Iron Levels in pregnancy.

[Gingerbear]

I have tried but failed a search on anaemia in pregnancy - my haem level is below 10.2 (whatever units) and I have been prescribed iron tablets, which I have tried to take, but they make me ill - sick and constipated. I have started floradix, but have just run out - need another bottle.

I thought that MCV (mean corpuscular volume) being between 75-90 is a better indication of if you are really anaemic.

Anyone know?

spatone

Your Hb level is the level that shows how anaemic you are and is the definitive indicator. In women once it's below 11 (or 110 depending on how the lab calculates it) then you have anaemia. The MCV is an indication of the type of anaemia, and how long it's been going on for.

So, even without knowing your MCV you do have a borderline anaemia. Ask your midwife or GP for an alternative iron preparation (such as Spatone!). The standard ferrous sulphate preparation is fairly tough on the gut!

hello Piffle!
Lyra, I thought that a combination of Hb and MCV gave an indication of true anaemia in pregnancy (due to increased blood volume diluting the Hb)

Anyway, will try and get GP to prescribe spatone instead of nasty ferrous sulphate tabs

Hi Gingerbread. The dilutional effect does mean that the full blood count results in pregnancy are a bit skewed. That's partly why they let the Hb drop further than they would if you weren't pregnant. But you can still be anaemic with a normal mean corpuscular volume. Partly it's because the anaemia in pregnancy isn't entirely iron deficiency (which usually causes the MCV to go down) and also it's partly because Red Blood Cells live for 120 days so it takes longer for MCV changes to show up.

At your level of 102 I suppose a lot of it depends on how you're feeling. My Hb was 100 (normal MCV) and I felt absolutely awful. Iron did really help. But if you're feeling okay, then you could always ask them to recheck in week or two if you aren't keen to find an alternative.

Cheers

Strong nettle tea brought my iron levels up. I brewed a pot full in the morning and drank it throughout the day. Don't forget vit. C is necessary to aid iron absorption.