Anaemia and iron supplements

[ellesabe]

Hi all.
I'm 31 weeks pregnant and my most recent blood test reaults showed that my iron levels are slightly below norml so I have been prescribed iron supplements. These have not gone down well however as I have completely lost my appetite and have stomach cramps whenever I sit down.
Has anyone else had a similar problem and what did you do about it? I'm starting to think that I was better off before I started taking them.

What supplements are you taking? It is probably worth changing to a different formulation- you probably wouldn't be able to get it on prescription though.

Liquid iron supplements like Floradix or Spatone (which is iron-rich water) are gentlest but I couldn't stomach the strong taste when pregnant so found that iron bisglyncate tablets worked ok for me. If you have a good health shop near you they can advise you too - prob best to check with whoever prescribed to you in the first place just to be on safe side though.

Ferrous sulphate are the ones usually prescribed and they made me ill. I'm now on Ferrous gluconate and I have no problems taking them so maybe ask your midwife to change your prescription.

Congrats on your pregnancy ellesabe! I agree with FunkyMonkey and would ask your GP to see if you can change to a different type. I have been anaemic in this pregnancy (DC3) and my midwife would only let me have Spatone or Floradix which made no difference. Eventually my HB went to 8.5 and so i was prescribed Ferrous Fumerate (1 tab 3x a day) but by then it had also made my B12 levels drop quite drastically so i also have monthly B12 injections. My iron tablets have certainly (warning if TMI !!) given me a slight runny bottom, but the loss of appetite i experienced was actually due to my anaemia and not the tablets as I am still on the tablets and have my appetite back and my HB is now back up to 10. Hope this helps!

I've been on two lots preg-a-day, Ferres Sulphate along with Spatone and Floradix, which are just about maintaining levels.

Looking at diet is another suggestion (lentils, beans, black strap molasses, turkey, beef, prunes, apricots) I have also heard good things about 'easy iron' tablets from healthfood stores.