Low Iron levels @ 26 weeks

[Sara's Boys]

I just had my 26 weeks blood tests taken on moday, and today, I recieved a letter telling me my iron levels were 19 instead of 50. And that I should be taking iron supplements .

Can anyone recommend one that is less likely to constipate. And what is the negatives of low iron, how does it effect mum and bub?
Thanks

[poshBecks]

Hi :wave:

I was anaemic with both of my pregnancies. I took fefol I think it was. With ds I got a little constipated but with DD no dramas. Just make sure you take vit C aswell so that the iron absorbs & drink plenty of water & eat lots of fruit!! :)

Oh negs of low iron..... I kept fainting!! :eek: not good!!

[Alekay]

Hi i also hasd low iron with my daughter towards the end of my pregnancy and there is one it comes in a small white bottle with a orange lid i cant remember the name of it but it has vit c in it also which is ment to help. I alos got told from my midwife to drink milo as it is high in iron as i dont eat enough meat for when i was preg. You can probably ask the people at the chemist and they could help.

Good Luck for the rest of your pregnancy:wave:

[Ana Gram]

I had a level of 9 but didn't actually bother with the iron tablets as they made me throw up.

Oh yes, the milo thing. I was recommended to eat milo. Not to bother with the milk and just eat it by the spoonful out of the can :D

[Sara's Boys]

milo...good? Alright!! Finally some goodies I CAN have!

[~Emmylou~]

I used Fefol as well when this happened in my last pregnancy.
The main thing they worry about is after you deliver the baby (whether vaginally or by c-section) you're at increased risk of haemmoraging if your iron is very low.

So with yours being that low I'd probably get on a supplement.

[SassyMummy]

I took the iron tablets with the white bottle and orange lid...they were cheaper than other brands, and were allowed during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

I ended up taking 2 a day because my doc advised me to (despite it saying take ONE a day on the bottle).

I was never constipated...but it did make my poo go a little black in colour though...lol.

[Gumby]

I am taking "FGF"
It is an Iron/Folate suppliment. I have been taking it for 5 or so weeks now and have found it doesnt make me constipated but I do drink ALOT of water.
It is avaliable @ the chemist and I think it is the one most doctors recommend. HTH

[Areca]

My midwife told me to get ferro grad C. And yes, it makes your poo black but I never got constipated.

[Sara's Boys]

Ok, So I went out out an got some fefol, it was the one they recommended at the chemist has folic acid too. I took one this morning and one this afternoon, and will go on to just one a day from tomorrow. Not sure if it i mind over matter, but I feel better, more energetic, less hanging for that coffee! Thanks every one for your help.

[Mariposa]

i was anaemic with my last pregnancy my iron levels dropped down to 2. i was so exhausted and no energy whatsoever. fefol made me constipated, so i went to the docs and got some advice, and then went to the chemist to see what they recommended, and i brought FERRASORB also contain folic acid,vitamin b12 and iron these worked fantastic. would highly recommended them.

[subaruforestermum]

I used Fefol as well when this happened in my last pregnancy.
The main thing they worry about is after you deliver the baby (whether vaginally or by c-section) you're at increased risk of haemmoraging if your iron is very low.

So with yours being that low I'd probably get on a supplement.

Hmmm maybe this is why I haemmoraged....I had low Iron, and took the ones from the chemist that also have folate in them, and anyway like Chellegoth, they made me nauseous, so I stopped taking them........

Try them and see how you go, if your Iron does get too low, in some cases they do give Iron injections, and they leave big brown marks on the leg, that sometimes never go away.....

[indigoin0z]

MILO!!! = iron! who would of thought?!

my hubby actually bought me some the other day [not knowing the iron info] because i hadnt been eating anything besides cheese+tomato toast for a week...

i felt really guilty when he bought it, because im overweight i actually am reeeeally strict with what i eat [no marg/oil, sugar/sweets etc], but now i dont have to feel guilty - well, at least while im not well anyway..

to be honest - i dont even like it that much, its just a nice change from cheese&tomato toast:yes:

[bambikins]

2 years ago my iron dropped to a level 2 and my haemaglobin was at 70 (ready for a transfusion). I had every test possible to find out why and there was no explaination........I was put on ferrograd which after a couple of weeks brought my level back up tp normal. Now that I am pregnant I am on Fab Iron with added vitamin B.......my iron levels are great now.

[MamaSage]

Another one to try is Floradix. It's a liquid, so absorbed easier and does not make you as constipated as others will. Get it in Coles in the healthfood section or in a healthfood store.

[Ana Gram]

C'mon, you know that milo is the fun way to go. Hoe into that tin and don't share!!

[Honeydoll]

Hiya,

I was told to take Fefol and I'm also taking the Blackmores Pregnancy Multi. My OBG is really happy with my iron levels so those vitamins could have contributed. :)

I was told by the chemist that most iron supplements can cause constipation but hormonal and physical changes brought by pregnancy can cause that as well.

Just take alot of fibre in your diet. I take Bonvit (like Metamucil but better). You can also get psyllium husk from your health shop and just sprinkle it over your food or add to your drink.

Also, a lady from a health food shop told me something about an iron supplement in liquid form and it doesn't cause constipation. I can't remember the name though :(.

Anyway, hope your iron levels improve :)

[jessgray]

i am really low in iron i got told at 30 weeks and my iron tablets have been making feel worse then when i dont take them so i havent taken them for 2 days. i see ym midwife on tuesday so i am going to talk to her about it.
i have blackouts and dizzy spells, i also have low BP.
i think i might try eating a huge tin of milo to up my iron levels lol :D if DP complains i will just add the milo to everything i eat lmao