Low iron count..have 3 weeks to boost HB..any advice?

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Ive been anaemic since week 20 of this pregnancy..am now 34+2..have tried spatone..didnt work..so at 28 weeks was put on 2 ferrous fumerate tablets a day..HB was then 9.6...saw my consultant yesterday who said in her words.."You look dreadful"..and booked me in for an iron infusion tomorrow...and arranged repeat FBC..saying that as I was going to be induced in poss 3 weeks time..It was futile upping my iron tablets or changing them as there wasnt enough time to boost my iron reserves...

Today I phone DAU and am told that a registrar has looked at my results which are now 9 and said as I have 6 weeks to go..to just up the iron tablets...

I know its not massively low but I feel awful...so would appreciate some advice on how I can boost my iron levels as am very worried about giving birth while anaemic

Don't increase the iron tablets, it's not safe to do this and even if it was, you'd probably become incredibly constipated.

Your best bet is iron injections at your GP's, it's a PITA but works alot quicker then iron tablets.

Did they say whether there was anything you could do from a food point of view that would be safe?

floradix floradix floradix

worked for my anemia in pregnancy no 2.
After I delivered I had an almost normal count, sure it was the floradix as after no.1, I needed a transfusion due to low counts.
Didn't even bother with the tablets this time as they didn't work with no 1.

demand the infusions

Belle...my gp wont give me iron injections..Ive had a lot of problems with them as we moved house and they are a new GP..they will not prescribe or arrange anything without being contacted by the hospital..even the stuff I already had on repeat from my previous GP

IIRC your midwife can sort these out for you. I know that she can prescribe certain things so I'd have a chat with her. I had a low Hb when I delivered, wasn't great.

do you actually feel ill? only, there isn't necessarily anything wrong with having a level of 9 in pregnancy. it may actually show you have a very healthy placenta. there is plenty to suggest a level of 9 is ideal.

this is a long but very interesting arcticle which may sway to to leave things as is.

fwiw i always had a level of around 9 in both my pregnancies which didn't increase with iron supplements. on looking at my placentas afterwards the midwives were most impressed with how healthy and big they were

Take your iron tablets as suggested by registrar.

Take them with fresh orange juice because Vit C helps iron absorption (more will get into your system and you will be less constipated)

You could also ask to have Folic acid (5mg) and Vit C tablets prescribed - this triple therapy is sometimes given by hospitals after significant blood loss during delivery.I had HB of 8.2 after sm CS and it came back to normal within 4 weeks of taking these 3.

Iron inj/infusions are not necessarily better and certainly more hassle.

HTH and you feel better soon.

scroll down to the extract from "A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy & Childbirth" by Enkin, Keirse, Renfrew and Neilson for a good summary.

the only problem with orange juice is that Im banned from drinking it due to having diabetes..Ive been taking two ferrous fumerate a day and my hb has still dropped..for me 9 is pretty low..I dont see my MW as I go to high risk clinic every week, but will perhaps wait until im b ack in clinic next week and ask then..I do feel poorly though..really exhausted and breathless

I did wonder if it was best to just swap to floradix as ferrous fumerate really upsets my tummy too

ruddynorah..thanks for that link..thats an interesting article

Low iron (and twice hospitalised!) with 3 pregnancies & low iron. Vague memory about what and not to take with iron tablets because of effect on absorbtion. Suggest that you go and see your GP...think there is something about no dairy around time of taking the tablets. I ate strawberries, spinach, loads of steak. Originally I was put on the usual over the counter, Boots-type iron tablets....then it got hectic and they put me on the super duper proper iron supplements....check out what sort you're getting. Sorry am being so unspecific.....long time ago.

liquid iron, sytron, is sometimes more gentle on the tummy

Floradix and Spatone both have fairly low iron content which is part of the reason why they are better tolerated.
You might not have enough time for them to work.
Also, want to second ruddynorah's post that lowish Hb in late pregnancy is a normal dilution effect. I presume that you have had your actual iron level (ferritin) checked and that that's low?? If your ferritin is normal there is probably no point in taking additional iron.
Re Vit C, take it in any other shape or form (ie ascorbic acid powders from the chemist) with your chosen iron supplement and it will help absorption and therefore make stomach upset less likely.

Pacific..yep had my ferritin checked with the hb and thats low it seems....

cant get along to see GP as I have to go to hospital every day for CTG monitoring...all I want to do is sleep

The hospital should give either a written note for your GP that you simply hand in and a prescription for a community pharmacy can be generated without you seeing a GP. Or they can issue a hospital prescription that the hospital pharmacy will fill.

Or just go for the injections...?
You sound beat.

thanks pacific..I will have to see what they say when I go to clinic next weds ..yep Im worn out!

I have lots of Iron in my last blood test I've put it down to drinking Horlicks! I've been drinking tonnes of the stuff! I can't take tea or coffee as they make me sick! maybe that will help without making your constipated?

You could try the Floradix, another thread on here mentioned that it was much better than Spatone, it worked within weeks for me.

It's quite expensive and tastes yucky but it really does work

well Ive been booked in for an iron infusion as it seems my ferrutin levels(iron stores) are only 2..which is far too low apparently..cant say Im looking forward to it actually

yep 2 is too low
I've had them and they weren't too bad
Take a book or magazine
Hopefully you'll feel much better afterwards

think Ill take a whole library..theyve told me I will be in for about 6 hours

I am on 600mg a day (3 tablets). I take mine with oj and I am doing ok so far.

I tried spatone and its pleasant but only has 25mg per sachet so not enough.

memory 2 is very low.

Hope the transfusion goes well. Dont worry and just take things to make the time more pleasant - treat yourself. Good luck.

do all the rest and eat bran flakes and butterbeans
chegirl, urgh yu actually like the stuff? I ahve loads left over, can I offload any on you?

oh sorry i see you're on tablets so presumably dont want spatone as well, sorry