I had the routine iron count blood test done at 27 weeks. I'd seen the midwife at 23 weeks, and she'd given me the form, and told me to go at 27 weeks as by the time she saw me 11 days later, the results would be back. The results weren't back by the time I had my 28 week appointment, nor when she visited me at home at 29 weeks to do my home birth booking visit. She said that she would chase the result, but that if the results weren't ok, we would have heard back sooner. Anyway, I'm 31+4, and have had an antenatal appointment today. As soon as I walked in, she thrust another blood test form at me, and said that the result had come back at 10.6. Bearing in mind that this was four and a half weeks ago, there is every chance that my iron count could be lower (and I've been very tired, having palpitations etc. My main worry is that if it goes below 10 (and stays there), I can't have a home birth. They wouldn't start me on iron tablets now, as the diagnostic level for anaemia at this stage of pregnancy is below 10.5. What's concerning me (although I may be jumping the gun), is that by the time the results come back this time, and I see the midwife again, I'll be 34+4, and if my iron is below 10, it doesn't give me very long to get the level back up. I have been taking Spatone, but the midwife said that it's nothing like as effective as iron tablets. I didn't even want a home birth to start with, but once I'd thought about it and changed my mind, I had my heart set on it. I guess I will just have to see what happens!