LucyS

Ive been told I'm aneamic and been given iron tablets.

What do they normally do other than this?

GemGems

10.5 is not so bad. Mine is 8.2 and sometimes i'm so pale and shakey. I HATE those irons tablets. I cant poo and when i do its black!!!! Sorry TMI. xxx

PeanutBean

If it gets really low you get a blood transfusion. I was told today that at one of the hospitals nearby they'll do it as 8 but at another you'd need to be 6. I'm just hoping to avoid the tablets in case they make me constipated. I'd never been constipated until I was pregnant and it passed again sometime in 2nd tri. I so don't want to go there again. Plus I don't want it to give me piles!!

reallytinyamy

My iron tablets give me the runs!! I dont have the ones they usually give out though as I am vegetarian and the normal ones are not suitable. I take ferrograd folic tablets and they cleared my constipation a treat while i was pg!!

Ema

Glad all is ok XxxX

PeanutBean

I didn't know they weren't veggie! Thanks for telling me. If they decide to prescribe I'll make sure I get them to sort that for me. Runs is not a huge improvement on constipation though! lol

xXDonnaXx

Hiya hun,sorry to bring this thread back up.
I've had a letter back today about my last blood tests.
And they said "these have shown you need treatment" and "indicates the need for investigation"
They've highlighted Ferritin Levels - to see if iron is necessary.

So gotta go back for a test. Is it serious this? or not? Lol.

PeanutBean

Hey you! Here's some stats - 50% of pregnant women get anaemia. It's pretty much the norm. The investigation presumably will be to get your ferritin checked - this tests for the iron that is stored in your body that can be used to replenish your haemoglobin, as opposed to the Hb levels which is the iron in use. Apparently you can have low ferritin without showing anaemia (low Hb) so sometimes it gets missed. There are other tests, B12 and something else which are to do with other causes of anaemia that aren't because of low iron e.g. ability to absorb iron. So no, probably not serious. If the ferritin comes back low you'll go on iron tablets. I get mine on Monday - waiting for a prescription for vegetarian ones. I'm annoyed I need them but not worried about the baby etc. Only worried in case the levels don't improve and there's any risk to my plans for a home birth. We can swap notes on the tablets!

Hevz

There's a liquid iron supplement now that's supposed to be less likely to make you sick and constipated.

My iron levels are always about the same as yours are now and my midwife said to just take iron tablets every other day if that's better for me. Also eat more iron rich foods like leafy greens etc

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandsta...henyrpregnant/

Also drinking a glass of pure orange juice with iron rich foods helps the absorbtion and will help to combat constipation. Constipation itself is usually caused by dehydration as well as lack of fibre.

poppy

Glad that you are feeling better Peanutbean.

I am on iron tablets as well - Ferrograd. They are horrible red pills that taste vile and make you constipated! But, if they are doing their job I suppose it is worth it. My reading at my 28 week apointment was 10.3. Apparantely the NHS advises iron supplements for anyone with a reading under 11, but between 10 and 11 is still only considered mildly anaemic and not much of a problem. Spinach should definately help!