Twin pregnancy and given iron to prevent anaemia

[Froggy36]

Hi, I'm 14 weeks today in my twin pregnancy and have been put on iron supplements and baby aspirin by the midwife and consultant at the mat unit. I managed the iron for 5 days and ended up with stomach cramps, constipation and then diarrhoea (sorry tmi). I didn't think I was anaemic but was given it as a preventative measure. I made sure I was taking it with food and last thing at night as advised but had 5 nights of horrendous sleep and cramps for 3 mornings in a row. I phoned the mat unit and was told to stop taking the iron and now feeling better after 2 days.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this problem with being prescribed tablets to prevent things?

I was given iron tablets but only when blood tests showed I was anaemic. I didn't have any real problems with them but the side effects you mention are common. You could just up your intake of iron rich foods instead - eat with something containing vitamin C as helps iron absorption.

Try spat one instead for iron, it's much gentler on your stomach.

There are 2 different types of iron tablet - Ferrous fumarate and ferrous sulphate. Intestinal problems are really common with iron tablets. The NHS usually gives you the sulphate ones I think because they are cheaper. You could go to the chemist and get the fumarate ones- they are much easier on the stomach.
If they are recommending iron tablets I would take them as once you become anaemic it takes a while to get your iron levels back and you feel pants until they come back up.

I'd recommend trying Floradix (iron from plant extracts, in good chemists, health food shops), I was constipated from hospital supplements.

I've to see the midwife in the twins clinic in two weeks so was going to have a break from them just now and see what she says and try to eat more iron rich foods. my rice crispie and ready brek habit should be enough to satisfy this but I'm going to up my green veg as well. I do try and have keep my vitamin c up everyday as well. I think I'm just a bit annoyed at being treated as if I'm daft and being out on all these pills.

Thanks for your suggestions

My lovely GP prescribed ferrous fumerate instead of sulphate as (her words) 'the sulphate ones are far more likely to give you the runs'. I haven't had any trouble at all, a good thing too as this is a longterm prescription.

Worth asking if they'll change your prescription.

I was put on them by my consultant at 14 weeks for the same reasons, to prevent anaemia. I've been put on the ferrous sulphate and have had no problems with them (other than turning my poo green but I was told this is common and nothing to worry about - sorry if tmi ) I didn't know there were two kinds.............