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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

how do you know if you are anaemic?

30 replies

fairyglo · 09/02/2006 16:26

Other than by a blood test, is there any other way to check whether you are anaemic? Was just wondering why I feel so tired.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Kelly1978 · 09/02/2006 16:27

pull your lower eyelid down and look at the red bit. if you are anaemic it goes very white. Not sure if it is scientific, but it seems to work for me!

expatinscotland · 09/02/2006 16:27

I found out thru a blood test. I attributed my extreme fatique to pregnancy and trying to do too much whilst preggo. Turns out my hemoglob levels were in the toilet.

Scarlaohorror · 09/02/2006 16:30

Second the eye pulling down thing - it's what my dad (doctor) used to do with us as kids. Go to your GP and get a blood test if you are still in doubt. I was very anaemic with first pg and so took Floradix when pg with second child, and no problems whatsoever. GP will prescribe iron pills which make you constipated and when you finally do go, it'll be black. Nice. Floradix (tablets or tonic) are much more palatable and don't have the vile side effects.

fastasleep · 09/02/2006 16:31

I was anaemic too, I thought I was anaemic because I kept getting dizzy and fainting, but that was of course my blood pressure lol, the eyelid thing is good.... blood test is best though I'm afraid, expat is right

Original poster

fairyglo · 09/02/2006 16:32

Kelly - bugger! I'd heard that and pulling the eyelid down it does seem to be quite pale. I'm not due any check-ups for a while and I've had so many blood tests, I'm loathed to go the GP and make this an issue. Are there any other ways of double checking and can I address this by stuffing dark chocolate or is it dangerous to leave it if you are anaemic? Also, if I am, is this due to poor diet ie should I feel guilty or can it happen naturally?

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fastasleep · 09/02/2006 16:35

Happens naturally I think, it's a sign that your baby is getting all the iron which is actualy a good thing... I had a brill diet second time round and it was actually worse!

expatinscotland · 09/02/2006 16:38

There's some evidence to suggest it's also a sign of a well functioning placenta

fastasleep · 09/02/2006 16:43

That's the same thing said in posher words liiike

hockeymum · 10/02/2006 09:07

Go and get a blood test - I had these every 3 weeks from 12 weeks to now (28 weeks) as I kept getting more and more anaemic. Don't leave it because it can get really serious. I ended up with iron transfussions in the hospital last month because it got worse and worse and they are painful and a nuisance trust me!

In the meantime (test takes 2 days) stuff copious amounts of dark dark chocolate in your gob! try and have a steak or something and eat spinach (if you dont mind it) and dried apricots, they make a lot of difference short term to your blood count, but if you are anaemic you will need treatment anyway. Get hold of some iron tablets or spatone or floradix and swallow with lots of orange juice.

Like tha ladies say, other signs are palpatations; dizziness; fatigue; pale eyelids and fingernails and pale dry lips. Though all those are also just signs of pregnancy! Joy oh Joy!

Do get it checked though, you can never have too much information IMHO

Kelly1978 · 10/02/2006 09:28

I'd take some iron tablets anyway, or something like pregnacare (not so much iron tho), and see if that makes you feel better. It won't harm the baby anyway. I hatr going to thr drs too.

Original poster

fairyglo · 10/02/2006 11:37

Thanks. this is good advice. I'd better bite the bullet and get this sorted. It's so difficult to know if you are just being stupid and whether tired, dry lips, pale eyelid test means you're pregnant with energetic toddler like everyone else or that you are actually anaemic. Anyway, will get this checked. In the meantime, dried apricots is a helpful reminder - I'd forgotten about them. And yes, I'd better suffer and force some dark chocolate down

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Lacrimosa · 10/02/2006 11:40

Usually if you crave liquorice or green vegetables this can be a sign of being Iron difficient, also being tired. But I thing blood pressure and blood test is the best because the doc can let you know how much to take, too much can be very bad for you.X

Original poster

fairyglo · 10/02/2006 11:44

Lacrimosa, is blood pressure a sign of it too? and high bp or low? Low I assume? Just curious since I've had a bit of a problem with bp since beginning of pregnancy (although with me it has been slightly raised bp) so would be interested if there is a link.

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coppertop · 10/02/2006 11:45

Definitely go for a blood test if you can. It can be hard to tell which symptoms are a sign of anaemia and which ones are just a sign of pregnancy. I had a lot of tiredness, felt light-headed, and used to get hopelessly out of breath just walking up the stairs. I don't have any real side-effects from taking the iron tablets but the MW said that Spatone was a good substitute if you can't tolerate the tablets. Good luck.

Original poster

fairyglo · 22/03/2006 13:27

Just an update to say, thanks for good advice. I did get this checked out and was anaemic and have been told I'll need iron tablets for the next two months until I give birth:(.

Incidently, can the iron tablets upset your stomach? I took them after the birth of ds last time and seem to remember them having the opposite effect. However, have very upset stomach today (sorry, tmi) and wondering whether this is related to taking iron tablets (I've been taking them for 4 days now) or just a coincidence.

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alliebaba · 22/03/2006 13:29

I went from one extreme to the other!! Eat lots of spinach, dried apricots, brazil nuts and drink tons of water to help your tum! Try and rest as much as you can x

Original poster

fairyglo · 22/03/2006 17:15

Thanks. Maybe a coincidence but think I'll try and find an alternative to the tablets and eat the food you recommend in the meantime :).

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snafu · 22/03/2006 17:24

Iron tablets can also give some women diarrhoea/upset stomach rather than constipation - lovely! Floradix and lots of green, leafy veg/dried apricots, etc might be better for you in that case. Unfortunately you can't get the Floradix on prescription, but if you're having nasty side effects it's probably worth the extra expense.

Original poster

fairyglo · 22/03/2006 17:31

what is floradix? is it basically the same as iron tablets or is it a multivitamin?

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rummum · 22/03/2006 17:39

I always seem to be anaemic [and no I am not pregnant before you ask!] my iron count is 9.7 and average is 11.5 I asked for a bloodtest as I have been feeling really exhausted lately.
I have been given iron tablets, 3 a day, and I can't take them within 2 hours of having a cup of tea which I don't seem to be able to live without!
I'll have to set the alarm for the middle of the night to be able to fit them in lol...

snafu · 22/03/2006 18:48

Fairyglo, it's an iron supplement but in liquid form. It's mainly herbal/fruit-based and doesn't tend to have the same side effects that ordinary ferrous sulphate tablets will give you. You can get it from health food shops, eg Holland & Barrett.

You'd still need to make sure your diet is high in iron-rich foods as I think the Floradix only gives you about 50% of your daily iron requirement. It's much gentler on the stomach though!

Original poster

fairyglo · 23/03/2006 07:38

Really helpful to know what Floradix is since I'm asking my GP to change the tablets (but understand I'll probably have to pay for Floradix myself).

It would also be helpful to know about Spatone, which someone else has mentioned, when I'm dropping a note to the GP. Is this tablets/tonic? a prescription based tablet or over the counter? does it give you all your daily iron requirement or need topping up like Floradix? is it a multivitamin or just an iron tablet substitute??

Thanks

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hockeymum · 23/03/2006 08:20

I'm taking Spatone (from a health food shop - expensive about £8 per month - but worth it). The iron tablets gave me alternating upset stomach and constipation and made me sick too, so these are much better. They are sachets of liquid that you mix with half a glass of orange juice. You cant taste it at all. My iron levels are so much better than they were so I really recommend it. It is absorbed very well, much better than the iron tablets imo. Seems to work quite quickly too in my experience.

expatinscotland · 23/03/2006 08:29

i didn't. i was very tired, but just chalked it up to being pregnant and having a lot on my plate. a blood test caught it. i couldn't take ferrous sulfate, and my crap GP didn't offer me anything, so i bought spatone sachets.

expatinscotland · 23/03/2006 08:30

the ferrous sulfate gave me vomitting and diahhrea so bad i couldn't go to work.

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