low iron?

br0wneyeso1 · September 2016

My appointment yesterday was a "one step forward two steps back" kind of thing. My last visit my amniotic fluid went back to a normal level, as it was originally a little high. Relief! This visit the fluid was up a little but only borderline so still in the clear...BUT now my iron is too low! I'm on iron pills at night already in addition to the prenatal in the morning, and now have to add another iron at lunch. I already am on Lebatalol for my blood pressure being too high. This is my third pregnancy. Any other mommas have low iron? Anything I should be expecting if it doesn't go up to a normal level?

RhodaMorgenstern · September 2016

I have low iron, I've actually had it my entire life and pregnancy just made it worse. The worst part is planning eating around the pills (you can only take a pill 1 hour before or 2 hours after you eat). And make sure you get a stool softener. Eating bran makes you absorb the iron less. Also, take it with oj to absorb it better. And yes, black poop means it's working.
In terms of pregnancy, my understanding is that anemia can lead to a low birth right and possibly premature labor. So the iron pills are important, if annoying.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I've been dealing with this since I was 5 so whatever questions you have, I've probably already asked.

kristah2 · September 2016

I have no other advice @RhodaMorgenstern has not suggested but wanted to let you know I sympathize. I always had low iron and b12. It seemed to be fine through pregnancy until after my surgery at 26 weeks. Now I'm taking an iron supplement every night along with my prenatal. There are worse things to happen during pregnancy so I'll take it I suppose! Wishing you all the best.

jenesiso · September 2016

Go to a steak house and splurge on a big juicy steak

br0wneyeso1 · September 2016

I don't mind taking the extra medicine, anything to reduce any risks! I didn't want to read too much into google and thought maybe some ladies had some experience. I've never had low iron or anemia up until 5 or so weeks ago. Thank you for all the input ladies!

hollowway · September 2016

Red meat and lots of leafy greens will help as well!

RhodaMorgenstern · September 2016

br0wneyeso1 said:

I don't mind taking the extra medicine, anything to reduce any risks! I didn't want to read too much into google and thought maybe some ladies had some experience. I've never had low iron or anemia up until 5 or so weeks ago. Thank you for all the input ladies!

I get it, the information online can be overwhelming and inconsistent. I will say, the 3x a day is annoying. Scheduling pills and mealtimes when we're all obviously trying to get stuff done before our babies arrive is annoying. Good luck!

ZoeFer · September 2016

I have low blood count and iron deficiency, both just a little below normal limit. I have been having dizzinness, a weakness in the mornings and the doctor thinks that s because of my low blood count. I m only taking Slow Fe over the counter. He also asked me to increase my protein intake.

yosemite2018 · September 2016

ZoeFer said:

I have low blood count and iron deficiency, both just a little below normal limit. I have been having dizzinness, a weakness in the mornings and the doctor thinks that s because of my low blood count. I m only taking Slow Fe over the counter. He also asked me to increase my protein intake.

I am taking slow fe too. My doctor said nothing about planning around meals, she just told me to take it twice a day and that it's best absorbed with citrus.

m6agua · September 2016

I am borderline anemic with this pregnancy. My HGB number is hovering around 11 with 12 being the cutoff and my RBC count has been low too. Do you know where your numbers are at? I am taking an iron pill and they are having me take it in the morning with a meal. In 5 weeks my number didn't change much but the doctor wasn't concerned. She said this is because you have so much more blood flowing but do not necessarily create more HGB and red blood cells. Anemia is common in pregnancy.

BLyn627 · September 2016

I have always had low iron too, so my GP eventually tested my blood and I have alpha thalassemia trait. It makes me more anemic during pregnancy and even taking iron, my iron still won't get to the normal range.

mamahazey · September 2016

I'm in the exact same position. Iron supplements at lunch and night and I'm on leberalol... the nurse has called me 3 times now after blood work accusing me of not taking my iron and freaking out that it's been dropping... my doctor acts like it's not a huge deal when I talk to her about it.

ashleymercado88 · September 2016

Mine was low. I'm taking the supplement with orange juice in the morning and look at all the nutrition labels for iron now!

ashleymercado88 · September 2016

ash111916 said:

ZoeFer said:

I have low blood count and iron deficiency, both just a little below normal limit. I have been having dizzinness, a weakness in the mornings and the doctor thinks that s because of my low blood count. I m only taking Slow Fe over the counter. He also asked me to increase my protein intake.

I am taking slow fe too. My doctor said nothing about planning around meals, she just told me to take it twice a day and that it's best absorbed with citrus.

My midwife said to take it on an empty stomach and the citrus helps absorb it. Different opinions on when to take it going around!

RhodaMorgenstern · September 2016

ashleymercado88 said:

ash111916 said:

ZoeFer said:

I have low blood count and iron deficiency, both just a little below normal limit. I have been having dizzinness, a weakness in the mornings and the doctor thinks that s because of my low blood count. I m only taking Slow Fe over the counter. He also asked me to increase my protein intake.

I am taking slow fe too. My doctor said nothing about planning around meals, she just told me to take it twice a day and that it's best absorbed with citrus.

My midwife said to take it on an empty stomach and the citrus helps absorb it. Different opinions on when to take it going around!

My cousin is a pediatric hematologist and she said the same thing. She said the worst thing you can do isn't take it in the morning with coffee and cereal. The calcium prevents absorption as does bran so the combination of the two is bad.

fiscally3 · September 2016

Also just diagnosed with anemia. And I have pica (luckily just craving ice!) I just started the iron pills a few days ago, how long did it take for you guys to start to feel "normal"? Just so tired, and it's tough with three little ones.

ashleymercado88 · September 2016

RhodaMorgenstern said:

ashleymercado88 said:

ash111916 said:

ZoeFer said:

I have low blood count and iron deficiency, both just a little below normal limit. I have been having dizzinness, a weakness in the mornings and the doctor thinks that s because of my low blood count. I m only taking Slow Fe over the counter. He also asked me to increase my protein intake.

I am taking slow fe too. My doctor said nothing about planning around meals, she just told me to take it twice a day and that it's best absorbed with citrus.

My midwife said to take it on an empty stomach and the citrus helps absorb it. Different opinions on when to take it going around!

My cousin is a pediatric hematologist and she said the same thing. She said the worst thing you can do isn't take it in the morning with coffee and cereal. The calcium prevents absorption as does bran so the combination of the two is bad.

I don't take mine when I drink my coffee, but it might be about 10-15 minutes before hand I take the iron pill and then have my breakfast. Would your cousin say that's bad?
I should have asked my midwife this at my last appointment!

ANZ116 · September 2016

I was diagnosed with low iron too. I just take a pill in the morning (with OJ) and then my prenatal at night. There are still days I forget my iron - I can definitely notice a difference. Low energy, shaky, dizziness. It's rough. I think I started to feel better within a few days of taking the supplements. Also, I sneak spinach into just about everything I eat now to try to get more iron.

I didn't know about the low birth weight and/or premature labor. My doctor seemed so nonchalant about it, so I'm glad to know what it can mean for me and baby.

br0wneyeso1 · September 2016

@m6agua the doctor said the cutoff was 11, and i'm at about a 9.5 so it's extra low.

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