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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

what are your iron levels?

21 replies

busybee20 · 25/02/2011 22:54

Hi, had my 28 week bloods done about two weeks ago and when I saw my consultant he said everything was fine and iron levels were really good - 11.1. Initially at the beginning of pregnancy my iron reading was 13 which was seen as excellent. Anyway a few days later G.P contacted me to prescribe me iron supplements as he believed that 11.1 meant I was slightly anaemic.
Anyone else experienced this? Am a bit confused.

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sh77 · 25/02/2011 23:33

37 weeks. Iron level is 13.5 - told this is excellent.

Scouseem · 25/02/2011 23:44

When pregnant with DC2 they said mine was 10.6 and that was boarder line. I read the other day that anything under 12 is classed as low.

JimmyChoo17 · 26/02/2011 08:38

At the start I was 12.7 (11weeks) but at around 17 weeks was feeling very low and had extra bloods taken which were 11.1 I was told this was only slightly anaemic and not given advice to take a supplement.

my dips in energy were put down to low blood pressure.

My midwife also thought this was normal for pregnancy.

I have not been advised that they will retest me and now I'm wondering whether I should be taking a further supplement? I am on pregnacare still...am just trying to eat more iron rich veg at the moment.

Interested to see how others levels are.

I'm 20 weeks today!!

WhiteTrash · 26/02/2011 09:00

A few weeks ago I was 10.8 which they considered borderline. I have to take iron tablets for the rest of my pregnancy now. (Ive got 10 weeks until EDD)

violetwellies · 26/02/2011 09:14

I was told that my iron levels 'were good for a woman' ??? Wanders off to find notes... is it Hb? If so its 12.6.
Im needle phobic so have refused to let them anywhere near to get more at my last appointment, the consultant just dint seem to be listening to me - which bit of NO didnt he understand?

Crawling · 26/02/2011 09:21

On DC1 I was 5.9 but I was admitted and couldnt leave the bed and kept feinting and losing conciousness and given transfusions for that which raised my levels to 7. So I was allowed home once they were at 7. We kept it at 7 with transfusions till I gave birth and then my levels went back to thier normal rate of 11 and I was put on Tablets then.

Thoose levels are not much to worry about take your tablets and they should go back up in no time at all

jasmine51 · 26/02/2011 09:25

I have been 6.5 and like crawling I kept falling over and having visual disturbances - not at all well. I am now 11.2 which is considered ok but am on iron supplements too. I am 24 wks and suspect my iron levels are taking a dive again as I keep feeling dizzy so am having another blood count next week - have been warned that anything below 11 and I'll be doubling my iron tablets again.

JBrd · 26/02/2011 09:35

I wish I knew - my midwife couldn't find my 28wk test results when I saw her on Thursday . I was told 'Oh, but the doctor has seen the test results, and she would have pick up on it if anything wasn't as it should be'.

Yeah, right.

Fortunately, I know that the doctor really did see the test results because she had phoned me the day before to discuss the blood sugars!

loopy11 · 26/02/2011 09:37

Mine were 10.8 at my 28 week appointment. I was told I was borderline and prescribed iron tablets.

activate · 26/02/2011 09:40

I wouldn't take iron tablets if I could help it as they can do nasty things to your stomach

get Spatone or Floradix from chemist and take that instead - far gentler

(in pregnancy my HB always hovered around 9)

StickThemWithThePointyEnd · 26/02/2011 09:43

mine were 10.6 and I had a panicked call from my GP who only saw the result and not the rest of my notes. She looked at those while on the phone to me and went "oooooooh, but you're pregnant..... that's fine then."

my midwife told me it was borderline, and suggested iron, but said it wasn't vital with those levels, but because I am booked for a homebirth, they would be happier if my Hb (which, by the way is not the same as Iron levels...) was above 10.5 and that I should just take pregnacare or spatone, so I'll get re-checked in 2 weeks at 34 weeks, and if they've gone up, great, if they haven't, I'll get a prescription for ferrous sulphite and re-checked at 37 weeks.
Saying that, they can't refuse me a homebirth, but it's better to have good odds for everything going right :)

WiiUnfit · 26/02/2011 09:57

I read that between 11 and 12 is normal for pregnancy, I was quite pleased with my 11.9, my MW said that was absolutely fine - no need for iron tablets or similar.

stitchmeup · 26/02/2011 10:29

Was 10.6 during pregnancy & was prescribed iron tablets. After the birth this dropped to 9.something.

loopy11 · 26/02/2011 10:41

By the way - everyone warned me that I was going to be constantly constipated as soon as I started taking the iron tablets but I've been taking them for about three weeks and have had no problems yet!

Queenofthehill · 26/02/2011 14:31

I wish I knew. Midwife completely butchered my arms trying to find a vein (now look like the victim of an assault - black and blue, big time) and when she did, could only get enough blood for the diabetes test before that vein gave up too. She was really apologetic and felt terrible, but felt like I'd been mutilated. Sigh.
:(

thefurryone · 26/02/2011 14:46

Snap OP! I started off at 13.1 and am now 11.1.

Currently slightly confused as the midwife who gave me the result at the hospital told me these were great for a pregnant woman and nothing to worry about, fast forward a week to my community midwife appointment and I was advised that it might be a good idea to start taking Spatone at that level, but that I might be alright just trying to get more iron in my diet. So also a bit on the confused side. I guess we're just on the borderline and some HCP will generally just be more cautious than others.

happycamel · 26/02/2011 18:24

12.9 at 34 weeks, I can do iron levels but don't ask me about my GTT blood sugar .

Queenofthehill next time ask for a "black or narrow bore" needle. For me the green standard gauge ones really hurt and I don't bleed well but black ones are painless, I don't bruise and I bleed easier. The phlebotomist (?sp) at the hospital advised me to ask for them and it's made a huge difference.

owlbooty · 26/02/2011 18:52

My MW said that 10 was considered low during pregnancy. Mine were 12.

Queenofthehill · 26/02/2011 19:36

Thanks, happycamel. I have a history of non-compliant veins (which is why she had to mutilate take blood from my wrists, rather than crook of the arm) and I did warn her. I will use that terminology if they have to take blood again.

msbossy · 26/02/2011 22:48

11 is the line at which they prescribe. I was 12.5 at booking in and 10.6 at 28 weeks so tablets were prescribed. It used to be a lower threshold but my doc tells me that they now believe tablets for anything lower than 11 can help minimise problems post-birth.

I feel significantly better for taking the tablets :-)

cowboylover · 27/02/2011 17:48

Interesting reading as I was 11 at 12 weeks and after fainting and feeling gererally grotty recently my MW has sent blood off now I am 29 weeks.

Interesting to see what comes back now

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