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August 2015 Moms
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Anyone dealt with anemia?

usernameneededallaretakenusernameneededallaretaken member
in August 2015 Moms
I have been exhausted, unable to sleep, unending headaches, and just blah. I'm a FTM, so I assumed this was the joy of third trimester. Well, today's bloodwork showed low RBC, HCT, and HGB (insinuating anemia). My Dr asked if I was still taking prenatals and then said not to worry since many women at this stage become anemic. Apparently my symptoms are exasperated by anemia. What the heck! Would adding an additional iron pill help?? Dr said to just keep doing what I'm doing.

I need sleep.
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Re: Anyone dealt with anemia?

  • carleym93carleym93 member
    Thats strange that they wouldn't give you an additional iron supplement with what your bloodwork showed. I'm only slightly anemic, and I still have to take one. I'd call and ask. If they still tell you the same thing, try taking your prenatal with OJ. Just don't drink the kind with the added calcium, calcium will prevent it from being absorbed well. But the vitamin c in the orange juice will help your body absorb the iron in your prenatal. You could also try adding more iron into your diet!
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  • laurena612laurena612 member

    I am also surprised they haven't given you iron supplement. I found out today my iron level is low and I have been prescribed 3 tablets a day. Definitely phone the Dr and ask about it especially as your feeling so bad.
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  • KBGowerKBGower member
    I'm anemic also, my doctor suggested a liquid iron for better absorbion and is also is less constipating.
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  • Baby2HGBaby2HG member
    I am anemic also. At first I was somewhat anemic now I'm severely anemic so now ob wants me to take two pills a day. Floradix suppose to be a good brand that offers liquid iron. The tired, exhausted, lethargic, lazy feeling all comes with anemia. Its horrible.
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  • pinkspringtulippinkspringtulip member
    My iron is low and I'm almost considered anemic (I don't eat meat so that combined with the increased needs of the third trimester I wasn't surprised). I'm taking my prenatal but have added Floradix which is a liquid iron supplement that the PP noted above. Liquid iron is better than the pill form because your body can absorb it better - just make sure to follow the instructions and take it with food and wait at least two hours to take any other supplements / vitamins / medications.

    It's only my second day of taking it, but I'm hopeful that I'll feel more energetic soon. It's surprising that your doctor didn't ask you to increase your iron since there's even more of a need for it in the third trimester. I would consider adding a supplement and see if you feel better!
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  • gmd88gmd88 member
    @KBGower have you found liquid iron? If so, where? Does it work? I've been anemic and I have such a hard time handling the iron without getting constipated. I'm hitting up the fiber gummies to try and handle the iron
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  • Kath1083Kath1083 member
    Also found out I was anemic this past week. They gave me a supplement. So far I'm still tired and I have not seen too much change. I am going to talk to my doctor at my next apointment!
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  • Kath1083Kath1083 member
    Also found out I was anemic this past week. They gave me a supplement. So far I'm still tired and I have not seen too much change. I am going to talk to my doctor at my next apointment!
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  • kboston90kboston90 member
    I just found out I'm anemic and my doctor just had me get an over the counter iron pill to take with my prenatal. I'm surprised they wouldn't have you add a supplement. I can definitely feel the effects of having low iron!
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  • cosplaymomcosplaymom member
    Try taking Slow Fe iron supplements. Don't take them at the same time of the day as your prenatals. One per day is usually the dosage you need.

    I always show as slightly anemic, it is genetic. One iron pill per day fixes it.
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  • ptelfraptelfra member
    I've had anemia since high school and still have it with the pregnancy. I do take the iron supplement my midwife has prescribed me but there are also lots of other things you can eat to help. Coming from a Dominican family there are remedies for everything! Beets are really good wether you eat them alone, with salad or even make juice out of them (You can look up recipes online) also beans help a lot, (my mother made me juice made of black beans boiled with a couple cinnamon sticks then when they're really soft you blend them in the blender with carnation milk and add sugar to make it as sweet as you'd like) this can be refrigerated by the way so you're not preparing some everytime you drink some, fish and liver also help.

    BTW I am extremely picky when I eat so the whole black beans juice wasn't appealing to me but it's actually really good when cold.
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  • HarleenQuinz86HarleenQuinz86 member
    I've been anemic this whole pregnancy been taking an iron supplement every night and prenatal every morning. Lately I've become even more tired than I was at the beginning. I'm hoping they either up my iron to twice a day or this is just a side effect of working full time in the memory care unit of a retirement home while raising two kids lol.
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  • jgorley2015jgorley2015 member
    I'm always anemic, pregnant or not. Both of the OB's I see want me to take iron supplements now that my HGB levels are at a 10. I wish I would remember to take them daily though. 
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  • usernameneededallaretakenusernameneededallaretaken member
    Thank you all for the suggestions. I hate to know so many others are in the same boat, but find comfort in it. I think I could handle the bean slurry better than beets!

    I'm not sure about the Dr's reasoning for not adding a supplement. I became slightly annoyed and disheartened after requesting supplement advice from my sister (38 wks pregnant and also a Dr) - her response was it's just part of being pregnant, keep taking your prenatal. Ugh.
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  • holli0801holli0801 member
    Well if you would like an extra supplement, you could choose to do that and get them over the counter. It isn't 100% up to your doctor..

    My friend tried the liquid with a script and preferred the regular pill and just took stool softener with it. I have low iron which wasn't a surprise as I had been a vegetarian. I decided to forego any extra iron bc I have needed them in the past and they don't make me feel good, and constipation is not a problem I need piled on to everything else. Eating more chicken, beef, beans and spinach have helped me. There are also all natural drinks you can get with lots of vitamins including a huge amount of iron. Sorry I can't think of the brand! Best of luck!
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  • jesigirlijesigirli member
    Some other foods besides meat that are rich in iron include spinach, beans, dried fruits such as apricots and raisins, and cereals that are iron fortified.
    BabyFruit Ticker
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  • carriebelle77carriebelle77 member
    I feel your pain...my Hematocrit was 29 and normal is 35....so now I'm on an OTC Iron supplement and a stool softener....fun!
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  • navssonavsso member
    I was just told the same thing but they ended up having me take an iron supplement
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  • satindawl83satindawl83 member
    I'm a lurker due in December, and I found out I was anemic at 10 weeks. I think I've always been anemic and the pregnancy exacerbated it.

    Anyway, like PP have said, my doc told me to take an iron supplement on top of my prenatal. I've been taking it for two weeks, but in still exhausted occasionally.
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  • mrswiebe09mrswiebe09 member
    I also was told by my Ob I was low on iron and was given a script for 2 pills a day. That is so weird that your doc didn't give you one!
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  • Reiss218Reiss218 member
    Floridex iron works great! It is liquid and doesn't cause me constipation. It has a funky after taste but just drink some juice after
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  • deviduke412deviduke412 member
    I was just told yesterday at my 29 week appt that my labs showed I'm slightly anemic. My midwife recommended adding more iron rich foods into my diet and taking an iron supplement on top of my prenatal. Because of this, I'll also need to double up on the stool softeners and fiber bc that's a struggle ive dealt with my whole life that pregnancy has just made worse.
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  • kellylkbkellylkb member
    I am right there with you! I found a great OTC iron supplement at Walgreens. It is their store bread slow release tablet. It is easy on the stomach and I haven't had any of the nasty side effects after being on it for 2 weeks. Good luck. Definitely talk to your doc and get his/her opinion.
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  • carriebelle77carriebelle77 member
    Tried a couple of supplements and LOVE Hema-Plex!! No weird gut issues, no nasty after taste, no funky smelling bathroom trips, no stool softener needed!! You can buy at the Vitamin Shoppe or online at Amazon or Walmart.con.
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