38 weeks pregnant - iron infusion - help

[Sunflowersp]

Hi all

I had routine bloods taken last week and I had checked on the my pregnancy notes app for the outcome. It stated in capital letters abnormal blood results so I rang the maternity records and she explained my Iron levels are low and I have been given an appointment for this Thursday where I will be offered an infusion or oral tablets.

I have done my research and as I’m so close to 40 weeks, surely it should be an infusion given at this stage? Just now I have checked the pregnancy notes app again and can see today that a note was input stating an oral iron prescription has been sent to my address. This doesn’t give me enough time to get my iron levels back to normal does it? I’m due to see the consultant on Thursday, can I be insistent on the iron infusion rather than tablets?

To add, I am b- blood group and I have read that a delay in getting iron levels sorted can lead to excessive blood loss at birth and possible blood transfusion given.

I rang them regarding my initial concern (abnormal blood results) on Monday and they are seeing me on Thursday, shouldn’t there be a sense of urgency?

please…some reassurance
Thank you x

I've never needed one during pregnancy as I got ill after having DC, but I have regular iron infusions and blood transfusions. I have regular blood tests with open access to a day unit for infusions as required, usually several a year. I don't need to go onto a ward. It's simple and all done in a couple of hours.
Oral iron would not bring your levels up in time. I didn't realise blood groups made a difference (I'm B too). I would request the infusion. They are quick, although I get cracking headache for a couple of days.
I know most people don't want a transfusion, but for me they are the gold standard. They work immediately with no side effects. You can see the improvement with each unit, whereas they say five weeks to get an accurate reading of your levels from an infusion.

Hi, I haven't been in your exact situation, but I would say stick to your guns and do your research. I had an iron infusion after PPH, and the way the midwives explained it, tablets and transfusion were essentially the same thing, but one worked slightly quicker. It was only afterwards that I realised that, as @Ashersmom says there is a gold standard here in terms of effectiveness and that's the infusion. So I was lucky I picked it, but it definitely wasn't an informed choice at the time.

Bump

It entirely depends how low it is, for example is your level 1 below normal or 30? If just borderline then there is enough time for the tablets to raise it before birth. Being anaemic is a risk factor for PPH for all blood types so it is important.