Iron deficiency after birth

[BessieBye]

I gave birth 6 weeks ago and before discharge was told my iron was low. Was given 28 days worth of ferrous sulphate.. about 4 days PP I had dizzy spells and they told me it’s due to the low iron and the tablets take a little while to get into the system

I have been off them 2 weeks now and today the dizzy spells have started again. I don’t know if it’s just in my imagination and/or because I’m tired due to those newborn days.. or because I still need iron tablets.

anyone who has been on iron tablets before know how long it stays in your system for and if im experiencing symptoms because my iron is still low or other reasons. No one has rechecked my bloods since it wasn’t instructed or organised to do so..

my partner works shifts so I get nervous being alone with 2 kids and feeling dizzy

Ask for a test at your 6 week check, and it wouldn't hurt to keep taking iron in the meantime. It's very hard to get near dangerously high levels of iron, and you won't have managed it in six weeks!

ah they only gave me 28 days worth and have no more.. I will mention it on Thursday at my 6wk check! Thank you!

It's pretty cheap, just buy it in the shops :)

28 days isn’t very long to rebuild iron levels. They’re generally slow to change.

That said, typically discharge won’t give you long term medication. They give enough for GP practise to then take over your care.

So you probably need to continue topping up your iron. Increase Whats in your diet (BDA have a good info sheet) and also keep supplementing. The range between low and high is massive so even if you’ve got just beyond low more will help for quite some time. You can buy on the vitamin shelf. Prescribed is generally stronger but over the counter is more than no supplement.

Same as the PP says, you need a follow up blood test to check your levels now. If I remember rightly either the midwife or HV took my blood at home to test it. Definitely raise with the GP.

I used 2 sachets of Spatone with orange juice and I felt better within a week or two but it doesn't raise iron enough ..it needs months of constant correct use ie not with dairy or caffeine.

Thank you everyone - really helpful insight as I had no idea about it! I will definitely raise with GP and hopefully they do a repeat blood test