Low Ferretin - 3rd Trimester

[Flowers245]

Hi, I am 35 weeks pregnant and have had some bloods done they have said my ferretin is 6 but my iron level is ok at 11.8. They also said I have large cells, don’t know what this means? I have factor v Leiden and low lying placenta so feel I already have stuff going on and very apprehensive about the birth, just wondering if i should be worried about the low ferretin and will iron tablets/iron rich food be able to boost it in time for the birth? TIA

You can take 2 of these daily in pregnancy to boost iron
www.boots.com/spatone-natural-iron-supplement-28-one-a-day-sachets-560ml-10016042?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs--(GB:Whoop%21)+Spatone-_-(GB:Whoop!)+Boots+Shopping+-+Category+-+Top+100+Vitamins+-+Desktop&gclid=CjwKCAjwiaX8BRBZEiwAQQxGxxEGycPPee5BJa5RuThV2ox1Nsk9IN9FU4JIoymwKy4x_CZ94hbX4RoC-5IQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

The normal lab range for ferritin in my hospital is over 15 so 6 seems pretty low. The figures are on here

www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/pathology/tests/ferritin/

I’m not understanding what the 11.8 is, the cell size I thought was to do with the type of anaemia so either B12/folate deficiency. It seems like it hasn’t all been fully explained to you. Could you speak to mw again to clarify?

Hi @LadyFannyButton thank you for replying. My mw said my b12 and folate were okay and that my iron level was fine so not anaemic but I don’t understand why my ferritin is so low. I am on ferrous sulphate tablets 3x a day, do you think the spatone is better/quicker at working? I am seeing my consultant about other things in a week anc can discuss things then just a bit nervous how close I am getting now and worried the iron won’t have kicked in. Thanks again.

3 ferrous tablets a day should be enough to raise your levels in time. It's not something to worry about imo.
Take the tablets on an empty stomach if at all possible and with some vitamin c.

Ive been on prescribed ferrous tablets since 17 weeks. I just take one at night. Theyre horrible things that made me feel sick and make your poo black. The tablets did not raise my iron or ferritin levels sufficiently. I tried Spatone, one sachet a day and despite my skepticism both my iron and ferritin levels were out the red at my latest blood test! So yea, I'd definitely recommend Spatone. I use the apple one with vitamin C added.

Ferritin is the amount of iron stores you have and should be much higher than 6, in my trust you get blood transfusions if you're under 10. Did they give you a lab range with the tests? I had a result of 12 with the range from 10 - 150 and took suppliments to get my levels back up. It made a huge difference to how tired I was, my hair stopped falling out, and I felt much better in general. Talk to your consultant says the best way to get your levels up.

Thanks for the replies @babygroups @EveningReflection. I have another blood test in a week so will see what happens there and see if I could do both the spatone and the tablets? Not sure if that would be to much.

Hi @MariaDingbat thank you for replying. I thought 6 was very low and my dr scared me saying I may need a blood transfusion in birth if they don’t increase in time. My mw was the opposite and quite relaxed and said the iron level was good it was just the ferretin that was low, I am normally in the 30-40 range pre pregnancy so don’t understand as to why it’s depleted so much unless it’s just baby taking the extra iron? I wrote down that my mw said 11.8 for iron but not sure what that means. Would really like to get my ferretin up quickly, feeling a little anxious.