Iron tablets advice.

[pineapplejuice20]

Hi girls, advice needed!

I've been taking iron tablets now for a couple of weeks, since around 30 Weeks pregnant (now almost 33) and all of a sudden I've started getting a really bad stomach. I'm going to the toilet about 3/4 times a day. Ive been waking up at around 5/6am every day to run to the toilet with cramps. Sometimes it's loose bowels, other times normal but still going way more than usual, and my tummy always cramps before hand as if I've eaten spicy food.

My diet hasn't changed, I haven't ate anything off as far as I know but it's been like this for the last 3/4 days. Just wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this on iron tablets, that's all I can put it down too!

Thank you :)

This may not be the iron, that tends to cause constipation rather than loose bowels. I had them throughout my twin pregnancy and was fine with them.
Could be hormone related as many tend to get lose bowels as they near their due date, can last weeks too.
Mention it to your midwife at your next appointment.

Iron tablets usually cause constipation not loose bowel movements.

I get alternating constipation and runs with iron tablets.

Which iron salt are you taking? There are others you can try. What dose are you taking? More recent studies show that hb levels don't increase more quickly with higher and higher doses. There's a max your body can absorb.

Are you taking it in the morning with orange juice? This is the most effective time for your body to absorb iron. You can see if taking it with food helps.

I absolutely hate iron tablets (and anaemia).

Thank you for the responses, il mention it to my midwife tomorrow if it's not normal, I did think they was supposed to cause constipation and not the opposite but wanted to see if anyone had similar experiences. 😩

I had the exact same experience as you with iron tablets OP, awful cramping stomach and diarrhoea. GP said it's because I also have IBS, and iron tablets can aggravate symptoms in IBS sufferers. I switched to the liquid form which is much kinder on my tummy.

@physicskate I'm taking 1 per day of these! I do take them morning with orange juice, just before my breakfast. I may ask my consultant if I can change, as it's everyday for the last few days I've been getting the cramps then needing the toilet, it's not just loose bowels I get it's a mixture. Its just not the norm for me to be going so much during the day! I also hate anaemia and iron, the consultant said if my levels didn't improve I'd be getting an iron infusion. No idea what that's like! 🙄😖

Forgot to attach the pic haha @physicskate

@LouJ85 I've never been diagnosed with IBS before, I don't really suffer with anything like that usually as far as I'm aware but il mention it to my midwife/consultant when I next see them just to see if there's anything else I can take! It's awful!

Yeah definitely mention it as I definitely had the opposite of constipation! And the cramps were something else.

I was taking those same ones in your picture.

also hate anaemia and iron, the consultant said if my levels didn't improve I'd be getting an iron infusion.

Me too. They're testing me in a couple weeks to see if any improvement but they said my levels were so low it would definitely need to be an infusion if no improvement on the liquid as they'd be worried about blood loss in labour with how low my levels were

I have had that with iron tablets. Terrible cramp pains and the runs. You can get gentler on the stomach iron tablets - they are more expensive so they arent always prescribed as a first choice.
I have heard they aren’t well absorbed either in comparison to other forms of iron.
Is your poo black ? This means your liver can’t metabolise the excess iron that it’s absorbing - so it comes back out in your poo.
You could also try ferroglobin liquid this is much gentler on the stomach.

I used spatone when i was pregnant many moons ago now. It is a liquid sachet that you add to orange juice. Much kinder.

You can have loose bowels with iron tablets, it's not just constipation it can cause.

My doctor recently told me this as I've always struggled taking and have tried 3 types now and always ended up as you desribe. I haven't got IBS either. It's horrible, some mornings after waking up I'm crippled over in pain from the cramps yet my irons way to low to not take it. I've tried Floradix before which I don't have any problems with as it's gentle on the stomach but unfortunately it doesn't contain high enough iron that I need to up my levels before birth.

@Berthatydfil yeah it is black but my consultant said that this is normal, but does that mean it's not even doing the job it's supposed too?

@LouJ85 it's a total nightmare isn't it, can't wait to see the back end of this pregnancy.

I'm definitely going to see if there's anything else I can try instead of my current iron prescription, can't deal with these cramps everyday til birth! 😩

@pineapplejuice20

Yes!! I'm 32 weeks now and bloody counting. It's not been a fun pregnancy

Hope you get sorted x

Try Spatone, the Apple ones are nice. It's water with really high iron in it, all natural, they recommend it for post natal too as you may need it if you've bled during Labour and if you've stitches the last thing you'll need is constipation 😬

My iron has been low since around 28 weeks. I had an infusion yesterday at 37 weeks because my levels have been very very slow to increase and I’ve really been feeling the effects of the low iron in the last couple of weeks.
Push for the infusion. It’s just a drip that goes into your arm over a half hour period. Absolutely no big deal.

@TheFoz

Do you only have to have this once to top up your levels? I'm only ask because I'm having my bloods done again in 2 weeks to check if my levels have gone up enough with the liquid iron - if not midwife said they'll send me for infusion, so just preparing myself for what it involves!

I took spatone instead of the tablets - which is easier to digest - had to buy it but might be worth considering.
Although my iron levels were only "borderline" so I wasn't seriously anemic (I might have hesitated about ignoring my prescription otherwise)

I was given those after birth due to terribly low iron levels. Refused to take them. I take spatone instead.

@LouJ85 it would depend on how much your iron has increased. If it’s risen l to an acceptable level then you’re grand, if not you may need to have it again.
Honestly it’s nothing to worry about. Better to get the infusion now than a transfusion after the birth.

@TheFoz yes that's true. They have told me my levels are particularly low - to the point they'd be worried about any excessive bleeding in labour if my levels weren't increased before then. So I'm not sure if the liquid will be enough but we'll see. Sounds like the infusion thing isn't so bad though even if I do need it.

What are your levels?

@TheFoz

What are your levels?

It was at 6, and MW said it's supposed to be a minimum of 30 😳

Wow. Just wow. I haven't had my iron tested in at least 6 weeks. The last time they were tested, ferritin levels showed iron deficiency, but hb was at 111, so slightly above the 105 threshold.

I wanted them to be tested again to make sure I'm taking enough iron to stop myself becoming anaemic and increasing my risk of pph. I'm currently 34 +6, so not a huge amount of time left if hb is falling...

Gp wouldn't hear of testing my levels again and has simply prescribed more iron!!! He won't even read the sodding nhs guidelines!!

I wanted testing again as I'm still taking 1 or two naps a day, have to take a rest going up to stairs because I get breathless and generally feel like shit. Is it unreasonable for me to want to know if this is connected to low iron or anaemia?? Is it unreasonable for me to want to know if I need to be taking more iron or consider an infusion if the tablets haven't at least maintained my hb??? I say this because i had hb of 73 after my dd was born and they made me stay in hospital, which was the worst night of my life, with no support, no help and being shouted at by a midwife because I dared to fall asleep for half an hour (after having been up for four nights during labour) and dd started crying.

I'm keen to make sure my iron levels now will avoid the severe anaemia after birth.