Raising iron levels

[Stokey]

Am 36 weeks and bloods have come back with low iron levels - not too serious around 10 hg but have been feeling tired and breathless so guess that is why - don't remember breathlessness in first pregnancy at all.

Anyway started taking tablets yesterday, one last night before supper was fine but had one with glass of orange juice this morning and made me feel really nauseous especially on bus into work.

Other threads seem to suggest sachets rather than tablets but are they as effective? Am quite near D-day so need something to work quickly.

Also if I take tablet with apple juice rather than orange or aomething like pomegranate/cranberry, will it still absorb effectively? Am thinking the acidity in orange juice doesn't help.

And should I cut out caffeine completely, or can I still have a couple of cups of tea a day? Normally have one normal in morning and one green in afternoon.

I don't eat meat but do eat fish/shellfish.

Any recommendations/ advice much appreciated thanks.

I'm not at your stage of pregnancy, but i'm taking liquid iron - Floradix -got it at Holland and Barrett.apparently tablets cause constipation!

I've taken spatone sachets in the past, in juice, but the taste takes some getting used to and it's quite expensive. This time I'm taking feroglobin liquid, it also comes in tablet form. It's perked me up quite quickly and doesn't appear to have any side effects

The issue with tea (I believe) is the tannin inhibits iron absorption, not caffeine.

I use Feroglobin B12 and it makes a noticeable difference to my tiredness. You can get Spatone in a pre-mixed sachet with apple rather than orange - rip the sachet open and swig. That's it. Liquid iron is meant to more easily absorbed than tablets.

I've had the tablets since 28 weeks. You don't have to take with oj it's the vitamin c that increases the absorption of the iron tablets, just substitute it for ribeena or something similar. My iron level is now well within normal levels, so not worried about having a transfusion at birth. :o Lo is due in 2 days.

Any food or drink that contains Vit C will aid the absorption of Iron. Apple juice is fine. I'm on 630 mg of Ferrous Fumarate per day. It did initially increase my constipation, but I had issues with that anyway. Now take lactulose every day and all is fine. I've been taking the tablets since first trimester.

I had very slight naseau at the beginning but seems to be OK now. All the advice suggests that for optimum absorption Iron tabs should be taken with a vit C rich food/drink on an empty stomach, but sod that!! The side effects are far too distressing - nausea, diarrhea, constipation, cramping, It's far too corrosive on your GI tract to take on an empty stomach.

There are certain foods that will inhibit iron absorption so you should avoid taking the supplement (liquid or tab) with any of them, even though it usually takes large amounts of the offending food to interfere. Some of the basic foods that will do this are: oxalic acid found in spinach and phosphates found primarily in milk, dairy products and egg whites. Also phytates in beans and tannins in tea and coffee can interfere with iron absorption.

Bit of a bloody minefield. I was spinning like a top trying to get the right nutrients during this pregnancy, yet at same time trying to avoid different foods when talking the tabs. :( Taking tea and coffee is fine as long as you wait about an hour after or before taking the supplement. I basically take them with every meal and make sure there is a bit of Vit C in there. If there happens to be calcium in there too, then so be it. They can fight it out. I've had my Hb checked several times since starting tabs and everything seems to be OK. Good luck!

Thanks for all the advice - does sound like a bit of a minefield Chineapple, was thinking beans, lentils, spinach were all things I should be eating to get more iron and now they say they inhibit the tabs.

Will try with different juice and not first thing in morning, will wait til I get to work and see if that helps.

Good luck ahhhbump, not long now.

I've given up on the 3xtablets (ferrous sulphate?) I'm meant to take each day, and am having floradix instead - though the dose is much lower I'm hoping it will be ok as more easily absorbed? Don't know what to say when I see my GP next week, I just couldn't cope with the side effects.

I have a combination of pills to take this pregnancy which all interact with each other badly, so need to be taken separately.

The only time I can work out to take the iron tablet is in the middle of the night! So dh wakes me up when he comes to bed a couple of hours after me, to tell me to take it. Annoying, but works.

Wow Cies that is dedication! Did actually think when I got up for inevitable loo trip at 4 this morning that that may be a good time to take them but thought would wake myself up too much getting orange juice, tablets etc out.

Still will keep it in mind!

Why is it always 4am?? Same for me! This morning I actually didnt wake at 4, and instead ds woke me at half four!

How long do the tablets take to work? I've been really exhausted and I'm hoping they'll help with that!

Yes the dosage is less on the better forms of iron (like spatone, floradix etc) cos your body can't absorb all the iron in those tablets, hence the constipation. The liquid iron is more available to your body .