PeanutBean

Thanks for the info Hevz, I know it (lol) but it's kind of you to post! I didn't know about the liquid one though. I'll just have to see how I get on when I get m tablets on Monday, it's always nice to know there are options.

xXDonnaXx

Thanks hun. The letter got me worried. I'm only at antenatal next Friday so I'll take the letter with me. But it's quite a while off. I was thinking is there anything I can take for the time being? Is Folic-acid an iron supplement? Or would I have to get something like Pregnacare? And to put my mind at ease - will it affect my baby if my iron levels are low? Or does it just affect me. Lol, I sound like a paranoid wreck..

I hope you do get your home birth. I'm sure you'll be fine with taking the tablets, and eating spinach.

PeanutBean

Don't worry. Your doc should call you in for another blood test though, maybe give them a call tomorrow and see if you can book yourself in with a nurse? Folic-acid won't help that's for something else. All the things Hevz mentions above, having vitamin C when you eat iron rich things (includes red meat, egg yolks, wholegrains, green leafy vegetables, some pluses and seeds) and try to avoid too much magnesium or calcium at the same time, so drink orange juice with your meal for example and avoid drinking milk or eating cheese for a while after you eat while you absorb the iron. There is iron in the multivitamins but pregnacare didn't change my levels! I think because they are combined with other things the absorption of the iron is much less than with iron only tablets.

If you're interested in alternative remedies you can try New Era Ferrous Phosphate. It's a homeopathic remedy, take three times a day, four tablets in a dose (they're tasty too!). But you need to avoid coffee, menthol and mint (including toothpaste) when you use homeopathy so it's a bit of a commitment! My homeopath is sending me some other remedies to help me improve my absorption of iron but I'll not get them til tomorrow so I don't know what they are yet!

seteck

Glad everything is okay!

PeanutBean

Well I've finally got my prescription, is Galfer syrup which looks delightful, I don't think. But they've not included a medicine spoon! I'm damned if I'm walking back to the chemist this afternoon, beat already, so just measured out a few different spoons with a small syringe we got to collect the dog's wee! Unused syringe I might add! So now I have a spoon that's about right to tide me over until tomorrow when I can send DH!

xXDonnaXx

They haven't got any appointments until 10th October,and that's the day I'm at antenatal. So I'm waiting until then. I don't like any of the food's you've just mentioned,so I guess I'll just see what the midwife says next week.

PeanutBean

Not even with a nurse? But it's only a 2 minute job to take bloods. That's rubbish!

Here is what my veggie book says has iron in it (add to this red meat!):
Egg yolk
Fortified breakfast cereal (though wholewheat bran can inhibit absorption so pick your cereal)
Green leafy veg
Dried fruit
Cashew nuts
Pulses (so lentils, chickpeas, beans etc)
Wholegrains
Tofu
Pumpkin seeds
Black treacle
Brown rice

Oh and you could ask a pharmacist for advice to tide you over.