Iron 11.7 low but not low?!

[Superslinger]

Posted earlier about being worried my iron hadn't been tested. Just called midwife to check and she looked it up and says 'it's been flagged as low - 11.7'. But then went on to say 'that's not really low though - don't worry about it!'

But now I am worried about it! Is 11.7 low or not? If it's even a little bit low shouldn't I be taking something just to be safe? Ugh, wish I wasn't so clueless about all of this stuff!

Any wisdom much appreciated!

11.7 is normal for me and though at the lower end of normal, is a normal iron level. I usually hover around 11/12. In pregnancy they like your stores to be as high as possible in case of blood loss during birth but it's also normal to find they go down a wee bit during pregnancy due to the demands on your body.

Below 10 is anaemic so you're a way off that but the best thing to do is to try and eat lots of iron rich stuff and perhaps consider buying floradix or spatone.

My iron levels were 11 towards the end of pregnancy first time round and after an emcs they were 7 and I felt bloody shocking.

It's low for a normal person, but not low for a pregnant woman (where it's expected to be a bit on the low side). They tend to medicate you once you get to 10.5 - hth

Ok, thank you! I'm 37 weeks so hopefully not too long to go now...

Mine's 10.1 and was told 11.5 and above is ok. Now on iron tablets and been told to take double dose.

Mine is 11.3, I think "normal" starts at 12 so they aren't too worried by 11 something - I was told to take supplements containing iron (like Pregnacare) but not specific iron supplements. Are you taking any supplements?

And more importantly - how do you feel? do you feel tired?

My iron was 10.1 from my bloods done at 9 weeks, midwife said it wasn't low enough for doctor to prescribe iron, but when I had my consultant appointment he said it was quite low for this early on so am now on 2 tablets a day and feel loads better!! Seems like it differs from area to area.

I am taking Pregnacare. I do feel really tired, but don't know whether that's just the nature of late pregnancy... Particularly knocked out as soon as I eat something. Really weird, wake up ravenous, eat cereal, then feel completely wiped out within ten mins, like I wish I hadn't bothered! Don't know if that's iron-related though, or just me being weird!

Yes it's hard to tell what is pregnancy tiredness and what is low iron tiredness.

It sounds like you are having a strong reaction to sugar/starchy carbs? Try switching to something that is more slow release (like an oat based cerear or muesli) and see if that makes a difference. Also maybe ask your midwife about a glucose tolerance test...?

11.7 is not really low. Normal HB is 12-16. When you are pregnant, you 'haemo-dilute' so you're HB lowers as a result of more circulating fluid. It's really nothing to worry about. My guess is that it got flagged up as being outside the 'norm' but it would flag up the same if it were 0.1 off the normal level. You are 37 weeks now, so 'term' so to speak. I really wouldn't consider iron supplements, they are horrible and constipating.

sORRY, meant to add, your tiredness sounds like pregnancy tiredness, you would not be getting symptoms of a compromised HB at 11.7

I wouldn't worry about it but I would go to boots and buy some spatone if you have a bit of spare cash. Not necessary but might give you a bit of a boost in the early days with a new baby as well as now. Don't get the NHS iron supplements unless absolutely necessary as they are foul!

I wouldn't worry about it but I would go to boots and buy some spatone if you have a bit of spare cash. Not necessary but might give you a bit of a boost in the early days with a new baby as well as now. Don't get the NHS iron supplements unless absolutely necessary as they are foul!

Mine was 9.2 when last checked at around 30 weeks, I'm on 3 iron tablets a day, just had another blood test so should find out how much they've gone up soon but if they are as high as 11.7 I would be well pleased (I doubt they are!)

Your level is fine. A little tip, if you eat something iron-rich like red meat, then have a small glass of orange juice at the same time, as your body will absorb the iron a lot better. Don't worry, you're doing fine iron level wise.

I'm due for a section in 5 days and the consultant wasn't worried about my level of 10.2 as it's up from 9.4 at 28 weeks, I've been on spa tone for a few weeks now as I know with the blood loss and surgery I need some supplement, because I don't need another reason to be tired in recovery with a newborn. I would look at spa tone for yourself, you probably don't desperately need it but it won't hurt.

Thanks all, and thanks for the tip TodaysAGoodDay!

Your iron levels are very good as you are almost at term. I had around 12 last time and midwife said that my ferritin levels were extremely low so i should get iron anyway. She wrote it in my notes and the secretatry at the GP wrote it down and had the GP prescribe iron for me. She said that that's the iron stored and if you lose blood HB is first gets taken from the storage and lastly from the blood. And you can still feel tired even though your HB is fine.

I keep meaning to look at this spatone stuff as my iron levels have been 8.8 and 9.2 so far, and it's on 3 for 2 at boots at the moment so worth getting some I reckon! Here.