Anaemia tips

[flightless55]

Hi,

Not sure there is anything which can be done but I'm struggling

Currently 29+2 days pregnant and I've been told I'm anaemic

Hb 93
Ferritin 4

I'm having loads of heart palpitations, breathlessness & pure exhaustion if I even do the simplest of tasks like shower

I'm on iron tablets but nothings changing - got two more weeks till repeat bloods with midwife
Eating "better" iron rich foods with vitC

I'm just lost and scared
Last pregnancy ended with a PPH and 2 x blood transfusions- scared that's going to happen again

I went private to see a cardiologist about my palpitations.

Started with midwife who recommended I saw my gp

Gp suggested cardiologist

Palpitations are common in pregnancy but it depends how often you get them.

I wore a heart monitor for 24 hours, had 445 arrhythmia in that time and he wasn't concerned as I didn't have dizzy spells or breathlessness

Can you get an iron infusion instead, like now when you're pregnant? In about 2 weeks you'll feel amazingly better. Push for one OP.

Just to update thread
Iron tablets in 3 weeks increased my Hb levels a tiny bit
Just had an iron infusion at 32 weeks
Fingers crossed it helps as my symptoms have just been getting worse - though the heat isn't helping ha!

Im in a similar boat except my midwife lost my results for around 6 weeks. I was at 94 then dropped down to 92 last week. I’m on iron supplements three times a day and recommended to take Floradix too. I’m still feeling very lethargic but now constipated too. My midwife doesn’t seem too worried (I’m 39 weeks).

@flightless55 how are you doing now op? Did the infusions help?

I’m 30+5 and my level was 92 three weeks ago despite the tablets. My midwife isn’t overly helpful, it’s been the gp and consultant who have been helping… I’m not sure if it’s the pregnancy making me feel rubbish or anaemia…tempted to ask my gp for another blood test to see what it shows.

Hey, the iron infusion helped SO much! I feel better at 37 weeks pregnant than I did 20-32 weeks pregnant!

Ask to check your ferritin levels - although my Hb was "low" at 93 (similar to yours) it's not low enough to warrant an infusion (there are potential side effects and they're expensive for the nhs annoyingly)
My ferritin came back at 4 which is very low and this got them to pay attention

But I'd stress to your midwife how much it's affecting you if you're struggling x

In my prolonged and miserable experience of prolonged, miserable anaemia it took ages to see a result with the iron pills. Like 3 months + I tried several types but the green and red capsule ones were the only that didn’t cause awful constipation.

if you really want to boost your odds you have to adjust your diet to remove iron antagonists. However when you’re pregnant you still need those minerals too so it’s a bit swings and roundabouts. Also you can’t actually absorb more than about a gram of iron a day no matter how much you take, so give yourself a break!

it’s best to take the iron pill every other day and eat normally on your non iron day. If you google it there will be many claims of how alternating days promotes absorbtion.

On your iron day stay away from dairy, whole grains and legumes, caffeine and tannins. Eat more vitamin c (I used to eat an orange with my iron pill on the morning) then have breakfast a hour later. Steak or bolognase with green leafy veg and fruit for dinner. Only about 100g in the end, it can feel like a slog. Lamb and tuna are good. Well cooked liver is also recommended, had that in pomegranate molasses with crusty bread. Figs and plums are in season and good for iron.

in this pregnancy I’m really struggling with the multivitamin and my nails are spooning so I know I’ll be back on the iron pills soon. Even with all that bloody effort from before! Good luck to everyone, it’s an uphill battle, but having good iron levels is such a game changer for quality of life you should stick with it. Sorry for the essay!