Improving your haemoglobin

[Pinklilly]

Hi all, I am 31 weeks and still suffering with hyperemesis. I was recently prescribed iron as my haemoglobin was 106 and they make me feel really sick. I tried to ask for an iron infusion but told my result isn’t low enough! So I’m back to trying to push through with the tablets. I will have a repeat blood test in 5 weeks and wondered did anyone see their levels improve after this short period? If I fall below 90 I can’t give birth in the birthing centre and I really want a water birth.

Have you considered taking an OTC gentle iron supplement instead like Spatone? It may make you less nauseous

Take your iron at the same time as orange juice or other food high in vitamin C, it will help your body absorb the iron

The cut off is 105 at 28 weeks so not sure why prescribed iron tablets, personally would just take a low dose iron tablet or spa tone, in our area if a woman’s Hb is 105 or above it wouldn’t be retested unless she became symptomatic

Thank you for all your responses regarding spatone. That’s a really good idea and I will try with orange juice to aid the absorption. I just hope my haemoglobin comes up in the next few weeks.
@Teandbuns I do think my hospital is being a bit too strict with the haemoglobin and I am not symptomatic. I just think to be denied the chance to use the birthing centre seems really harsh. Let’s hope the results improve

I can very much understand them recommending not to if your Hb does drop below 90 but some drop in Hb is physiologically normal in pregnancy and the evidence doesn’t recommend artificially increasing it when it’s already above 105 at 28 weeks+ Unless your ferritin came back very low also? The spa tone should hopefully help keep it well above 90 at least. However if Hb dropping at next blood test despite spa tone, then even if you can tolerate just one iron tablet a day it’s can be very effective

@Teandbuns thank you hopefully I can keep it above 90. I do agree in that at 28 weeks it’s not that low but I guess there protocols are to repeat them. I have taken iron tablet today and yesterday and so far I’m mama going I did vomit but not straight after so hopefully it was absorbed. Thanks for your advice I’ll get some spatone on the weekend.

Yes some areas will routinely repeat at 36 weeks or if homebirth/midwife unit, good luck with the spa tone, mine was down to 92 around 34 weeks then did go up to above 105 by 40 weeks with once daily low dose iron in final few weeks

What type of iron are you on? I had to try a few types/dosages before I found one I tolerated. My hemoglobin was 89 at 12 weeks so definitely needs upped for me. I'm surprised they're supplementing at 106 later in pregnancy.

@Teandbuns oh wow that’s really good so you managed to get it up quite well with low dose iron so hopefully the same happens for me.
@Salamander91 i tried ferrous gluconate which I struggled with so am now trying sulphate and will also try the spatone. I think they are supplementing because I was 132 at beginning of pregnancy and now 106 so I guess maybe they are concerned about the drop