Anemia :/

BabyCurtiss2014 · March 2014

The good news is I passed the glucose test. The bad news is, I have anemia!

Anyone else? Have you found it hard to stomach the prenatal vitamin & iron supplement? Thx!

crhein26 · March 2014

I'm with you. I just got the iron supplement on Thursday and have been taking both ever since. I haven't had any issues so far. But the doctor and pharmacist told me that it will cause constipation so make sure you are eating lots of fiber. I've been eating air popped popcorn and it helps everything flow smoothly.

You are not alone.

lest12 · March 2014

I was told I was anemic at about 14 weeks? I took them at a different time of day than my pnv's and didn't have a problem. At my 24 week they saw that it hasn't improved enough, so I have been doubling my dose on the iron supplement and so far, so good... Don't worry too much. I think I've seen quite a few women here say they're anemic, too.

lest12 · March 2014

FWIW, and not to sound like a special unicorn, but I haven't had the terrible constipation problem that everyone warned me about... And it's been 10+ weeks. So there's hope!

BabyCurtiss2014 · March 2014

Thanks! Good suggestion to take them at different times! Here I thought I was being healthy by eating chicken, turns out I should have been eating steak lol. I was good w the poop until I "bragged" about it and jinxed myself!! Sigh...

SarahSmile01 · March 2014

I'm with you. Found out I passed my glucose test but that I am 'borderline' anemic. I'm tired ALL the time and so constipated. Hoping he doesn't put my on iron pills but we shall see.

mjdavies · March 2014

Yup yup same here. I'm taking slow release iron supplements and it hasn't been too bad at all.

ELC252011 · March 2014

Same here

I found out when I did my glucose testing. I take them all at night before bed. I find when I drink them with a lot of water and right before bed I won't feel sick.

erind228 · March 2014

I'm with you too. As pp said, I take my prenatal in the morning, and my iron supplement before bed. So far, so good.

BabyCurtiss2014 · March 2014

It's good to know I'm not alone! Maybe the supplement I got is not the best one...which one are you guys taking? Good luck to everyone hope we can all kick anemia's butt in this last home stretch!

lest12 · March 2014

@babycurtiss2014 - I just got the generic CVS brand

tbmadeamistake · March 2014

I was told I was anemic as well, but only a little. He suggested iron pills and colace. Yeah, except iron pills give me the runs so badly that I got dehydrated last time and they had me stop taking them! Totally opposite reaction. So, same as last time, I'm taking blackstrap molasses every day and calling it good. It's got a good amount of iron in it and it's what the midwife last time suggested, so I'm going with it!

Kc4mom · March 2014

I'm anemic too, Dr said to try Ferosol, it's designed to break down in stomach rather than gut so you don't get constipated.

FutureMrsW9 · March 2014

Yup! I haven't been "officially" dx with bloodwork, that'll happen in 3 weeks at my repeat glucose screen, but based on the symptoms I told my m/w she knew right away that's what it was. Mostly the shortness of breath. I can't even walk from my car into my building at work without feeling like I ran a marathon. I also had bad constipation, but didn't even realize that that was a symptom until it came up, just thought it was normal pregnancy stuff. She gave me Rx iron supps to take before bed. So far no issues. I have to take synthroid in the morning, so I just take my iron supp with my PNV before bed. I also have a prescription strength supp because it's one that won't constipate you. I highly recommend asking for this if you've been having any constipation issues, as I was. After only a couple days on the iron, I've noticed my constipation issues lessening, as well - happy little side effect I suppose.

MrsCase1 · March 2014

I would try a slow release iron pill to help combat some side effects and I also second the fiber intake.

PinkKEL9 · March 2014

I just found out today that I am mildly anemic when they called to tell me I passed the GD test (yay!) The nurse said to take a over the counter iron supplement and to take it at a different time of day as my prenatal. I take my prenatal in the morning so I will take the iron in the evening.

Funny story, the other day my mom said I was really pale and asked if I was anemic. I shrugged it off. Today when I found out I told her and she just laughed and said "Mom knows best." Haha!

ashanne88 · March 2014

I also passed GD but found out I'm anemic. My doctor gave me a prescription that have to take twice a day. I was worried about vomiting but so far so good (only started yesterday though). I take my vitamin in the morning and my first iron pill 2 hours after that and haven't had a problem so far. I think spreading them out helps. Also, they said I could eat a small snack (crackers, etc.) with the iron if needed for nausea/vomiting.

Abenedict2011 · March 2014

My results came back mildly anemia. I know that bc I got the results from the lab, but do not see the doctor again until next week. My question is what levels of hemoglobin did you ladies have that they decided you needed extra iron supplements? Mine is 11 and just curious to see if I will need them.

**Edited for spelling errors.

Deems83 · March 2014

Same boat here, I have been taking Vitron C iron supplements but wasn't really given directions of when or what to eat with them etc. I have a dr appt tomorrow so figured I would ask then. Hopefully taking one pill is enough.

KmdnKadmom · March 2014

Anemia is so common during pregnancy. I was anemic with my first child and at first they told me I wasn't with this one but I knew it was coming. I just found out this week at 29 weeks I am n it was the lowest I had ever heard it. I hate pnv and iron pills it's hard for me to take them but at the very least I force my iron pills down

KmdnKadmom · March 2014

11.7 is the cut off on the lower end for normal. You are right there. Mine was 9.3 and 8.4 in the last two weeks which is really low

KmdnKadmom · March 2014

@Abenedict2011‌

KmdnKadmom said:
11.7 is the cut off on the lower end for normal. You are right there. Mine was 9.3 and 8.4 in the last two weeks which is really low

Abenedict2011 · March 2014

Thanks! We'll see what the doctor says next week.

KmdnKadmom: Wow! 8.4 is low. Hope all is okay. The reason I'm so surprised is that I work in a hospital and normally people are ordered a blood transfusion once they hit 8.0. Curious what your Dr. said about an 8.4. FX that it comes back up and you are feeling okay.

KmdnKadmom · March 2014

That 8.4 was when I went to my WIC appointment so my Ob is unaware of those numbers. I will let them know Friday wen I have my appointment

MrsKipper · March 2014

I was already taking an OTC iron supplement and my iron was still 9.2 (and I failed my 3 hour...double whammy). My OB put me on a Rx iron supplement that is double what I was taking. It's been a few days and I can really tell a difference!!

I've dealt with anemia my whole life so my body is pretty used to iron pills.

LegalLadyBug · March 2014

I was found to have severely low iron in November and was referred to a specialist at my local hospital. They told me that iron pills would do nothing and I ended up having three iron infusions. I then had monthly blood work to make sure my iron was high enough and last month they discovered it was dangerously low again and I had three more infusions. I know for me it was horrible, I had no energy, my heart would beat fast, the iron definitely helped and it's important to keep your levels up for baby and also for a safe delivery. My grandmother takes slow release iron pills and says those make her less constipated so if you are having problems with that definitely see if you can find those. Oh my specialist also put me on extra vitamin c and folic acid because those aid in iron absorption. Maybe you could ask your OB about that as it may help in addition to the extra iron. Hope you feel better soon!

ETA: for reference, my levels were 7 both times the infusions were ordered

zolastele · March 2014

@LegalLadyBug

Sorry you went through all that! Hope you're feeling better since last month.

Was it just your ferritin that was low, or your hemoglobin too? I just got a call that my ferritin levels were 7 as well, but they want to retest me to make sure. My hemoglobin was normal. My OB was not concerned and just said to take 40 mg more of iron per day. I was feeling just fine, not sluggish or anything.

*Edited to make sense

jacksoha · March 2014

I found out I was slightly anemic a few weeks ago. I started taking iron pills two to three times a week, but found out today that I'm still anemic so I have to take iron pills daily. I like the idea of taking my PNV in the am and my iron at night. I haven't been constipated at all, actually there are times when I get diarrhea right after taking the iron.

LaurenS865 · March 2014

I was borderline anemic even before pregnancy, so I've been taking an iron supplement for a while now. Plus side was that it helped a crazy amount with my energy level. Bad part is that I'm one of the "lucky" ones who got the runs instead of diarrhea. Yay gross bodily functions! Like I didn't have enough of that...

Deems83 · March 2014

I was also diagnosed with Anemia. When I met with my OB this week she said my levels were 9 which is apparently really low? So she has me taking two Vicon C tablets (iron with vitamin c) they are 64mg each. Hoping this helps bc I am so tired all the time.

BabyCurtiss2014 · March 2014

Thanks ladies for sharing your symptoms/what you are taking. For some reason even when I take the iron at night and prenatal in the morning I feel sick to my stomach. I will talk to my OB to see if she has some suggestions bc I tried to take with food etc

And I feel really tired and my heart is racing and I'm out of breath just walking around the house. I think my HG was 9 or 10 but I have to look...blah...and I was doing so well up until just a few weeks ago when I started to notice my heart rate went up and I was way more out of breath but I thought it was just bc the baby for bigger...sigh...

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Anemia :/

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