Risks of anaemia?

[PurpleCurtain]

Hi,

I've now realised that

1. the dizziness and high heart rate I've been feeling all pregnancy is likely down to anaemia not just normal pregnancy symptoms
2. I essentially eat no iron (no meat, fish, eggs and unfortunately can't stand spinach... occasionally eat lentils / chickpeas... had typically had a single bowl of fortified cereal a handful of weekdays).

Given covid and no face to face booking in appointments I didn't have my bloods tested until 28.5 weeks, at which point I was prescribed 3 iron tablets a day (was never told my levels).

Stupidly I listened to family and friends who told me that I would regret taking all 3 tablets as it would make me ill and constipated, so I should only take 2, which I've done ever since.

I'm now really concerned that I haven't been taking this seriously enough; what are the risks of anaemia? Surely I must be quite anaemic given I barely eat anything with iron in? Unfortunately I have a colleague who is adamant that their friend's neonatal death was due to anaemia and I'm feeling quite worried as a result :( I had thought that the risks were mostly around me feeling unwell and possibly around blood transfusion needs after birth, but basically no risk to baby. I am now 36 weeks and will ask for another blood test when I next see the midwife though aware I may not have long to raise them if my levels are low.

Looking for any positive experiences of those with similar diets, or advice / knowledge about the risks and seriousness?

I am not aware of any risks other than possibly needing a transfusion after birth. I was diagnosed at about 30 weeks and tablets weren’t super effective so had an iron infusion a couple
of weeks before birth. Could you request one?

@Desperatelytrying123

I am not aware of any risks other than possibly needing a transfusion after birth. I was diagnosed at about 30 weeks and tablets weren’t super effective so had an iron infusion a couple of weeks before birth. Could you request one?

Thanks - do you know what level triggers an iron infusion? Will definitely flag that I'm still feeling awful and try to find out my levels past and present!

I wouldn't worry. I was told recently by a midwife that they don't advise taking 3 iron tabs anymore and to only take 2. If you're concerned just phone your midwife and ask her to tell you what your blood results were. Don't you have access to your notes?

@toastytea I have some paper notes but they don't contain anything on blood test results, unless you mean something else?

Ah ok, maybe depends where you are. I have mine in my notes. Just phone and ask what your blood results are and then you'll know what you're working with!

In the meantime make sure you're getting enough vit C to aid iron absorption and try not to have too much caffeine and wholegrains.

Thanks @toastytea... I think wholegrains (bran flakes and fortified bread) are my only dietary source of iron at present; I hadn't heard about no wholegrains, argh!

So sick of COVID because it feels impossible to contact GPs or midwives - again don't know if that's just my area but my midwife only has the phone she's given me on 9-5 two weekdays, and GP is online triage only at the moment.

Getting concerned about how high my heart rate is - it won't go below 110 today even when sitting down.

I wouldn't cut out wholegrain, just don't overdo it. I personally take my iron before I've eaten with some vit c. In fact I've just read that taking vit c can counteract the negative effect wholegrains have on iron absorption.

Honestly don't worry too much, just do what you can now and make sure you speak to your midwife. I know that a few years ago you had to have your iron levels above a certain level to give birth in an MLU. If your iron levels were drastically low, I'm sure they would have spoken to you about this.

With regards to heart rate, mine is very similar and goes up to 140 which I only previously achieved through running/hiit!!

My ferritin was 12 and hb 97. I took iron tablets but they didn’t increase my hb and my ferritin went to 28ish. After the infusion my ferritin was in the thousands 😂 i wouldn’t worry - iron deficiency is really common in pregnancy x

Floradix, amazing stuff.

I had chronically low iron and tablets made me feel awful. MW recommended this when I was pregnant and my levels were good within a couple of weeks. I still take it now and my youngest is 3.

I take this one www.activeiron.com it's more absorbable and gentle on stomach. GP was going to prescribe some for me, but I asked if I can take this one instead as the standard one makes me constipated. I felt better after about a week on it

I had an iron infusion in late pregnancy which was miraculous in terms of wellbeing and energy levels. My iron levels were borderline. So I wouldn't wait around feeling bad, I'd go see your gp or gynae and push for answers/ plan. I had to insist that I was really exhausted.
Afaik no worries re baby, they will suck you dry and be fine themselves!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 the prescription ones have a higher amount of iron in them (usually at least 210mg). Over the counter ones don't contain enough iron!

Drives me mad whenever anaemia or iron deficiency is mentioned and people recommend floradix, spatone or similar. Floradix has 15mg iron, fine for daily use if you're generally healthy, but if you've been diagnosed with a anaemia it's going to do sweet FA. 15mg is the daily requirement for a healthy (non iron deficient) woman.
Literally you need a very very high pharmaceutical dose (x 20 normal supplement levels) to raise levels once they've gone low. You need ferrous fumerate/sulphate or similar (the usual prescribed ones have 200mg per tablet). Yes you may get constipated taking it but you need that high dose for a reason to correct your very low levels.

Dont mean to scare you, but poorly managed anaemia in pregnancy can lead to preterm or low birth infants or developmental delay. Recommend you find out your specific levels of Hb, ferritin and follow medical advice.

I had an iron infusion before birth also with my last pregnancy. I had low iron levels and my body didn’t cope with taking iron orally as it made me sick so I got two infusions so that I wasn’t at risk during delivery as there is a lot of blood loss x

@toastytea they're meant to be twice as absorbable, and I take three capsules plus what's in my pregnancy vitamin to get me to about 70mg a day (what I was told I need). They aren't like the spatone or floradix- I've taken both of these in the past and they don't work for me

Please do not listen to everything on here as if it's the truth, anecdotal stories are just that. It's such a worry when false information is given on these threads.

Speak to your midwife who will have your blood results so they can properly advise you on your personal situation.

@40notout40

Except this post! 100% agree it drives me nuts.
It's bloody dangerous some of the stuff people say!

Also do you have access to the My GP app? I can login and see all of my blood test results. Keep calling the GP, as others have said, it's really important to get their advice for what levels of iron you need based on your tests results

Thanks everyone - I won't be switching out the iron tablets for something non-prescribed don't worry, just a bit frustrated about how difficult it is to get information from my GP / midwife! Will be having another blood test on Monday and will go from there (and take all three iron tablets in the meantime!).