What is a normal iron count?

[colditz]

What is the range of a normal blood count or whatever it's called? I got my blood results yesterday and would be interested to know (because I am a nerd)

mine is 14 and apparently that is very high and healthy

Expat - you should still be able to have a waterbirth with a low Hb. In our unit if it is less than 10 at delivery we suggest that the third stage should be actively managed ie out of pool and injection given.

Our guideline says women with Hb less than 9 should not use the midwifery unit, hence would not get the pool, HOWEVER, if the woman insists that is what she wants, that is what she would get. We can only advise. The choice is the mothers.

oh no, independent midwife doesnt like to see high iron levels

god I can't win in this pg

Mine was about 14 all the way through both my pregnancies. Felt very pleased at the time then start reading about Odent's theories and became paranoid. There's no pleasing some people.

oh bugger off WHAT THEORIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll try and find link.

well thank you

Read at your peril!!!!(spooky laugh sound effect)

The third stage at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is always managed out of the pool. Not sure why, but was told this by the midwife on Wednesday.

There are only two pools here, but they're located w/i the labour/delivery unit at the Infirmary, so hopefully no matter what I can still try one out.

ha! thanks Tinker you sounded about the same as me now - I miss pupuce does she EVER post here now?

Tinker, my Hb is also 14 & I'm 36 wks. I've looked at your link but I want to know what Odent says about high Hb levels...can't find it anywhere. I was wanting a physiological third stage with delayed cord clamping but I want to make sure this is in baby's best interests first. I'd rather find out the research than rely on the advice of a MW who might not be up to date. (sorry Mears!!)

Just realised that my last post implied that Mears wasn't up to date, absolutely not intended at all!!!

I have absolutely no problems with Independent Midwives Enid - if I could I would be one!

The good thing about being an IM is that you can deliver care as you see fit. As a hospital midwife there are certain guidelines I must work within, otherwise I am breaching my employment.

As far as third stage goes, I am personally happy for any woman to have a waterbirth if she is anaemic as long as she is well.

The difficulty is that if a woman delivers with a Hb of 9g/dl, it is a risk to her if she has a postpartum haemorrhage. She does not have a lot of reserve to play with so if she bleeds, she might end up very anaemic needing a blood transfusion. In order to prevent haemorrhage, the third stage is managed with an oxytocic drug which makes the womb contract and the placenta deliver within 20 mins, usually within 10min.
Physiological third stage can last well over an hour or longer. However it can be all over in 10 mins too.

The way I would play it is to go for a physiological third stage but if there was any sign of heavy bleeding then convert to a managed third stage by giving injection and cutting cord.

Expat - we used to get women out the water for third stage because there was a theoretical risk of water embolism. This has never happened and there is no good reason to interrupt the third stage unnecessarily getting women out of water.

It is well worth getting the midwifery waterbirth guidelines I posted a link to earlier. There are lots of references in it.

no offence taken karmamother

Mears, I used to be a MW & I'm aware that an experienced, motivated & open-minded MW is worth her weight in gold. I do worry a bit about who'll be looking after me in labour. In your experience, is it better when the mums are well informed & have done their research (as on here) or does that make your job harder?

Sorry for the short hijack, colditz

I much prefer a mum who has done her research because it is truly informed choice then. It means then that you are not hampered with out of date hospital protocols.

And yes I try to change them but there is only so much you can change and it takes so long [sigh]

That's it! That's the excuse I was given for third stage being managed outside the water!

I don't mind it being this way, though, if I am able to use the birthing pool successfully.

But I probably should ask what my numbers were in the first place.

I was put on 600mg of ferrous sulphate/day. It gave me a lot of vomitting and diarrhea so I switched to Floradix after being offered no alternative to the ferrous sulphate.

Spatone is also good as far as getting iron levels up - very gentle on the system.

I urge you to get the waterbirth guidelines. They will make you feel so confident and you can share them with your midwife.

Yes FE Iron - anything under 10 a worry in pregancy - Spatone very good - drink it with orange juice - very easily and quickly absorbed -much better than tablets. Spatone.co.uk