Low ferritin - will Spatone help?

[AnythingNotEverything]

I'm 17 weeks with DC4 and my bloods came back this week. My iron levels are of but my ferritin is 12.

Can I get it up without taking iron tablets 3 times a day and using Spatone instead? We all know this side effects and I'm prone to piles in pregnancy anyway. Would really like to avoid that at this stage but equally want to feel full of energy in my second trimester.

I took two sachets a day during my last pregnancy after low iron levels.

It really helped me (iron tablets made me ill)

I had exactly the same levels as you and they prescribed me 2 iron tablets a day. I was dreading taking them as I got the nasty side effects in my last pregnancy but this time absolutely no problems at all! I take them with a glass of proper orange juice or a smoothie that’s high in vit c and make sure I drink lots of fluid each day. Don’t know if this is why I haven’t had any side effects but I’m sticking with it just in case!

YEs. Take it away from anything with dairy as this reduces absorption, ideally with something with vitamin c in. The iron tablets are ok for some people but intolerable for other.

Foodie - thanks! You understand why I'm scared.

I think I'll do a mix, maybe build up from tablet once or twice a week and twice daily Spatone to half and half and see how I go.

Thanks for your responses so far

spatone did nothing for me at all. I had to take 3 x daily 200 mg ferrous sulphate and it took 4-5 months to increase my levels from 20 to 50. maybe check with your GP. you must feel pretty nackered with 12.

there is very little iron in spatone. Ferritin of 12 is very low. you will need something much stronger to bring it up.

Tbh problem with iron in amy form is the absorption- actually quite hard to avoid all dairy, inc in tea and coffee (and tannins not good either) two hours either side of taking it, spa tone does have a lower content but I was able to take it twice a day reliably where I could t tolerate tablets at all. Decent dose of vitamin c at the same time also helps. And a lot of dark green veg, dark chocolate and black olives as they are also loaded. The only faster top up is IV iron but that isn’t doled out unless v symptomatic usually.