Anyone anemic or feeling dizzy?

[MrsCraig87]

I was told today at my midwife appointment i'm anemic and was give iron tablets.

It's funny because today before i went to the appointment i was feel really dizzy, the room was spining round, feeling sick and my head hurts. I can barley go to the toilet without having a funny turn.

Does anyone else feel like this and how bad are your symptoms. I feel awful.

Thanks for sharing x

I'm anemic. Have been for two years, bit worried now I'm pregnant with my first but I'll see how it goes. Before I got diagnosed it was really bad, would sleep all the time , i mean at work everywhere, about 18 hours a day. Also my muscles would really ache and seize up so my DH would have do dress me! I'm fine now though, just take the odd supplement here and there. it will get better I promise x

Hi there,
I was told I was anemic at about 28 weeks and given iron tablets. I was feeling quite dizzy and really quite tired but feel much better now I am managing to take the old iron tablets. I also take Spatone which is a natural iron rich water which seems to be quite good.
Good luck with the iron tablets - I do hope you feel better soon. x

i had iron tablets for my first pg and they really helped with the dizziness. There's a 'best' way to take them though. From what i remember, you shouldn't take them with tea or orange juice because it makes absorption of the iron more difficult for your body. Think there was something about not with food either but not sure
Anyhow, double check with someone who knows but thought i'd share what i did remember because i took them for weeks without realising about the orange juice thing!

I'm anaemic with this pregnancy and have been taking iron tablets since 10 weeks. You're supposed to take them WITH orange juice if poss - the vitamin C HELPS your body to absorb the iron. Avoid taking them with caffeine drinks (tea, coffee, etc) as the caffeine HINDERS the absorption process.

Yes, I have anaemia (again, had it in my first pregnancy too). Dizziness and tiredness, yes. The giveaway for me is breathlessness. I struggle to walk upstairs and you can hear it in my voice.

A lot of people have trouble tolerating iron tables but I've always found them OK.

Yes me too - doc called yesterday to say she'd done me a prescription. I'd been putting my dizzy spells down to low blood pressure.

I'm 37 week pg and have also been putting down my extreme tiredness to being heavily pg! But the doc said that my iron tablets might help perk me up a bit as it can cause lethargy too. Yay - hoping for a big burst of energy as was worried about coping with labour.

Didn't have this with DS1, but then only have small gap between the two DC's so body may have not 'recovered' properly after I suppose.

I hear the tablets can cause lots of lovely side effects and was wondering if anyone had any advice?

I'd heard the same about orange juice - the vit c helps you absorb the iron. I think tea and coffee inhibit it tho.

Oh, and she said I should take the tablets for 3/4 months after the birth - is this usual, or have I completely depleted my stores?

sorry for giving wrong info... can i blame it on 2nd pg brain fog?!

that can cause constipation so i guess extra precautions to prevent that would be good ie lots of water, fibre, feet on a box to poo etc

perhaps i'd better stop now in case this info is wrongly remembered too! All my posts should have a disclaimer down the bottom!

Miamla - my pg brain fog means that I'm forgetting to take the damn things half the time anyway, with or without orange juice!
About side effects, I haven't had any problems apart from poo going a funny colour. Was warned that they can cause constipation but also some people get diarrhoea too so maybe just wait and see... I felt much less breathless and much less tired within a week or so of taking them - I suspect I've been anaemic for ages without even realising it.

I,ve just been put on iron tabs and I,m 38weeks pg. Doc also said to me to take them for a prolonged period after the birth too. Just started them so really hope they help with the extreme tiredness and dizziness.