Low ferritin in pregnancy, others experiences?

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Hi all,
I am 33+5 weeks pregnant, and have recently been feeling unwell. Very fatigued, episodes of shortness and breath and palpitations, irritability, headaches. Anyway I went to my local maternity unit and I pushed for some blood tests including my ferritin which they were pretty reluctant to do.
Turns out my ferritin is 12. Should be between 35-100 in pregnancy. My hb is normal.
Anyway I’ve been discharged with iron tablets and I asked to have my blood rechecked in afew weeks, but I know it’s unlikely to have a real effect for about 3-6 months on tablets alone.
I have asked for a iron infusion but they seem pretty reluctant at the moment, but I can’t imagine feeling like this for the rest of my pregnancy alongside looking after a new baby when he is born.
On looking at the research, low ferritin in pregnancy can increase chance of low birth weight, premature birth alongside neurodevelopment and cognitive delay in the infant and postnatal depression in the mother.

Does anyone have any experience of the above ? I am pretty stressed out about it.

Thanks

Look up the nice guidelines and go to your GP - some can order infusions

I’m the same, pregnant and ferritin was 5 and I’ve been on iron tablets for 6 weeks and I still feel permanently exhausted. I haven’t had my levels re-checked yet but I think they are still going to be low. Like you I haven’t been offered an infusion either and would definitely prefer one.

sounds like they're following the British Soc for Haematology advice for managing iron deficiency in pregnancy (the guidelines are easily googleable).

Similar to PP, mine is 6 and been prescribed the tablets

Very tired and out of breath I just thought it was pregnancy in general, I just get on with it as best as I can and I’ll ask for more tablets when these run out if I’m still struggling

I had low iron after delivery and read that taking iron every second day can increase absorption:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31413088/

I had this with low ferritin. Also push for a diabetes check - I had it with my third, found out after pushing for a check but I’m convinced I also had it with my second and I was blaming everything on low ferritin. They don’t seem keen to send you for a test if you don’t meet the criteria but worth pushing for one.

My ferritin was 4 and I had to fight many times until finally a consultant agreed to it. The potential allergic reaction to the iron infusion is, according to my midwife at the time, the main reason they are very wary to offer it. I’m afraid with a ferritin of 12, even with symptoms, it is highly unlikely you will get one.

Yeah I had a ferritin of 6 at 28 weeks. Got iron tablets and nothing else. By the time I gave birth it was…. 19 🤣 my HB was ok tho, just my body seemed to not store it. I continued the tablets for 3m pp and was fine

I felt like this before pregnancy. I was extremely exhausted, palpitations, SOB. My ferritin was 12 too. I have been on iron tablets for 7 weeks and I have noticed a considerable difference, even after 2 weeks and im now 5 weeks pregnant (conceived 3 weeks ago) I would hang on as they do kick in after a few weeks. With iron infusions, theres a risk of anaphylaxis and so maybe doctors dont want to take the risk.

My friends iron was also low, and she said same it kicked in after few weeks. It does take 3-6 months to fully be in the system. Try eating iron rich foods too.

As a nurse, I've found that iron transfusions are ordered when both the ferritin and the Hb are low. If the Hb is normal, then it has enough iron to be able to transport oxygen around the body. The ferritin is the reserve iron stores, hopefully iron tablets will build this up. Iron transfusions can cause bad reactions which is why they are not ordered unless absolutely necessary!