Anemia in pregnancy

[chocolate26]

I am 23 weeks pregnant and have been feeling AWFUL! For about 2 weeks, I went to my doctor yesterday who checked my blood pressure which is 80/50 so very low and sent off my blood quickly which has just come back showing I'm Anemic, he said I'm just below the line where they treat people so I take it by that I'm not severely Anemic.

I have anxiety and am so worried this has hurt my baby 😔 apparently it stops the baby getting enough oxygen and that's pretty serious surely? Have others had this and everything been okay? How serious is it? I'm going to start the tablets I've been prescribed immediately but I've also heard these can make you feel sick so I'm worrying about that as I've just got over HG.

Hi, I think the anaemia hurts you more than the baby, especially when it is borderline. If it is any reassurance my midwife/GP took 5 weeks to tell me I had a borderline anaemic blood test and I should take medication. I assume they didn't think it was a huge concern. My baby is not born yet, but there have been no particular issues and judging by a recent growth scan baby is not going to be small and we are well past it being premature. The tablets can have side effects, nausea, constipation etc. I take them with food because otherwise the side effects I've had are quite unpleasant. It does get better over a few days as your body gets used to it.

Anaemia is incredibly common in pregnancy. About 70% of woman will become anaemic. Partly because baby is nabbing your iron but also because your blood volume increases during pregnancy. It’s not dangerous to baby, it’s you that suffers! The placenta looks after baby, you don’t need to worry.

In both my pregnancies, I’ve been severely anaemic through & for some reason my body just won’t absorb much iron despite a huge whack of iron, red meat, spinach etc! Both babies are fine, grew/growing on 50th centile & very active & happy!

It’s me that feels horribly exhausted, breathless, heart palpitations etc!

Honestly, it’s really nothing to worry about!

I was anaemic during my second pregnancy, but iron tablets helped a great deal and dd was born absolutely fine.

I have developed anaemia. Midwife and me not concerned. I take 420mg iron every day. Like a pp said, its the mum that suffers (drowsy, headaches, palpitations)