I missed this last week, but what does everyone think about...

[MrsMar]

the new information about iron supplements? I was really tired and breathless a few weeks ago and lots of people recommended spatone. I've been taking one sachet a day for three weeks now and feel great. I wasn't told that I was low on iron by my doc or midwife, partly because my last blood test was at 16 weeks, I'm now 25 weeks and not due for another blood test until 28 weeks. In the time between blood tests my baby has obviously grown a lot, so I thought it wasn't unreasonable to assume that I might be short of iron, esp as I was so breathless at a relatively early stage (I was struggling from 22 weeks)

Has anyone been told to avoid spatone, because to be honest I've been feeling great on it. I've stopped taking it now and I haven't really felt dreadful or anything, so perhaps I didn't really need it in the first place.

Can you but Spatone over the counter, or do you have to get it on prescription? Just wondering in case my next blood test shows I need an iron supplement, as I don't fancy the constipation associated with iron tablets, yuk.

You can get spatone over the counter. It's recommended by the manufacturer as suitable for use during pregnancy, but that may have been before this new information came out. I'm not sure what the position regards spatone is now.

Hi MrsMar - what is the new info? I ahve been taking spatone of my own accord as I have fainted a couple of times and know I tend towards anaemia generally and esp. in pg. Are there new recommendations saying we shouldn;t self-prescribe?

I read this sort of thing a couple of times last week, not in the usual hysterical places either (ie Daily Mail) so I thought it might actually be true. I hadn't mentioned that I was taking spatone to my GP, but he did say to me not to take iron tablets unless I was diagnosed as anaemic. Stupidly I forgot to ask him if that applied to Spatone too...

This news is not old although it is in the news again IYSWIM?

Women should not be taking routine iron supplements unless they are anaemic.

MrsMar - breathlessness and tiredness can be caused by things other than a anemia and should be checked out. Hb can be checked at any time during pregnancy. If you feel OK now, wait and see what you next blood test result is.

Thanks for that mears, I've got a mw appt in three weeks so I think I'll lay off it until then.

Thanks mears, I will stay away as well