Hb levels at 28 weeks vs booking

[bravotango]

Hi

I've been feeling light headed and slightly breathless (nothing too bad, just slightly more than feels normal). I'm 30 weeks on Sunday and my 28 week bloods showed Hb at 117 which my midwife said was fine. I'm planning on increasing my iron intake through diet and if that doesn't help then I'll ask the GP for a supplement but my levels were 129 at booking (11 weeks) so do you think I need to have it measured again in a few weeks? Does it drop naturally a bit throughout pregnancy or is mine likely to drop again?

Thanks for any advice!

You have about 50% more blood volume so your blood is more diluted. My midwife said they will treat if Hb goes under 110 in pregnancy so I can see why they have said not to worry. You could try taking a multivitamin or increasing dietary iron x

Perfect - thank you. So it's become more diluted since 11 weeks hence the slightly lower level. Apricots on my shopping list!!

@bravotango From my own experience it depends how sensitive you are to your Hb levels. They assume everyone is ok if they are above a certain limit (hence your midwife saying you're ok) but if you're actually symptomatic then you clearly are being affected by it! Mine pre-pregnancy were about 135 and when they dropped below 120 I could feel it but had to fight to be taken seriously. A friend of mine (who was in Switzerland at the time) naturally has Hb under 120 (and can't donate blood because of that) and hers dropped to 105 and she was told she needed an iron transfusion despite having no symptoms!

Mine went from 119 to 108 at 28 weeks but these weren't considered low enough for treatment by doctor.

The latter was taking pregnacare daily since booking which is apparently 121% of daily recommended intake of iron.

I wouldn't worry too much if I were you.

If you've got symptoms then I would speak to the gp or midwife asap. My hb levels were a little low, but they also tested my ferritin levels & b12 as I was feeling awful, which turned out to be super low. I left it a little late so I ended up having to have an iron infusion & b12 injections so they could get levels up before the birth.

my 28 bloods showed a 119 HB level, can't remember my 10 weeks bloods but it was a drop - midwife said i wasn't anaemic however my ferritin (stored iron) was down to 12 which would be ok if not pregnant - in pregnancy they like it to be over 30 so i've been put on 200mg of iron tables per day. It could be low ferritin thats causing your symptoms?

Hi all - really helpful advice thank you. Will contact my midwife today for advice as feeling v light headed and a little breathless.