Iron levels question.....

[mumzyof2]

Had the usual iron tests at my 12 week scan, and now (Im 27 weeks), they want to test them again as it was only 9.3. Is this REALLY low? What is it meant to be?

they re-test everyone at 28 weeks snyway, i had mine re-done last week. think somewhere like 11 or 12 is expected. Mine was 14.8

I think 10 is acceptable.

They should test them again at 28 weeks anyway.

No, I never had mine retested last time i was pg, she said it was because my level is too low.

They routinely retest everyone down here at 28 weeks too. With DD1 they forgot to retest me so I wondered around like a zombie for the rest of the pregnancy thinking it was totally normal (possibly is ). Turns out my iron was very low (didn't find out until I was 39 weeks when doc did a test having noticed MW error)

There's a load of info here, from the Association of Radical Midwives. From what I've read it's on the low side but not dangerously low (nor is it the only measure of anaemia if you're pregnancy), but if it's worrying you and/or your healthcare providers then you ought to be able to elevate it by going on an iron rich diet and/or taking supplements (SpaTone worked well for me after the birth).

i had mine taken at 14 weeks 10.7 and now feel and look rubbish

i think i need iron - i have had anaemia before and i dont like it

9's is low you must feel rubbish - i think they are slow to test/treat and then panic when it is below 10

Well they gave me iron tablets, but they made me sick, so I take 2 sachets of that spatone a day. Im still feeling pretty miserable so Im not sure if theyre doing anything.
Thanks Tangle - just going to look at that website.

My hb was 9.4 below normal female range and i was on iron tablets! The doctors were not concerned but they did look at my diet, I then increased my red meat & greens, it didn't make a huge difference tbh, but my levels didn't drop, I felt ok, baby was fine too, weighed in at 8lb 2oz.

Keep taking the sachets & look after yourself.

Im a veggie, so thats why theyre low I presume.

My BIL is a doctor and used to look at my maternity notes when I was expecting dd - he said 11 or so is ok (which mine was exactly) but if under 10 you should try to increase it (but no need to panic either)

hth

Those with low iron levels, have you tried taking this product called Floradix? You can get it from Holland & Barrett. It's an organic liquid iron supplement. I was taking it from the time I was trying to conceive as it was recommended to me by my acupuncturist. I only take half dosage and my iron levels have been excellent... It's not as disgusting as the tablets! And it's got lots of other good stuff and perfectly safe for pregnant women...

Ax

Is the Floradix he same as Spatone? Thats what Iv been taking.

No, it's not the same... If you do a search for Floradix, you will find lots of places selling it but here's some product information. It's recommended you take a 20ml dosage a day (it comes with a plastic measuring cup) and it's fairly easy to take with some orange juice (if you can't stand the taste!). In fact, I am used to it now so can drink it neat.

I had really low iron during my last pregnancy, ds2 is 6 weeks now.
But at 12 weeks mine was 10.2, but it kept dropping and at 28 weeks it was 7.8. I was reffered to the assesment unit at the hospital where i was given iron tablets and folic acid, but it didnt help at all, in fact it dropped slightly.
They decided at 31 weeks i had to go in for iron infusions and i was given venefer through a drip twice a weeks and eventually it came up to 11.4 at 37 weeks and they left it at that.

omg fifi - you must have felt like crap!

you poor thing