Anaemic -annoyed with care

[abbypumpkin]

Found out yesterday that my week 28 blood tests have shown I have anaemia. This is probably the reason I have felt so completely exhausted and (according to dh) miserable and depressed. I am now 32 weeks so it has taken them over three weeks to get in touch and start treatment. Can't help feel like something should have been done sooner. The other strange thing is that they're not going to retake blood for three months (baby due in two months) so they won't even know if the tablets are working.

It is a bit crap it's taken then so long to tell you. Don't worry about further blood tests. My experience is that you'll know the tablets are working because you'll feel so much better! When I know my iron levels are low I have a couple of days eating plenty of iron rich foods. Steak, green leafy veg, boiled eggs etc. It's amazing how quickly I feel better.

When I was 32 weeks with DD I was put on iron tablets. They made me very constipated. I spoke to the midwife and she told me to just stop taking them! It was because my actual iron stores were good just the iron in my blood was a little bit low and needed a top up. I've just added that in because it was a over enthusiastic consultant that put me on the tablets and didn't mention actual levels etc. I think for me the best advice was to up my iron in my diet. Not to make my life hell for 3 weeks because I couldn't go to the toilet.

taking the tabs they should tell you to also - cut caffeine and more drinking fruit juice/ eating fruit (drinking fruit juice may help temper the hideous side effect of constipation)

caffeine presents absorption of iron, vit c improves it...

I felt much better on iron, told my MW at the next appt and she arranged a repeat prescription, no problem.

I was also retested at 37 weeks at my request.

Hope that helps!

If the tablets don't agree with you, you could always try spatone- like iron rich water which you can mix with orange juice to help absorption and make it taste nicer.

The same happened to me except that the rubbish midwife didn't bother to tell me at all! I was feeling terrible, exhausted, had restless legs which I've since found out is linked, so was getting no sleep. I read it in the notes myself in the end. Had told the midwife how awful i felt but she still didn't read the notes!

This went on for a couple of months!

Felt better within about a week of taking the tablets.

I'm 29+6 and was told that my ferritin levels are very very low (7) and practically non existant which are the iron stores, but my blood haemoglobin iron was good.
I've been put on iron tablets after a lot of protests for ones that don't constipate and so the doctor has prescribed these http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?medicine=Ferrous%20fumarate Ferrous fumerate. I think it depends on what your actual blood levels are, if it's your ferritin then you do need additional iron supps but if it's haemoglobin only, then diet top up or Spatone/Floradix may suffice.

From my understanding if ferritin is very low, then you should go on supplements as during birth etc and afterwards with the blood loss, you'll need your iron stores to be able to replenish your blood.

The iron supps take ages to fill up your ferritin levels and so for me, I've been told at least 4 weeks to see any real difference there. I've also been very tired, have to rest after walking the stairs! moody etc!

A bit rubbish they didn't tell you earlier though. My surgery was straight on the phone the day after my results were relayed across to them.. not all plane sailing though as after my conversation with the mw about it, she told my surgery that I was refusing to take them and she had an anti-vegetarian attitude which basically implied that I don't eat properly... hmm, my degree in nutrition doesn't count for much then! hee hee :o

Hope your tiredness alleviates soon!

This is really interesting, I was anaemic during pregnancy (hb 9.9) but didn't feel too bad. I was prescribed ferrous sulphate but they made me feel quite sick so I told mw I didn't want to take them anymore and she said I could stop taking them. I was never given any follow up and it wasn't mentioned at all at subsequent appointments or at my 6 week check

The doctor didn't tell me anything about my levels, nutrition, side effects - nothing. I went in, he said you're iron levels are low so here's a prescription, come back in three months. I limped into the surgery (hip probs) and limped out but he didn't even ask how I was!
Hopefully I'll start the feel better soon

I would insist on a retest at 34 or 35 weeks. They found out I was anaemic at 37 weeks and there was just not enough time to get my iron levels up before the birth and it did cause complications after the birth which led to a transfusion, If they are not on the ball about it then you have to be. With DC2 they did the normal test at 28 weeks and I insisted on a another test at 34 weeks to double check I was ok

I would insist on a retest at 34 or 35 weeks. They found out I was anaemic at 37 weeks and there was just not enough time to get my iron levels up before the birth and it did cause complications after the birth which led to a transfusion, If they are not on the ball about it then you have to be. With DC2 they did the normal test at 28 weeks and I insisted on a another test at 34 weeks to double check I was ok

I had this at about 30 weeks when my bitch of a midwife went AWAL and missed my regular check ups. I felt so awful I went to GP who revealed my tests from weeks before had shown anaemia. It had got so bad I was breathless even when sitting quietly

I took liquid iron and improved my diet but was still constipated but better than the dreaded iron tablets.

Agree with Brockle. I would ask for another test otherwise how will you know levels have increased. At 30ish weeks I think I was told the same but as I have a history of throwing up the tablets had to go to hospital for iron infusions. I managed 3 lots of them and levels increased -- obviously had to be tested again.
Please insist on another test.
Spatone and Floradix are great, just depends on your current levels as to how they will really help. Good luck