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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Anemia and folic acid deficiency in pregnancy? Has anybody got any experiences that they would share with me?

7 replies

soon2befamilyof4 · 16/02/2009 17:55

I have had loads of problems over the last couple of months and have felt like absolute crap most of the time. I got the results of my blood tests today and i have anemia and low folic acid which explains quite a bit.

I am in the process of looking it all up online but each website says something deferent. I am getting the impression from the websites that it is going to ruin the chances of my having a home birth or birthing centre birth (which I wanted one or the other). The midwife didn't mention any of this to me, but she doesn't do much for me because I am booked under a different hospital.

I am 31 weeks, does anybody know how long I am likely to have had this for? I last had blood tests done at my booking appointment at 13 weeks, although I wasn't actually told the results. I thought I would hear if something was wrong, but TBH I don't think anybody was planning to contact me about these ones, it was only because I had a midwife appointment and I was in hospital yesterday feeling very rough.

I have been prescribed tablets for iron and folic acid but can't collect it till tomorrow as they didn't keep that one in stock as it is apparently quite unusal to have a combined tablet for the 2.

I don't really know much to be honest and have mixed feelings. I was relieved at first as at least now I know what is wrong with me and will hopefully start to feel better, but now I am getting a bit worried if it means I have to go to labour ward to deliver and there are risks of the baby getting anemia etc.

Would appriciate any honest advice.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
soon2befamilyof4 · 16/02/2009 18:28

Is it dangerous that I have probably had this for a couple of months unnoticed? I have felt like ablosute crap the whole time.

The more I am reading, the more I am panicking as it is talking about blood transfusions, baby having iron deficiency, heavy bleeding during birth etc.

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soon2befamilyof4 · 16/02/2009 19:26

Some websites say it can lead to early labour, others say it doesn't?

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Hawkmoth · 16/02/2009 19:30

Somewhere in the NICE guidelines I'm sure I read that Hb should be over 10 for a homebirth.

Try not to read about it too much, if you're anything like me your levels will bounce back up very quickly.

I was VERY anaemic about three months before I got pregnant (palpitations, dizziness, stress, hair loss) but the tests I had when I was 34 days gone were brilliant, and my levels have gone up so far. Obviously I'm going to ask them to keep an eye on it though.

Good luck

soon2befamilyof4 · 16/02/2009 19:41

Thanks for that Hawk. Whats Hb? Sorry to sound thick! Am I likely to need extra blood tests to keep checking on it?

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Hawkmoth · 16/02/2009 19:44

Hb is Haemoglobin.

If you want to have a homebirth, ask for tests in a few weeks otherwise they might take the figures from now and say no!

You should start to feel better pretty quickly, I know I did.

soon2befamilyof4 · 16/02/2009 19:46

Oh ok, thanks.

I am needle phobic so blood tests not too good! But will do it for baby's sake.

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soon2befamilyof4 · 16/02/2009 21:45

Anybody else know anything about it? Paricually in later pregnancy? I am mainly concerned that I have probably left it quite late?

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