Iron

[Wishingonastaragain]

Hi!

I am currently 19 weeks pregnant and my iron levels have dropped quite a bit. Still not anaemic but definately feeling it- this is why they were checked.

I am taking prenatals which contain iron, but wasn't able to eat much for the first 17 weeks and am vegetarian.

Keen to avoid the stronger prescribed iron tablets. Has anyone got any recommendations for what they have taken in addition to prenatals?

Thanks

Hi, what I have learned from a dietitian is that the best source of iron is red meat. Also you should combine red meat with vitamin C for better absorption. Teas and coffees deprieve iron. Iron in plant based food is not absobed too well.

I took 2 Spatone per day from week 14 until week 26. At my 13 week bloods, my iron levels were 112. By the time I did my 26 week bloods, they had risen to 125. I just take the odd one every few days now, but Spatone definitely worked and within a couple of weeks of taking them I felt so much more energetic and well within myself.

I’ve been taking the Feroglobin capsules and they seem to be doing the trick. They don’t cause me anything like the usual gastric problems ordinary iron tablets do.

Dried apricots, lentils, brocoli, spinach, eggs,
Take with vitamin C and ideally avoid caffeine and dairy when taking iron rich foods or iron supplements.

Lentils, beans, tofu, dried fruits, leafy greens etc. Maybe check out the vegetarian / vegan society guidance on iron.

There’s lots of plant based high iron sources (I’m vegan and my iron levels basically haven’t dropped throughout pregnancy, but I was lucky that I didn’t have bad morning sickness so could continue to eat healthily).

Fortified cereals is also supposed to be a good way to increase iron levels.

Thank you everyone! Am trying to eat a lot more iron rich vegetarian foods and have got some Spatone!

Floradix is great too, cheaper I think than spatone and comes in both vegan and vegetarian incarnations.

@DuneFan thank you. I did look at that as used to take it when I was younger, but already on prenatals too so not sure if it was overkill with all the other vitamins and minerals they include.