Anemia in pregnancy - what were your ferritin levels?

[RozzieRoo]

Hey!

I just need a bit of advice from others who have gone through the same please.

I am on iron supplements (210mg daily) after having low Hb and low haematocrit/rbc. I was feeling really naff and had all the usual symptoms.

Although the supplements did initially help, I am now experiencing severe breathlessness and still complete lack of energy. Just doing the washing up raises my heart rate to 130.

I’ve had iron studies done which show my ferritin is at 11.3, my transferrin is high at 4.36, and my transferrin saturation is low at 12%. My haematocrit has barely changed but my Hb has restored to normal (albeit barely) levels.

my question is - after 4+ weeks of oral iron treatment, is this good enough? I feel like I need a transfusion but as my Hb levels are normal, and also my ferritin according to my hospitals ranges (5.83+) will they bother?

Interested to hear other ladies experiences.
Thank you!! From a struggling MTB xx

My hospital have never offered me anything other than the tablets yet.

In my last pregnancy my ferritin was 13 at booking apt, after 10 weeks of iron tablets it was up enough that I could stop.

This pregnancy my ferritin reached 8 by 18 weeks of pregnancy. I have been on the tablets since then and I’m now 32 weeks. I think the midwife said my ferritin is now on 15. I still feel tired a lot of the time but it’s getting a bit better. They also looked at the haemoglobin and that was initially 119 at 18 weeks (120 is the minimum I think) and by something like 24 weeks it was 111 and the latest it was 116 maybe.

The tablets take a while to make a change. Also they are not the best at being absorbed. Are you drinking orange juice with the tablet? Also taking it in the evening before bed?

I am on iron tablets (220mg) and have been since the end of Dec. Initially my ferritin was 6, after a few weeks it went up to 7 but my HB dropped from 109 to 107.
I had my bloods done again last week and my ferratin is now 11 and my HB 122. It took about 8 weeks total for my numbers to both go up - I am feeling better but still a little symptomatic (breathless, tired, dizzy) but baby will be taking everything it needs first and then leave whatever is left for you - it’s why it takes so long to improve!

I got told I could increase my tablets to 2 x per day but they make me feel so nauseous and I wasn’t able to not eat an hour before taking them so I decided to just persevere with the one first thing with orange juice plus my normal prenatal vitamins in the evening.

I don't have my numbers with me but I had 4 weeks on the oral tablets. Unfortunately, I'm still suffering sickness at 36 weeks so was throwing up every day and clearly not getting the benefits as my levels continued to drop from where they started and my heart beat remained high.

I ended up with severe anaemia and had an infusion a couple of days ago. It can take a while to feel the effects so no instant improvement but hopefully soon.