Pregnancy anaemia - how worried should I be about this?

[user59457812]

Hi there. I am obvs feeling a bit over emotional here but just got off the phone with the GP and am in tears.

I've been feeling a bit tired for the last few weeks (I'm 34 weeks) but not really excessively, and it comes and goes. I am slow on my feet on walks etc. but my stamina is still pretty good, I am a bit out of breath but nothing major (I'm average weight and fitness normally).

I had a blood test at 28 weeks and my blood count was 113mg (or 11.3 in the old way of measuring it). I had it done again at 33 weeks and it's the same. The GP called to say I am anaemic, and that I should be concerned about it. I'm already supplementing with Spatone in addition to the iron in my pregnancy vits, as well as eating red meat and dairy regularly.

She was quite stroppy about me taking a prescribed iron supplement, which I've never got on with due to the side effects. The midwife (and lots of MNers) swear by Spatone but she turned her nose up.

From what I'd read about 'normal' ranges in pregancy, I thought my result was borderline to be honest, not something to be massively concerned about. Does anyone have experience of being anaemic at this level and should I be really concerned? The GP talked about bleeding in labour etc. and has properly freaked me out...

Hmmm my levels were lower and consultant was super relaxed... Are there any other issues that complicate this? Am no doctor but does seem borderline to me. Is your doc being alarmist?

Am a bit perplexed. Hopefully someone else will have some answers.

FWIW I combine a 'normal' antenatal vitamin which has iron with lactulose and gaviscon (for the side effects)

Liquid iron was horrible...

Iron tabs are horrible. Take fibrogel sachets from boots daily plus lots of extra fibre and veggies to counter the effects. Low iron is a worry and will leave you feeling beyond exhausted, so if doc recommend a high dose tablet it probably is advised? Up to you tho.

11.3?! That's good! Whip out the nice guidelines which say below 10 is a worry.

Mine were 9.4 at 36 weeks so I took two spatone sachets a day and got it up to 12 by 40 weeks.

You also need to avoid dairy when eating iron rich food as it inhibits the absorbtion of iron. Same for tea.

I'm 26 weeks and mine is 10 but I haven't heard any scaremonger stories. My midwife charted it as 10 but the doctor insisted on doing another test as she didn't think that was low enough to warrant iron tablets!
There's another thread on here about upping your iron with some good advice on too like taking the iron with oj to help absorb it and what the other poster said about not taking with caffeine. I also read not to take with carbs, don't know how true that is, but because of those I take mine at night now as can't do a morning without toast and a cuppa!!!

Hi there

I wouldn't worry over much - although Joygirl's comment is right, you'll feel much better with higher levels.

I've had low iron levels both this pg and my second one - 2nd one my levels were below 10 and I felt shattered all the time - it came up in my 28-week bloods but took them until my 34 week check to tell me - which was massively annoying as I'd just presumed I felt that grim due to having a toddler to look after. I took floradix, with orange juice and levels were good within 2 weeks - the only warning marker I had was to get them above 10.5 or I wouldn't have been allowed a homebirth. I managed that within 2 weeks and had a homebirth - I did have a bit of a bleed but not quite enough for it to be classed as a PPH. A bit more time on the iron would probably have been handy, though.

This time round, they were 10.2 at 28 weeks and GP phoned me within 2 days. He offered me iron tabs but his take was that 10.2 wasn't massively low, but MWs do like your levels to be a bit higher (10.5 was the level he said they get concerned at) - am slightly nonplussed as to why they're fussing about yours though. I'd thought I'd be fine this time, due to taking pregnacare, but clearly not! I'd suspected I was low in iron mainly due to breathlessness so was happy to take the tablets as I remembered how much better I felt last time after upping the iron! It's helped again, and I've had no side effects luckily -but I'd have thought you were doing more than enough. I'd speak to your midwife in case of concern - and second being careful with dairy. I found a really easy thing was to put spinach in with pasta so it wilts right down and is easy to eat then.

Good luck to you!

How many spatone sachets are you taking a day? I was anaemic after the birth and they wanted me to take an iron supplement but were happy with me taking two or three spatone sachets a day instead. The last thing I wanted after a csection was to be constipated.

A couple of tips that you may already know, take spatone with OJ or other fruit juice and don't drink any tea or coffee within 2hrs of having the spatone as caffeine stops iron being absorbed as well.

Hi - mine were 11.8 at 26 weeks - was exhausted so went to the docs. He said this was OK but then my iron stores were very very low - a different thing they measure in a full blood count. Could it be that that is the problem with you? Mine were 11 and they should be between 12-330!! I am taking prescribed iron and have been fine on it to be honest but I am sticking at 2 a day rather than the max of 3......I think I might be alone cos most people complain of constipation and I have been OK on that front....

I wouldn't worry. Mine were 10.2 at 28 weeks and though I've not been tested again (33 weeks now) I'm feeling a lot better. I didn't get on with the iron tablets too well, but have been having Spatone twice daily. I've been getting heartburn and acid reflux too so I mix it with Ribena instead of orange juice.

Neither my GP nor the MW was concerned with a level of 10.2 - just said that I needed to supplement, eat more iron rich foods, and get in touch should I feel overly tired or breathless. Anaemia is very common in pregnancy. Remember not to have any caffeine, dairy or antacids 2 hours to either side of your Spatone, as they can all inhibit iron absorption.

Thanks all - that has made me feel hugely better. I was a bit with the GP's reaction as I'd heard that 10.5 was the point they started wanting you to supplement. I also understood it took up to three weeks for your level to go up once you started on iron - the second blood test was only done a week after I started the extra supplements.

I've been taking two Spatone sachets a day which seems like plenty in addition to my multivit and diet? The GP hadn't heard of Spatone and seemed to assume I was taking some hippy-dippy alternative, even though I told her that was what the midwife recommended and was happy with. I'm going to persevere with it for a bit before taking the prescribed ones as they've just made me feel ill before (even the GP said few people can tolerate the recommended dose).

There aren't any complicating factors. As far as I know I'm otherwise in good shape, so I'm not sure why the GP's decided to get so concerned about it.

Anyway, as usual the wisdom of MNetters has come up trumps. Thanks ladies

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