Anaemia / iron deficiency when pregnant- any top tips to resolve??

[BlueC2]

I'm now 29weeks nod just had blood test results back to say that I am anaemic which would explain why I've been feeling so very exhausted the last few weeks and super breathless whenever I get to the top of the stairs. I'd assumed it was just the impact of running around after my 23month old DS which had worn me out!

So now I have a box of prescribed iron tablets from the doctors and a big box of spatone which I've bought myself. I'm v nervous of taking the tablets as I get constipated enough as it is without taking something which could actively make it worse, but the doc seemed to think the spatone wouldn't be strong enough. For 2 days now I've been taking the spatone and been thinking of trying the tablets one day this week in lieu of the spatone once my body has got accustomed to iron supplements so to speak.

But my biggest challenge at the moment is when to take the spatone or tablets as there seem to be so many foods which inhibit the absorption of iron and I want the iron to have maximum effect obviously. I am currently trying to take the spatone with orange juice before breakfast but if I'm too hungry then this gets quite difficult as I have to wait 30-60 minutes before eating!

Does anyone who's been there before have any top tips for working this through and getting iron levels up quickly?

I'm afraid I don't have any great advice but I am watching with interest as I have low ferritin stores at 32 weeks (not yet anaemic) and took 200mg ferrous sulphate yesterday and it made me vomit :( So I'm not too keen on doing that again ;) Was going to buy some spatone tomorrow and take two sachets with some vitamin C (I can't have juice as I have gestational diabetes too) and see how I get on.

I think from googling there might be other slightly kinder tablets that the GP can prescribe? Ferrous gluconate? Does anyone know about them?

I am planning on taking mine when I wake up from my afternoon nap (!) with my toddler (I am dreading him ditching them!!)...so about 3pm. Thought that was between meals so far away from food.

As I say I'm a newbie too though so really just hijacking for tips!

I clicked on the thread to suggest Spatone with orange juice but I see you have that covered ! You have my sympathy though I could never bring myself to take the iron tablets either.

I've been on the iron tablets for the last 6 weeks and will be on them for another 3 until I deliver. I also got prescribed lactulose to help with the constipation and it's worked (10mls twice a day). I don't take it every day but since it was prescribed I haven't had any constipation.

you should take the tavlets. maybe take half the dose if you're worried.

otgerwise floradix is good.
if you eat meat.. then eat more red meat (not processed meat), plenty of green veg and protein.
yes, anything with vitamin c is good. make sure you're eating 3 meals a day plus snacks.
eggs and dairy make iron harder to absorb, so when yoy have these, make sure you leave an hour before you eat something iron-rich. that's also why it's better to have separate iron.(spatone and floradix) than iron in a multi -vitamin.

you don't have to wait for your breakfast, but eat fruit or toast with jam (rather than butter) with it.
dkn't drink tea or coffee - it's the tannins that stop iron absorption.here

Does anyone know if you can take Spatone and Floradix? Or would that be OTT?

Thanks ladies! I'd also read that whole grains inhibit absorption so didn't think toast was an option? I could stick to fruit in the morning I guess and then have cereal later on....will thoroughly confuse DS though as we normally eat breakfast together and he likes to pinch some of mummy's cereal

hayes I've got lactulose already to help with constipation and trapped wind before I needed to take the iron tablets

sister hope you manage to sort something out too

nickel think I'll try a tablet in lieu of spatone tomorrow...and maybe take some preemptive lactulose in advance :)

youmre not advised to ta

not advised to take more than the stated dose.
however, you can take 2 sachets of spatone a day if you're pregnant.
not sure about floradix.

Blue white toast isn't wholegrain.
it means like wholemeal bread etc.
although.I haven't heard that.

im on iron 3x a day. Like you I was worried about the side effects especially having had them before and had nausea and constipation from 1 aday, god knows what it was going to be like on more. I put it off for wks trying other ways to up my iron. That didn't work and was running the risk of needing an iron transfusion. I am pretty rubbish to remember to take 3 but have been suprised at the lack of side effects. I've had none. The benefit of the tablets is taking them with food so you don't have to faff around. Try taking them, what's the worst that could happen??

you can ask for 'duodenal' tablets.
they dissolve in the small intestine instead of the stomach, so have fewer side effects. there are more expensive, so the normal iron is prescribed first.
good luck.

I've had a very good improvement in my levels after 2 weeks of taking 2 sachets of Spatone with orange juice, plus whatever amount is in my pregnancy multivitamin (not much) MW was sceptical but re-test was so much better she said carry on. I've been on iron tablets before, within 24 hrs they had buggered up my digestion completely.

I'm not pregnant but have suffered from low iron in the past.

Dried apricots are your friend, 4 provide 1/4 of you daily iron needs, plus they help sort the constipation side effects of the iron pills

I take mine before I go to bed. Not pg related though.

Watching with interest as i'm on the same boat. I'm supposed to be taking the blooming tablets three times a day but it's so hard with all the foods to avoid! Apparently gaviscon interferes with iron.absorption too so i'm stuffed :(

BTW my tablets make my sickness worse and give.me.mild diarrhoea... in a way i'd prefer constipation as there's.nothing i can take for the diarrhoea!

having my bloods taken again in a few days and i'm getting ready to be told off (again) and patronised by the midwife with the same old tired dietary advice! Diet and tablets are not working for me, there must be another way??

I'm on the spatone. Managed 3 days of 1 a day ferrous fumerate and my digestion was in meltdown. Spatone should help. Take two sachets a day, and see if you improve.

So much for being worried about constipation, have awful diarrhoea instead :( and feel sooo nauseous too :( :(

Not entirely sure what I'm going to manage with DS today now as I feel terrible and v faint. Oh dear. Will be back on the Spatone tomorrow I think!

Oh dear .

As NickNack mentioned, dried apricots are good. So are raisins, though less so - both of these should help ease the constipation though! Also, strong dark chocolate (I think it's 80% upwards) is really good for iron intake. If you don't like it straight, maybe try making hot chocolate with it?

MY pharmacist recommended blackstrap molasses tablets in addition to the Spatone.

Iron tablets buggered up my digestive system within 36 hours so I stopped taking them and stuck with the Spatone, diet rich in iron and blackstrap molasses tablets. Iron levels crept up to an acceptable level and shortness of breath went away.

It's a long time ago that i had to take the iron tablets as DS2 is now 5.

I used to ask for the other sort of supplement (ferrous gluconate? - check the NHS details for this) as I found this better for my guts.

However I was subsequently advised by a GP that a slow introduction to the tablets (building up the amount) reduces the side-effects. I have no idea if this works, but might be worth a try. Hope you are feeling better soon OP.

Thanks everyone. DH managed to come home from work to look after DS which has really helped as I've just come to bed. He said I looked awful when he got home and doesn't want me to take anymore of the tablets...if one tablet can make me feel so rough I dread to think what a stronger dose would do!

leo I've been taking spatone for a couple of days now so thought I might have built up a bit of tolerance for taking the tablet this morning...I only have to have one a day but think I'll stick to the spatone and iron rich foods for now!

As a note for anyone else boots have vitamins on 3 for 2 at the moment and if you spend £40+ on vitamins at boots.com then you get a further 15% off so have just ordered a good amount of spatone to see me through rest of pregnancy and couple of months postpartum and it didn't work out too pricey. I'm also about to set up the tesco shop for this week with lots of iron rich goodies on it to boost my system!

All fun eh?! I do get frustrated with the nhs when they know how many people suffer with iron tablets that they don't look into alternatives... My doctor pretty much said I should grin and bare it and just get on with it if it caused problems...not much help if it renders you useless to the point where you can't look after your DC though!!

Ah sorry Blue, glad your husband can look after you :) I am also not taking another ferrous sulphate after the vomiting incident!!

I have come back from Boots armed with Spatone and Floradix - going to take 2 x Spatone at 3pm and 10ml Floradix morning and evening. Total iron adds up to 25mg so hopefully not an overdose compared to the 200mg tablets?! I don't know though.. will give it a go and check with midwife next week.

Hope your iron levels go up and the rest of the pregnancy is uneventful.

You too sisterofcaleb can be a crazy juggling game this pregnancy lark :)

iron tablets are a ridiculously strong dose. the aim.is to right your iron as quickly as possible.
if you're having those side effects,.yes go back to the smaller dosage iron.supplements