Iron transfusions

[pregooolady]

Hi

I’m 37 weeks Wednesday my care has been pretty rubbish considering I have a small baby’s and preterm labour with my previous pregnancy I have had one growth scan at 28 weeks then I was due more but they kept being cancelled and my consultant cancelled my appointments to. Anyways my new growth scan is this Wednesday followed by a phone call. I am booked in for a c section on the 8th of April. Had a midwife appointment last week to check bloods again I was meant to have them done at the previous midwife appointment because I had low iron then even on iron tablets but I’ve had a different midwife every time, so think there was a confusion anyways blood came back hb 90 so dropped even lower and I’ve contacted the midwife to ask if I’m having a transfusion as this was said last time and yet again no reply I don’t no who to contact . I’m just anxious as I’m due the section soon and I just feel like the care has been awful and no one has even bothered putting it on my badger notes it’s all on my medical records. Do u think I’ll have a transfusion? What happens if I don’t what will that mean for the section . Thanks

Is there a general community midwife number you can find? I was having problems with my midwife (also lack of communication about an iron infusion) and contacted the general midwife team and it got resolved and I had my transfusion last week

Does your hospital have a maternity advice line or triage? I would call them. They will be in a much better position to help you.

HB 90 sounds very low, even for a normal individual. I hope everything gets sorted well in advance and you get your iron transfusion, if not, definitely speak with the surgeon and mention this again before c section and accept blood transfusion if needed.

on a separate note, I don’t know if you are a heavy tea / coffee drinker. They can be big blocker on iron absorption if you consume them close to mealtime or taking the tablets. I used to be heavy tea drinker and had iron level issue (on top of another reason).

I had an iron infusion when I was around 34 weeks. My level was just below 100. I had a c section with a major haemorrhage and a blood transfusion and everything was still fine after and now. Call triage and ask to get seen as your level of care hasn’t been great and you’re concerned then you could ask to speak to the on call consultant or call antenatal clinic and get the advice of a consultant there who could refer you. I had a consultant during pregnancy so it was referred by her

@TryingToFigureLifeOut this scares me so much I will call them today my anxiety is so bad. Was you ok after ? How much blood did u lose? X

@pregooolady Don’t worry. I’d still pick a c section over normal any day despite the haemorrhage, I’ve had 3 normal deliveries too. I lost over 2 litres, everything was fine after though. I had a balloon put in and was taken back to labour ward for 24 hours to be closer to theatre incase of an emergency. I couldn’t move or walk for the 24 hours while the balloon was in, I wasn’t meant to anyway but I wanted to see baby in neonatal. After the balloon was out I was up and walking and didn’t even bother with pain meds as I was too busy in neonatal and didn’t have any pain either tbh. I drove myself home 3 days later. Are you having a c section is that what you’re worried about? Or gent general anxiety? Try not to worry too much x

@TryingToFigureLifeOuti had my last c section 17 months ago went well it was emergency I didn’t find out I was pregnant this time till later on and consaltant said safest way this time is planned c c section I’m ok with this but my anxiety is the bleeding and possibly dying (dramatic I no) but for some reason I just can’t shake the feeling away ! Glad you was ok xx

@pregooolady Oh ok. I was adamant at the start of my pregnancy I wanted a c section after an awful experience being induced on the baby before but I was talked round to the idea of being induced again. I always knew I’d be induced by 37 weeks as I’m type 1 diabetic but it was bought forward at 36 weeks due to her not passing the ctg again at my appointment. After 24 hours of the induction, the night midwife who came on shift was beyond rude, had an attitude problem and told me to remove my own pessary and left the room and because I wasn’t given another midwife for hours after telling them I didn’t want her back I had enough and decided I wanted a section so on paper mine is emergency but it was technically elective. I would still 100% pick a section again. Good luck, I believe the atmosphere is much calmer and reassuring when it’s elective over emergency which will put your mind at ease xx

@TryingToFigureLifeOutupdate I go on Thursday to have a iron transfusion xx