Low iron in third trimester

[ameliathomas84]

I've just ha da phone call from midwife saying my iron levels are low and I need a prescription, I sort of expected this as I'm literally tired all the time and so breathless from little things to the point I've started taking my inhalers again as I wondered if my asthma was back!
I'm 29 weeks , my midwife is a little sharp and doesn't go into anything so what I'm wondering is will my bloods be retested to check they have come up? As I'm worried as I had a PPH after my second and am having a planned c section with this one which o know isn't good with low red blood cells
Thanks for your time

I know exactly how you're feeling chick! I'm 39+4 and throughout the whole of my pregnancy my irons have been low. And to be honest, I keep forgetting to take my tablets! I think the midwives and doctors know when your irons are low, you look pale and tired. If they are concerned they will send you for more blood tests. But if you feel like you need reassurance, just ask your midwife if you can have another blood test!
All the best chick!

Take the Iron pills! Ideally after meals (to help with upset stomach) and with some Vitamin C (to help absorption). If you have a choice I found "Fumerate" upset my stomach less than "Sulphate" did.

I had low Iron in my 3rd pregnancy and took my pills and surprised them after the birth because my levels were okay enough for me to be discharged fairly quickly even though I lost a bit of blood (just as well as I couldn't rest in hospital).

Good luck!

Thanks both!
I'm not sure which I'll be given as I get prescription tomorow, but ye I will keep a ey on how I feel and ask to be retested thanks xxx

Low iron too, diagnosed at 22 weeks and now 28. I had 'furmerate', little nauseous at first but as people have said I take with a little food and some orange juice to help with absorption. Do a little research on it to ensure you know what foods you should avoid around the time you take your tablet, there are a few foods that hinder absorption. With regards to checking iron levels, yes, they did retake a test 4 weeks later to ensure they were rising. They went from 14 to 23 and I could feel a significant difference but still a low reading for pregnancy. I am on the tablets for the rest of the pregnancy and beyond as I plan on breastfeeding. Depending on your feeding plans post birth, bare in mind that producing breastmilk will also decrease your iron levels so ask to get them checked post birth too. Hope you feel better soon X

I have low iron stores apparently at 28 weeks. I'm due to have my bloods redone this week I think to check they've risen (will be 34 weeks)

Ah great thanks! She didn't tell me my levels but with the fact I'm sleeping 16/18 hours a day and can hardly breathe after climbing a flight of stairs a guess there low lol

I have a Spatone liquid iron sachet in half a glass of OJ every evening and my iron levels have been great. I’d give that a try, apparently the tablets can make you painfully constipated.

Spatone is great but I think the levels may be too low for OP. Is it around 2mg-5mg per serving? If iron is pretty low you will need something with a higher iron content. I'm on 420mg a day. It took 2-3 weeks of taking the tablets to notice a difference and for the constant heavy feeling and breathlessness to subside. They can make you constipated but thankfully I have been one of the lucky ones. If they do constipate you speak with your GP and they will prescribe you something to counteract it. X

It’s 5mg per sachet, they do recommend taking 2 a day in pregnancy, but you absorb more of the iron that you do with tablets

Im not in the UK so don't know if this is a possibility for you but I was given iron injections in the third trimester after my levels didn't increase with tablets or liquid (both also made me feel so sick it was awful). The injections work much quicker as going directly into the blood stream and they really helped me feel better within a couple of days. Might be worth asking as you're so far along already.

Hope whatever you get helps, it's such a horrible feeling being so wiped out and breathless all the time.

My iron level was extrmely low but I declined to get the tablet prescription as they wreck havoc with my system. I have 2 spatone sachets daily, plus as much iron rich food as I can manage in a day. Iron was check last week and it has already risen.

I was anemic all way through my first pregnancy low iron I ended up having a blood transfusion straight after the birth to give me a boost through my pregnancy I was tested every 2/3 weeks to check levels

Thanks @EmAreSea. I will look into this some more. I will need to keep a check on my iron post birth so might start taking this regularly then. X

Thanks everyone just checked my prescription and I'm on 630mg ferrous fumarate daily does this sound like a high,low or average dose?

It's a little more than me. I'm on 420mg ferrous fumarate a day. I would prefer to be on a little more like you to be honest. Hope it does the trick. X