Anyone need to take extra iron?

DeputiesWife

what do you take?

when do you take it?

do you/can you take it with your prenatal? 

Tracyc617

I take an iron suppliment  at night with my pre-natal vitamin.  I tried taking the pills in the morning, but it upset my stomach.  My dr said it didn't matter when I took it. I just bought it in the vitamin section of the supermarket.   

love2b_mrst

I take something like 325mg of iron a day.  I had to ask the pharmacist at Target for it because they had it behind the counter, but you don't need a prescription.  The one on the shelves was only like 60mg.  It was really cheap, like $2.50 for 100 pills.

I take it in the morning because I was told not to take it with my prenatal, which I take at night.

Tip...buy dulcolax or colace I was already having issues and the iron makes it 10x worse.

07may07

I take something called Slow FE.  It's a slow releasing iron supplement.  It is supposed to be gentler on your stomach!  I was also told to take it with orange juice as that helps your system too.

I take one after breakfast and one after lunch.  I then take my prenatal right before bed.  The nurse advised me not to take the iron supplement and prenatal at the same time.

I will say that since starting to take the iron supplement, I notice myself feeling a little better!

tootlebug

07may07:

I take something called Slow FE.  It's a slow releasing iron supplement.  It is supposed to be gentler on your stomach!  I was also told to take it with orange juice as that helps your system too.

I take one after breakfast and one after lunch.  I then take my prenatal right before bed.  The nurse advised me not to take the iron supplement and prenatal at the same time.

I will say that since starting to take the iron supplement, I notice myself feeling a little better!

all of this is great info actually. im 29 1/2 weeks with twins but was dx with anemia at 24 weeks.  (my level was like 9.8 or something).  ive been taking 120mg a day iron supplement along with the prenatal - in the morning - and it's been making me SO nauseaous!  maybe i will try the Slow FE.  for the past couple weeks i couldnt figure out why i was getting so sick for an hour after breakfast! 

KaliChick

Yes, I was put on it at 28 weeks.  I take Slow FE, just 1 tablet per day.  My doctor actually said not to take it with my prenatal so I take it in the morning with my calcium and take my prenatal at night.

tarajayne

I take a 27mg iron (ferrous gluconate) twice a day (my pharmacy special orders it for me), and I take a stool softener daily.  I do take it both times after I have eaten and I have had no problems.  I had been taking it just once a day since my prenatals have no iron, but when my hemoglobin was low they bumped me up. 

And to the one that posted about the 325mg... 325mg of ferrous sulfate is the same as 65mg of iron.  Your pharmacist is probably giving you exactly what you can get OTC.  

STL34

My prenatal has iron it.  But, I was still anemic so my OB had me start taking Slow Fe once a day, too.  I do take the slow FE at night with my prenatal.  You are supposed to take it a few hours after you eat.  It can interfere with calcium absorption.  But, I take Calcium supplements twice a day (in addition to my prenatal) so I havn't been worried about it.  Good luck!

DeputiesWife

Thank you all so much.

I took slowFe with DD -- I had forgotten, but it wasnt until later in the pregnancy.

My nurse called me yesterday and said an OTC is just fine -- and I will take it with dinner and then my prenatal at night to not hinder the calcium absorption.  

love2b_mrst

tarajayne:

I take a 27mg iron (ferrous gluconate) twice a day (my pharmacy special orders it for me), and I take a stool softener daily.  I do take it both times after I have eaten and I have had no problems.  I had been taking it just once a day since my prenatals have no iron, but when my hemoglobin was low they bumped me up. 

And to the one that posted about the 325mg... 325mg of ferrous sulfate is the same as 65mg of iron.  Your pharmacist is probably giving you exactly what you can get OTC.  

Haha, that's funny...I didn't know that.  Well the ferrous sulfate is only $2.50 and the 65mg of iron was like $8 so I'm glad I asked and got the cheap stuff!

illinigal

I was already taking a PNV.  When I was pregnant with the twins, my OB said I should also take an extra iron tablet.  I had prescription iron one month, but then went to store bought becuase he said I could.  He never told me not to take it with my PNV, so I always took them both together in the morning.... but I always made sure I took them with food because otherwise, I felt nauxious.  After our loss, I asked my OB if I should stop taking the iron and he said I should keep taking it.  So, currently I'm still taking PNV and extra iron.