Anemic - given iron that doesn't appear to do anything

[oldFoolMe]

I'm currently 25 weeks. First bloods showed low iron anemic, given iron tablets at around 10 weeks. I haven't felt any better since taking them, exhausted, feel out breath doing easy things.
said to my midwife I've been on the iron tablets for 3 months now when should I feel better - she said that's odd I'll do more bloods. Bloods results showing as low iron anemic and all tahe has done is sent to the doctor to prescribe more iron.
I don't feel like the iron tablets are working, tried talking to GP who told me to go to the midwife as they sre ones with blood test results.
Midwife said she will send to ny GP as she didn't realise I was already taking iron! But all the GP has done is issue a prescription for iron.
I feel really fed up today, exhausted and not functioning well.
What can I do now? Should I be worried about the anemia? Id just like to feel well again and have a bit of energy.

You can have an iron infusion. Some people don’t absorb it. Phone the maternity helpline and ask for help, not just your own midwife, or go to triage for a doctor’s review for breathlessness

It takes months for iron levels to be improved by tablets, so it’s never a quick fix. I don’t know if you can have an iron infusion while pregnant, but it’s definitely something to ask about. If you iron levels is below 20, you need to push for more help. The NHS ‘normal’ level is on the floor.

which iron level exactly? i can see the results and it says mch, mchc ect which one should i be looking at?
aside from feeling rubbish should I be concerned for baby as I'm not sure if I'm just overreacting.

Are you eating or drinking around the time you are taking the tablets? My midwife told me not to consume food / drink and hour before or an hour after as some foods or drinks can stop your body from absorbing the iron

No I'm talking before bed a few hours after eating

You need to take the iron with vitamin C, and avoid having calcium, tea or coffee around the same time.

Are you having vitamin C with your iron. My GP told me to eat a Jaffa orange with my iron tablet, or have a glass of fresh orange.

management of iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy is pretty well protocolised so it'd be surprising if she weren't following whatever the local guideline is. There is still time for oral iron to do the job before you get to term though (depending a little on what the exact numbers are). Iron infusions are commonly used in pregnancy so if they've not suggested that then you probably don't meet the usual thresholds (which are different to when you're not pregnant for fairly obvious reasons) or are responding to the oral but just haven't got back to normal for your gestation yet. If you're still anaemic closer to term then that'd likely be what they suggest.

I ended up with two iron infusions in pregnancy, and they were magical.

I know PP Greybeard is the expert…. But in my experience I really did need to push to have them. They weren’t suggested to me, I happened to look up the guidelines and realised I should be eligible, then had to do a tonne of chasing to get them actually scheduled.

I think it’s worth checking if you should have one OP.

Are you taking vitamin C or drinking a large glass of orange juice when you take it? If not, that might be your issue, Iron needs vitamin C to help it absorb.