Iron levels - how low is low??

[OhWhatAPalaver]

I have just spoken to a midwife who said my iron levels are low at 103 (for something) and 6 for stores I think. Can someone translate as to how low that actually is. What is normal?? I'm feeling pretty craps lately so I'm assuming it's not great. I'm 17 weeks and having a lot of restless leg syndrome and palpitations.
Midwife has prescribed me ferrous fumerate liquid as the tablets do horrendous things to my digestive system! She's also prescribed me lactulose just in case. Oh the joys...!

I think it's very individual, based on your usual iron levels. I started at 120 and dropped to 111 ... they wouldn't do anything, then I dropped to 99, then they panicked. I'm now 105 and have been classed as "ok", even though I still feel like crap.

I don't know how low is low but I was told mine was 140 and they considered it very good. It dropped to 127 by 30 weeks and they were happy with that too.

Yep feeling pretty rough.... I've been taking spatone but usually only remember to take one sachet of it when it should be 2 for pregnant women. Oops. I'm going to get on with taking 2 sachets straight away until I get the ferrous fumerate!
I remember after having dd1 I was very low and they considered a transfusion but then the Dr decided I would be fine with tablets. I don't think I've ever got the levels back up again since then :/

111 is cut off at booking and 110.5 is cut off at 28 weeks. If you are lower than that they usually advise either dietary iron (leafy greens etc) or iron tablets.

Try not to worry, hopefully the tablets prescribed will sort it out. Drink orange juice with them too - vitamin C helps iron absorption!

Pre pregnancy I was very anaemic and reached a record low of 23 over the course of several months I crept up to 58, 75 then finally 120 at which point they said I could stop taking the tablets.

My booking in bloods were 112 and at 28 weeks I was down to 93 so back on the iron. Having more bloods taken next week at 34 to see if they've risen.

Like others have said it depends in part on what's normal for you. Hovering around 100 would be considered quite a good result for me whereas for most it would be low or borderline.

Me 23?! You must have felt awful!

I'm veggie so I imagine my usual levels aren't the same as a typical omnivore but they have definitely dropped a lot lower since pregnancy.
Wow 23 . I thought mine was bad!

110= normal pre-pregnancy, 105, ok in pregnancy, below that and you are low.

Your ferritin (stores is low), your hb is probably borderline.
A HB of 23 would be a medical emergency as would really only be seen in severe blood loss/near death!

Ferritin is really low. Mine is 11 and doc put me on ferrous sulphate for that even before I was pregnant. I feel loads better :-) Hope you do soon!

I've just been prescribed iron tablets mine is 106 and my midwife said they normally treat at 105 but as I'm 35 weeks they want to bring it up before they decide where I can give birth.

Thanks everyone. I'm convinced my stores have been low for ages but my gp wasn't testing them, was just testing the hb...