Anaemic and anxious

[Ebonythoughts]

Hi all,

So I’ve been struggling with iron deficient anaemia for years and after struggling with iron tablets/liquid of all kinds prescribed by the doctor (everything was making me I’ll), I went private for an Iron infusion in February. I felt really well after and tried to maintain it with my diet which has always been quite balanced. However, I had a blood test after finding out I am pregnant and my iron levels are quite low again. I am taking folic acid and multivitamins but I can’t bring myself to take iron. Even before I was pregnant it made me I’ll but now at 8+3 weeks I have nausea and I know iron tablets will make it 10x worse.

I really don’t know what to do. I am worried about about anaemia during pregnancy and I’m not sure if there are any risks to having an iron infusion whilst pregnant because that feels like my only option at the moment.

Has anyone had a similar experience? What did you do?

Surely your midwife or GP will be able to advise?

I can't think why iron supplements and tablets are ok but an infusion wouldn't be.

If it helps, low iron isn't a risk to baby/development during pregnancy. It's to do with protecting the mother during labour re. Blood loss. So if you don't want to have lots of infusions you could maybe compromise by just having them in the third trimester/lead up to labour. Alternatively maybe after 28 weeks you'll be able to stomach the tablets for a few months?

Reason I say this is that I challenged the midwife and asked if I could take a more gentle supplement and adjust my diet instead of the pills (as I don't need anything to make constipation worse!) She said it probably wouldn't be enough but I could try and they would retest levels at 28 weeks. After which if still low I would compromise on tablets to build levels up before birth

Speak to your midwife and GP. I had problems with iron deficiency for years before pregnancy, and became quite anaemic and ill in pregnancy but was quickly given an iron infusion at 28 weeks. I don’t take the tablets either, especially wouldn’t be able to stomach them whilst pregnant.

Also what spurred on the GP to refer me to the obstetric haematology clinic was me saying I understand lots of women become deficient in iron during pregnancy because the baby takes it, but where is my baby getting it from if I had low ferritin for years before!

spatone apple is fantastic stuff! My midwife was cynical but it worked brilliantly

If you cannot take iron supplements (totally understand, I get side effects from tablets, can tolerate the liquid stuff which is keeping me at ~105 in third trimester) and your levels are below thresholds, discuss getting an infusion on the NHS.

Hope this link works, if not, Google rcog blood transfusion in obstetrics
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.rcog.org.uk/media/sdqcorsf/gtg-47.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjfrN6B7uz_AhUyS0EAHSMPDWYQFnoECBoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3FuDPp0D8TkjbSZGbZ5Ad0

Obviously you've had long-term problems with iron levels so this might not be very relevant. My iron levels were low in pregnancy, I can't remember the value but I needed to get over a certain threshold to consider a water birth. I'm vegetarian so my iron may be lowish anyway and pregnancy probably exacerbated this.

Like a PP, I took the Spatone natural iron sachets. They were strongly recommended by the midwives at hospital ante-natal class as effective and easy to tolerate. Just one a day added to orange juice. Within a few weeks I made the threshold and could opt to use the water pool.

Might be worth a try while you're investigating the other options. Good luck!

Thank you all. The GP advised against infusion during early pregnancy because last time I had a high dose and if I need the same again he said the body could react to high levels of iron and make me ill. I haven’t asked if I can have it later on the pregnancy so will do that. My sister had an iron infusion after she gave birth but that was an emergency because she lost so much blood so I’d like to make sure I can do something before labour if possible. I’ve tried liquid iron like spatone but even that makes me feel quite ill even before pregnancy. I have always tried to have iron rich food even though I don’t eat red meat but it’s never enough to bring my iron levels to the level the need to be.

thank you all for your advice and for sharing your experiences. I’ll speak to the GP and midwife again.