panicking

[RichardAndJudysButtPlug]

I'm 17wks pregnant with DC2.

My booking bloods came back abnormal - slightly lower than normal haemoglobin, platelets, red blood cells, haematocrit.

I got these results back at my routine 16wk midwife appt on Wednesday and midwife took another set of bloods. Midwife tried to ring me on Friday and we kept on missing each other. Midwife rang me again this morning, I missed it and tried to ring back later but no answer.

I have been out all day today and have got back to a letter to see an obstetrician on Thursday.

So now I'm panicking because I have no clue what the problem is and I'm worried it is really serious as the appt is so soon.

My first pregnancy was completely uneventful. This one is all over the bloody place but it seems that my baby is ok.

Doesn't stop me worrying about him/her though. And myself obviously.

Is it a sign of anemia- those results? Perhaps she's trying to get in touch with you to prescribe iron tablets?

Yes those results are a sign of anaemia.

I have been taking Pregnacare since January (before I conceived) so I have been taking plenty of iron. It must be something to do with how my body absorbs it? I haven't been taking in lots of tannins in my diet which can be an iron absorption inhibitor. But iirc if a woman is anaemic the midwife can give out ferrous sulphate etc. So I'm thinking it might be worse than that? ...maybe my platelets are through the floor. Crap.

Thanks for hugs.

I have just got in after being out all day, my OH is out in London all night (I called him flapping already) and because it is late I don't feel I have anyone else to talk to. So thank you.

I felt baby moving last night so that is something.

Barely slept and have to take DS to a party at lunchtime and have friends coming over this afternoon.

Might have to make alternate plans. Feel like I need to take it easy.

I'm not an expert, but I think that the levels of iron in pregnancy vitamins like pregnacare are nowhere near as high as what you would be prescribed if you have anaemia.

So maybe she's trying to get hold of you to prescribe some super-strength iron?

xx

Yes, the 'iron tablets' have much more in them than the pregnacare type.

I think my sister had anemia during her last pregnancy and they discussed having a blood transfusion before the birth if the iron tablets didn't work. Luckily for her they did and she was ok.

With her 1st baby, she was very low on iron after the birth. I'm not sure if it had been picked up on before hand. Anyway she did need a blood transfusion after her son was born and afterwards she felt great. I think she was a bit upset that she had to stay in another day or so, but the actual transfusion only took a few hours I think and it was fairly simple to do.

She said that she didn't feel particularly unwell before the transfusion, but she could immediately feel the difference afterwards so she must have been feeling grotty with the anemia without realising it.

Hope all is well with your appointment, it may be something like this that they'd like to discuss.

I've been anaemic in the past and been given iron (ferrous sulphate) tablets. The iron in pregnacare is only really small amounts (17mg) whereas the fs tablets have 200 mg each and I had to take 2 a day. I've heard of some friends who were anaemic during pregnancy and/or after losing blood during the birth being told to take 3 fs tablets a day to get their iron levels back up to a high enough level. I'm currently taking 1 a day again after speaking to my consultant as a preventative measure as I'm having twins so am likely to become anaemic anyway (and it's probably guaranteed with my history).

Hope it is as simple as being anaemic. If you are really low then they can do blood transfusions to boost your levels but there's still plenty of time before your due date for you to take the fs tablets and get your haemoglobin levels back up.

What are your platelet levels? Low platelets not usually sign of anaemia.(other tests are though)

Thanks for replies.

It is my understanding that a midwife can prescribe iron tablets so I wouldn't necessarily have to see a consultant at this stage (unless I was really anaemic maybe).

Yes Pregnacare only RDA and ferrous sulphate varying degrees of strength but much more than RDA.

Staverton - platelet levels 144 at 9 weeks so just below normal but calling me in to see obstetrician thinks that these may have declined maybe? I haven't had my results back from blood test which I had on Wednesday at routine 16wk midwife appt. I will find out tomorrow from midwife and post on here...