Iron keeps dropping and can’t tolerate tabs at 32 weeks

[Lkakpk]

So normally my hb sits at around 120-128 which is classed as normal . My 28 week bloods showed I was at 105 so I was prescribed iron tabs which caused massive stomach upset so I was switched to liquid iron . That didn’t agree with me either . Midwife advised Spatone and high rich iron diet . Bloods repeated At 31 weeks and I was at 94 which I’ve been told is really low and next step would be iron transfusion , I’m worried how it’s dropping so dramatically and is this common in pregnancy - I actually feel AWFUL really tired , short of breath and what seems like constant stomach upset - can low iron cause upset ??- I’m also on omeprazole for acid reflux and worried that’s causing stomach g upset so considering coming off that too - just worried my low iron may be a stomach issue . Anyone been through similar ?!

The tummy upset on iron does tend to pass though op? How long did you take it for? Could you just take half a tablet instead as really any iron will make you feel better than none at all especially if you've got to the breathless stage xx

Take the iron infusion as soon as you can. I had low iron levels too and neither the tablets nor liquids agreed with me. The iron infusion changed everything for me and I felt like my old self again - I felt better that afternoon and I'd been feeling so low for months. Definitely go for it!

@sarahc336 I took it about three weeks . I seem to have trouble tolerating tablets and seems to result in bad dirrehea so my doctor said could make me dehydrated . Hopefully I will get a transfusion just worried about the drop

And fyi even spatone gave me a terrible tummy - I wasn't able to tolerate it at all. Took me a while to realise though because it had worked for me in a previous pregnancy.

Take the iron infusion they are marvelous. Take it easy afterwards. Drink lots of water and rest.
you will feel great a few days afterwards

That sounds really tough .
I can not advise in the best things to eat during pregnancy but when I wasvin my mud teens to early 29s I have very low iron.
I was drainex all the time ,very lightheaded and fainted more often than I can remember!
Iron tabs made me sick and I can't abide liver so I grew spinach and after fighting with the slugs I snacked on it all day. Along with Mackrell, beans, broccoli, and lentils ( you honestly did not want to follow me so I just been to the bathroom! ) to be honest I'm not sure just how much they help, I stopped fainting if I make sure I kept on eating more on a very regular basis I still felt light-headed and tired I lot

Good heavens please excuse the typos I hope that makes sense !

I have to be careful with iron supplements due to IBS. The only one I can take which you can buy is "Iron Vital F" (google it). When I was pregnant I explained this to the midwives and they agreed to prescribe me a liquid supplement which I tolerated well. I had to really push for them to give me it though.
Spatone is rubbish, everyone raves about it but it's actually the wrong type of iron and causes issues.
Try the Vital F stuff. Or Floradix might be worth a shot, I think its the same stuff but I couldn't take it due to an allergy.

Have an iron infusion!

Nobody can eat enough spinach for it to make a difference to their iron levels. Realistically it shrinks down to nothing when you cook it, even if you ate nothing but spinach all day, it isn't going to work.

@Yumchips Thankyou ! :)how low were your levels ?

@Lavendersummer Thankyou ! How long does it take to get levels back up ?

@DeanStockwelll Thankyou ! I’ll try all this too !

Had the same symptoms as you during my last pregnancy and I was on iron , b12 and vitamin d tablets. Thankfully I was ok taking them .

I would defiantly get the iron transfer if your not tolerating the tablets well . You will feel the difference afterwards .

Hope you feel better soon x

@NandoLorris Thankyou ! Yes I don’t think it agrees with me either … it seems I don’t tolerate any form well do iv seems way to go !

Thankyou @ScoobyBooby do you know what your levels were ? How long did they take to rise ?

Take the infusion! Then take spatone regularly wiht orange juice (or cranberry). Are you taking it with minimum one hour, and preferably 1.5h before clear before and after where you have no tea, coffee, wheat, chocolate, dairy? All these things prevent iron absorption. The constipation etc are caused by iron in the bowel- this iron is the unabsorbed iron so the better absorbed it is the less issues you have.

my iron levels were 10 at about 6 months pregnant, they had been 165 before getting pregnant. I was exhausted, would bend over to pick up 3 things and be short of breath. I’ve been taking spatone most of the time since, I hate it. It’s slow going and my levels are 30 now… I really wish I’d pushed for an infusion at the time!

Like PP said Calcium and tea and coffee can all inhibit iron absorption. I found my iron levels dropped when the heartburn started at the end of second trimester because I was taking so much Gaviscon which contains calcium carbonate. So if you take your iron tablets a few hours after you have tea/ coffee and anything high in calcium (eg if you have milk porridge for breakfast) that will help. Especially if you take them with vitamin C like orange juice.

I also am unable to tolerate normal iron tablets as they make me sick but I am able to take Ferrograd which are slow release ones. Could be worth giving them a go?

Mine were low 90s but not sure of the exact number sorry!

Spatone doesn't work. People like it because it doesn't upset their stomach - yes, because there is barely any iron in it!

@GrowBabyGrow interestingly that’s when mine started too . What was your levels ?

@AnnaMagnani I agree does nothing ! Don’t know why people claim it works.

@deeperthanallroses Thankyou.I will push for transfusion !

My Iron was 100 , b12 was 168 . I cannot remember the vitamin d one as they were taken by the GP at not on my pregnancy notes.

I noticed a change about 2 weeks in
but I was taking 3 or 4 iron tablets a day . I would have preferred a fusion but wasn’t offered one ! X

Spa tone does work, Ive taken it several times from having iron at/near infusion levels of low. All iron (except infusions) works slowly, spatone expect a couple of months before you notice a difference. That’s IF you take it correctly with the right foods and none of the wrong ones.
caveat- I have always taken it in pregnancy and post birth, normal healthy me does not have iron issues. It may not be effective if you have chronic low iron for other reasons.

@Lkakpk mine went from 115 to 98