Did the iron tablets make me hurl?

[CucinaBreakfast]

I'm 37+4 and my obstetrician today told me that I'm anaemic so prescribed me iron tablets. I bought the ones she suggested (ferrograd c) and took two as prescribed. That was 5pm today. At about 6.15 i started feeling nauseous, which got progressively worse but i also wondered if i was feeling light headed having my had dinner. So i had a slice of buttered toast. Just now, around 9.15pm I've thrown it all up, constant heaving to basically clear stomach contents.

Is that the iron tablets? Or would you be calling someone just to check?

I'm in australia, hence the time zone differences. Also feeling general twinges down below, although baby's not engaged at all so assuming it's nothing to do with labour....

I had dreadful sickness when I was on iron tablets during pregnancy. I was prescribed them from 28 weeks and within a day or so of starting them I was throwing up numerous times a day. I would speak to your midwife just to check but I would imagine it's the iron tablets.

It's usually best to take after food less chance of feeling sick taken on a full stomach x

I have to take three a day plus two folic acid and I have to space them out or I feel sick as a dog. And I’m not even pregnant

Can you get Spatone in Australia? It's a liquid iron supplement that you mix with orange juice before food. Much easier on the stomach than tablets.

Sadly Spatone won't be a high enough iron content for you if you are anaemic. I'm 27 weeks and on 420mg of iron a day and have to take them with a little food otherwise feel a little nauseous. Take with Orange juice as it is great to help with iron absorption (don't take with chocolate, coffee, tea, dairy as this hinders absorption). If you still feel awful after taking them I would say go back to your obstetrician as there are a couple of other tablet options you can take which may be easier on your stomach. Definitely get it sorted ASAP, being anaemic so close to birth, you will be a priority. X

Iron is known to sometimes makes nausea / vomiting worse, the RCOG guidelines on hyperemesis specifically identify it as a potential problem (see <a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/green-top-guidelines/gtg69-hyperemesis.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjVv5_J5-7kAhWnUhUIHUqcDhoQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3HWPerkBFxtlnCgYNl6CL5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/green-top-guidelines/gtg69-hyperemesis.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjVv5_J5-7kAhWnUhUIHUqcDhoQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3HWPerkBFxtlnCgYNl6CL5 ). I couldn't take iron containing pregnancy vitamins. Can you get back in touch with your obstetrician to see what she suggests as an alternative?

That'll be it then clearly! I'll try taking just one in the morning with orange juice and food, and then see how i get on. I'll also call my obstetrician and let her know. It's 2am here now and i'm starving! Argh

Could well be. I'm supposed to take 3 a day according to obstetrician but he said they can be very harsh on the stomach. I just try to manage 1 a day

Iron tablets make me sick too.. I was started on some for anaemia (not too severe at the time) but literally threw up every time I took them. Pointless. So I stopped and started taking Floradix on the recommendation of my doctor. It’s similar to spatone. I’ve been taking a double dose of that & eating bowls of fortified cereal & slices of bread. Oh & spaghetti hoops, also fortified with iron I had my bloods done this week and my iron levels are back up to just OK. I’m astonished. But it’s worked.

If you feel OK (unlike me with a limited Hyperemesis diet), get eating red meat, spinach, fortified food etc as you can improve anaemia from diet. Maybe try a liquid iron as clearly it’s helped me even though it’s a much lower dose than the tablets!

Alternatively, my last pregnancy, I was able to tolerate 1x iron tablet per day plus as much iron in my diet as possible and that also took my levels back up to OK. And last pregnancy I was severely anaemic..

Thanks bol87 that's really helpful. I'll try the one tablet today, but might also grab some florodix as well and some fortified stuff to try and get back to normal. I'm likely to have a c section in a week or so, so do need to act fast!

Couldn't get through to my ob today. So I've only taken one tablet after eating and with orange juice, and after feeling a little funky for a bit ive had a nausea and vomit free day. Hurray!