To think that yes, a deficiency of this kind does need some supplements?

[Focusfocus]

I have just started TTC and some recent bloodwork last week showed that I have low iron reserves. Note -not low haemoglobin so I am not anaemic, but low ferritin levels - so basically my blood making capacities are not great.

Apparently for TTC it should be 10 or over, to sustain uterine lining amongst other stuff. Mine is barely 7. So when gp told me this I said should I maybe have some supplements? She said no the lower limit of normal is 9 so since you are 7, just each some spinach.

Long story short - I have bought myself some spatone as I need easily absorbed iron and am having 2/3 sachets a day with my grapefruit or orange juice. But AIBU to think that the GP should really have given me some supplementation for that level or was she correct that eating spinach regularly would do it? I somehow didn't feel convinced.

I believe twooddsocks is right, you are not going to build up your iron reserves from vegetables. they have iron in, but it doesn't come out. Lots of red meat is better.

Re: low iron reserves, it's often down to heavy periods. If you have a couple in a row then you can deplete your reserves faster than you can make more.

Bizarre advice about spinach as it is not actually rich in iron. Best sources of iron are meat and lentils which you should accompany with orange juice and avoid dairy one hour before and one hour after eating.

I'm not sure my periods are heavy. Hmm. I guess they're normal for me, three day bleed, no flooding or going through supplies in a jiff. Something to think about.

I knew about the non-heme iron not being absorbed well so that's why her spinach as a solution suggestion for levels as low as 7 (about which she was completely unconcerned) surprised me a bit. I guess I will keep up what I am eating and add spatone to it three sachets a day and try to get a re-test.

Is it worthwhile to also take floradix or should I stick to spatone? Have just bought three packs of spatone and quite like it so hope I can keep at it.

The thing that slightly concerns me is - this month was our first month TTC, and since I've done fertility awareness for six years, timing to fertile window was easy peasy. Anyway - about 6-8 days after ovulation I had massive cramps with a temperature dip, which I can guess were implantation attempts. But guess what, AF came today anyway after a bizarre and unprecedented three days of cramping. Part of me thinks, is the low iron reserves contributing to a thin uterine lining which inhibited implantation?

I know this is merely guesswork. But I guess I am just keen to sort my iron reserves out, of course not as a magical cure all, but rather for my own health and piece of mind.

I got the same tablets as prescribed by the GP over the counter, just in a slightly smaller dose, but the pharmacist said to take 2 of them (the dose the GP prescribed was on back order for ages). You had to ask for them, but they were available. I think mine were ferrous fumarate.

My son had low ferritin levels and was given an iron supplement. The pead said increasing the levels on diet alone would be difficult. Once his level got to normal it has stayed there.

If you're happy with the spatone stick with it. I'd probably also get a regular iron tablet from the chemist and take one or two with some orange juice to be sure (unless it screws with your digestion) but it's probably not necessary.

Don't over think the TTC symptoms (if you can help it - I couldn't!). Most chemical pregnancies don't successfully implant and it's totally normal to get weird symptoms the minute you start TTC. I had it all - sore boobs, bloating, cramps. The month I actually got pregnant I wrote off because I had no symptoms at all - until I got the BFP. Good luck!