Borderline anaemia- what can I do?

[MildredH]

So, despite my booking Hb being around 15 which I was v chuffed with ( oddly).. My latest bloods pre Anti-D showed it was 10.8.

My MW says they don't treat til you're under 10.5 unless symptomatic.

I'm pretty sure I am now feeling it- my heart pounds in my ears at the slightest exertion and I feel just pooped most of the time.. Unless this is just normal for 30 weeks? I felt so great til the last few wks..

Should I ask for some iron tablets? Or is there anything over the counter? Does anyone have any idea how long it will take me to feel better?

Thanks!

It's normal for it to drop, as your blood is more diluted now. To up it - I would avoid tablets unless you truly need them.

Spatone is a gentle supplement. Have vitamin c rich drinks with meals eg orange juice, esp when eaten with an iron rich meal like meat. Apricots are good. Avoid tea at meal times.

from NHS page -
Iron-rich foods include:
dark-green leafy vegetables, such as watercress and curly kale
iron-fortified cereals
wholegrains, such as brown rice
beans
nuts
meat
apricots
prunes
raisins

Or you could try floradix. Also gentle and easily accessible by your body, unlike the pills they prescribe.

I read on here the other day that there is a school of thought that indicates that women vary greatly in their response to low iron. So what would be borderline for some women would have a large effect on others.

Sounds like a good reason to have a nice big steak

The lower iron levels affect people differently, i'm waiting for tests to come back to see how low mine are currently. During my last pregnancy i was 11 and had tablets to help bring it up as it really affected me. If you do end up taking tablets beware they can cause constipation so best to up your water and dried fruit intake.

In the short term the above post with the list of food is good, thats the quickest & easiest way to give you a natural boost.

Thanks ladies - I'm surprised to feel it so much but I guess it's difficult to know what's my Hb and what's just progressing pregnancy.. It's just difficult to accept I might feel this rubbish for the next 10 weeks

Have already tried incorporating a lot of those things into my diet- I may try the floradix tho..

I would talk to my GP and ask about something like Fersaday. Remember your iron levels will crash again after birth and you will feel like shit AND have a baby tiring you out.

My Hb was 112 in pregnancy and they didn't treat it. After birth it dropped to 88 and three months later I still feel terrible (but I can't take iron easily due to searing stomach pains).

My GP was all like, "you're designed to be a bit anaemic in pregnancy" but for the sake of a low dose it can save you from a lot of exhaustion and feeling miserable. If you're symptomatic with palpitations I would definitely talk further with them.

You're right- I hadn't thought it would likely go even lower with some inevitable blood loss during delivery.

I've got whooping cough appt this wk- will see if I can see Dr whilst there.

Also little tips for maximum iron absorption are not mixing dairy with iron - calcium hinders iron absorption as does caffeine.

I tend to leave two hour intervals when drinking caffeinated drinks and eating. I use olive oil to dress salads and steamed veg etc not butter.

I eat nuts and lentils.

Am only 12 weeks and my iron level is at 9, was wondering why I was soooo tired, I just thought it was running around after 2 other children. I have been prescribed ferrous sulphate by my mw, took this with both my other pregnancies as well, just was not expecting to take it so early this time....

I had the heart pumping in my ears as well as light headedness. Got ferrous sulphate from the doc and it has helped soften the symptoms but still suffer a bit. Be warned you get black poo, I was surprised by it! x

I think I woukd treat it if you feel like that.

I successfully raised my levels with two spatones and floradix each day. The iron tabs are hard on your stomach.

Had the same problem during pregnancy and in the weeks after birth my iron levels dropped very low. Kept it under control using floradix and the NHS list of iron rich foods. As already mentioned calcium and caffeine inhibit iron absorption. Interestingly whilst green leafy veg like kale and spinach are high in iron they are natural inhibitors so combat that by drinking or eating something high in vit C before or during your meal as vit C encourages absorption.

Hope you start feeling better.

Crikey Cathpip- you must be feeling zonked. Good job it's picked up so early- hope your levels come up.

I'm convinced. Def going to ask for some tabs and see if i can tolerate the side fx.

I couldn't get on with the Ferrograd tablets prescribed by my doctor so she agreed that I could switch to an iron rich diet and go back on pregnacare.

No more horrible symptoms from the iron tablets and after a repeat Hb test, my levels have improved :-)

So. GP agreed could try iron but just told me to buy it! What a wasted appointment!!

Pharmacist recommended Spatone sachets and said to mix them into orange juice. At £8.99 a box- better make a difference!

do you have your FW8 exemption card? Should be able to get these on prescription for free no??

Fersaday is really cheap, and not as harsh as Ferrous Sulphate.

I do have my free prescription card yes! I expected she would prescribe them but having agreed it was a good idea we just this awkward little moment where she didn't prescribe it, and I said well, shall I just buy it then and she agreed. Argh . Find it so hard to be assertive!

That's ridiculous! Get back there and ask for a prescription! Ooh that makes me mad, my gp was trying to prescribe me things just in case I needed them last time I went!

Please do try to be a bit assertive, if you just ask for a prescription she won't say no, it won't be a big confrontation. x

Spatone is great. Have it first thing with berocca. Much better than iron tablets. I recommend it to everyone too!

I would highly recommend spatone. You can get it over the counter and I found it raised my levels really quickly. You just need to watch that you don't drink tea after it as it cancels out the a effects.
I never got on with tablets at all. You take spatone in orange juice and its a lot easier on your stomach.

Spatone is brilliant. You can take 2 sachets a day, in orange juice. Tea, coffee and dairy block absorption so I had to change my breakfast habits quite a bit. It worked in getting my iron levels up when I was threatened with not being allowed a homebirth. I had tried ferrous sulphate and ferrous fumerate before Spatone and was really ill with both.

I got mine on Amazon via the subscription thing, so got a discount too. Much, much cheaper than the shops. Here