LOW IRON ADVICE - 28 weeks

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Can anyone tell me if these are normal at 28 weeks? FBC/HB/haemocrit and ferritin. I’ve been feeling awful, so exhausted, headaches etc. thanks in advance.

My iron had dipped to 108 (yours shows 109) during 28 week bloods and the midwife put me on 200mg iron supplement to be taken one a day.

Had further bloods after a month and haemoglobin levels have risen to 110 - have they prescribed you iron? X

The midwife will review and prescribe iron next time they see you or they should review your results and call you for follow up.

The white blood cell count is high but nothing to worry about, could indicate you are getting over some sort of light illness that your body had to fight, so good sign that immune system is working.

They should have already tested you for beta thalessemia carrier/trait and sickle cell, as they screen all pregnant women unless you declined screening. people with this can also have the lower levels of haem.

Yes your ferritin and haemoglobin are on the low side. Worth contacting your midwife for a prescription for iron tablets but you could also buy them over the counter at a pharmacy if you want to get started on them ASAP and you think there will be a delay in getting them prescribed.

I got my blood results back a week ago from my 28 week appointment and my ferritin is the same as yours and my red blood cell count, haemoglobin and HCT are all slightly lower than yours.

My results came with this note:

Your blood test to check your iron levelss has come back as low. It is very common in pregnancy to have low ferritin or iron.

We would advise you to take iron tablets, that you can get over the counter at your local pharmacy or prescribed by your GP. Please start FERROUS SULPHATE 200MG ONE TABLET EVERY DAY

• Before breakfast

• With a source of vitamin C, like citrus juice

• Avoid coffee/tea when you take the tablets As well as the above, please consider increasing iron levels through your diet: Iron in pregnancy | Tommy's (tommys.org)

We will recheck your iron levels at your next appointment.

I have been feeling exhausted, keep getting heart palpitations and shortness of breath. All of which I just thought were due to the pregnancy. I am taking iron supplements and I actually did pay for an iron IV because I’ve had issue with low iron on and off in the past and know it works much quicker and I still have 7 weeks of work left. I would defo get yourself some iron supplements if you don’t already have them. Liquid iron I’ve found works much better. Something like Spatone is pretty good.

I use spatone iron supplements and they’re fab. They’re about 14 on Amazon for 42. I add them to some orange juice each morning and they’ve helped in each of my pregnancies. They don’t make you constipated like the tablets, either.