at the end of the pregnancy and I think the tiredness did affect my labour. I found the pain not too bad to manage but really struggled with tiredness during labour.
My advice would be to eat as much iron rich foods as you can and take the tablets. You hopefully still have a few weeks to go to try and get your levels back up.

[ShowOfHands]

Not dangerously low but you are at risk of bleeding. I had a haemorrhage during a crash cs and my levels were 65 afterwards.

How is your diet? Which tablets are you taking?

[Snowflakes1122]

Eat lots of iron rich foods, and buy floradix liquid iron on top of your tablets.
I hemmoraged during a miscarriage last year and lost 3 litres. My hb levels were 4, then they went to 7.

Just seen my consultant regarding anemia, and she said they worry with anything under 115, so I understand the midwives concerns.

She has advised me to cut down caffeine to help the absorption. I'm pretty sure dairy can also inhibit the absorption of it, so try to avoid your iron supplements with dairy or caffeine.

Don't worry though, I had a very server loss and I felt rough for a week or two but my energy returned after a few weeks.

[Snowflakes1122]

posted too soon!

And I also managed to look after my three kids whilst recovering. So don't stress!

[NameChange30]

Easier said than done, but try not to worry too much. If you lose a lot of blood during labour, they will give you a blood transfusion. You could feel pretty awful after the birth for all sorts of reasons (I felt like I'd been hit by a bus!) but you will still be elated to be with your baby, and if there are any medical concerns you should be well looked after. I lost a lot of blood during labour and developed an infection afterwards but recovered reasonably quickly.

Keep taking the iron tablets and you'll be fine

[MissJC]

Those Iron tablets are like constipation hell. I had the biggest haemorrhoid post birth, stitches and was constipated from the ferrous suphate. I remember being sat on the loo praying to the gods of poo after 4 days of avoiding going. The pain was worse than crowning!
The moral of this TMI tale is don't avoid going to the loo if you do get a bit bunged up, it makes it 10 times worse. Make a point of going if you find time with a newborn

[JJ1612]

I've tried the liquid but it comes straight back up so am on ferrous fumerate now which gives me horrendous heartburn but I guess I've only got a few weeks left so will just persevere.

Thanks for all your replies

[whogivesaratzass]

Mix the liquid with orange juice, sounds horrible but you really can't taste it at all and the vit c helps with absorption- also dried apricots every day helps with the constipation from the tablets x

[Snowflakes1122]

Good luck! You'll be fine.

[JJ1612]

Thank you. It's the heartburn more than anything that annoys me when taking the iron