Found out I'm anemic due to iron deficiency

[Hodge85]

Hi,

I'm 27 weeks today and am having a consultant lead pregnancy due to having my thyroid removed last year. At my thyroid checkup appointment last Saturday the doctor told me that I was anemic due to low iron. He said he would contact my GP and organise a prescription for iron tablets as he took more blood to pinpoint the correct dosage. It's been one week since this appointment and I haven't heard anything regarding this prescription so naturally I'm worried! I'm suffering terrible palpitations and generally feel out of whack (tired, etc) and I know this is the reason. I currently take folic acid and vitamin D so I was wondering if I should start taking a low does of iron until I can chase my GP/consultant in Monday? What do you think I should do, I'm concerned for my baby too. x

I was told I was anemic during my pregnancy think it took them nearly 2weeks to get me a prescription. They told me it doesn't do any harm to baby however it can make you dizzy/faint that's the only danger I was told in case of falling,
So always sit down if you ever feel lightheaded. X

@hodge85 I was diagnosed as needing an iron prescription at 29 weeks and prescription was slow. I spoke with the pharmacy and have bout some liquid iron sachets called spartone. Apparently us pregnant women love them as kinder on the digestive system. I'm taking one sachet mixed with orange juice first thing in the morning! Oh and eventually got a text saying my prescription was in 1.5 weeks later, but going to stick with the sachets.

Ah thank you @Kayjay2018 and @Sparkle187, I was getting worried! Hopefully it'll help relieve my symptoms when I finally get it x

Anaemia is incredibly common in pregnancy. That’s partly why the run blood tests at midwife appointments!

I’ve been badly anaemic in both pregnancies and both babies grew/are growing happily & healthily. This time, my levels have been on the floor since 12 weeks & I remain anaemic at 39 weeks despite a huge whack of iron through pregnancy. My body just won’t blooming absorb it properly! That said, my levels have still come up & I don’t feel anywhere near as bad as I did

You can take any iron in pregnancy - so pop to the supermarket or pharmacy and pick up a pack of iron tablets if you want to get started. Or you can try SpaTone liquid iron or Floradix liquid iron. I take these along with my prescribed iron.

Please please speak to your GP @Kayjay2018 - if you are really anaemic, spatone isn’t a high enough dose to raise your levels. It’s a fab product to maintain good iron levels but does not contain enough iron to resolve anaemia!

Active Iron is also one of the easier versions to digest, and has a pregnancy version.