been called back to doctors because of bloods at 30 weeks

[bassingtonffrench]

i had a blood test a couple of weeks ago to check iron levels. I asked what they do if the test comes back abnormal and she said you get a letter to make an appt with the doctor.

I've had that letter today. it says make an appt with a doctor to 'discuss blood test'

i'm upset because i know that must mean that there is something wrong with my iron levels but I don't know what. Could be too low, or too high. I have been taking the odd iron tablet but not every day. also it is now the weekend and on the earliest I can see a doctor would be Wednesday. I am self employed and have to be travelling for work on Monday/tuesday. If I cancel to see the doctor it will cost me a weeks salary, which I'm not keen to do unless i really am at deaths door.

I feel fine, tired, but I'd expect that tbh.

has anyone else had this? is it almost certainly low iron levels, or can you get high levels in pregnancy?

I had it, they prescribed me iron tablets which gave me a splitting headache so I told the midwife I wasn't going to take them, she warned I might have problems if I lost a lot of blood but after talking to my GP decided I'd rather take the risk than feel so ill. I was absolutely fine!

If it was specifically a test for iron levels, they are looking for them to be low (you don't get high levels in PG) and one of the symptoms of anaemia is tiredness, so what you say does fit together.

There's no need to worry about he baby, who will be happily depleting your levels to get the right amount.

If yours are low, then supplementation will be recommended. The prescribed iron supplements can give you dreadful constipation, so it is worth trying OTC ones. I have had good outcome on Floradix. The other one that is regularly recommended on MN is Spatone.

Don't panic OP. I imagine your iron levels are low (i.e. you're likely anaemic), which is very common in pregnancy - and they probably just want to prescribe you extra iron supplements. I've had this in both my pregnancies. It's no biggie. I'm sure that's all there is, if it's your iron levels they were testing.

I had similar, I tried to get a drs apt but the wait for one made it later than my next scheduled midwife apt so I waited amdt asked her.

it was fine! she said the levels were normal for pregnancy and I wasn't aneamic! I suspect dr hadn't noticed I was pregnant!!!

Almost certainly low levels - phone reception, they will usually tell you a basic "low iron" even if they won't give you the exact levels. I would think you can ask for a prescription for iron tablets without seeing GP, seems an unnecessary use of an appointment slot and your time, or just start taking a supplement yourself. I can't tolerate the iron tablets at all but my levels improved hugely after a fortnight on Spatone.

thanks for the reassuring words. I will call reception on monday, but it sounds low levels of iron are likely.

I'm fairly sure it was a test for iron only. I had bloods taken earlier in my pregnancy for all the grim stuff like HIV etc. however, the letter does not specify.

If they retest for iron levels, do you have to keep giving blood? surely that can't help!? I'm also squeamish about it!