Iron deficiency

[Hoody81]

Ladies, I’m struggling. I just assumed I had first trimester tiredness but the blood test from my booking in appointment showed I’m anemic. Great. No wonder I’ve been stumbling around like a drunk person these last few weeks!

Is anyone else taking iron? If so what are you taking and what dosage?

How are you combatting black poos and constipation? (I can’t eat iron rich food as I have all day nausea).

Please help...I feel like I can’t function as a normal human being and I’m starting to feel depressed

 

[April4415]

I was given iron tablets after my 31w (I think) appointment. I wasn't really feeling excessively tired though I just got them as I was borderline on the numbers and they'd rather treat me than my levels get lower. I have one tablet twice a day with orange juice and just eat normally. Black poos aren't all that great haha but I think I've been pretty lucky and not really felt constipated. When I have it's been a few times throughout my pregnancy and not just the tablets. Xx

 

[Mayflower85]

I'm 38 weeks pregnant and anaemic, my levels are 94, my midwife would like to see them over 110.

I've been taking two 210mg Ferrous Fumarate tablets for the last 5 weeks, and last week I had to go in for an iron infusion as the tablets weren't making a difference.

Fortunately for me, the gaviscon I've been taking has been cancelling out the side effects of the tablets! I've also been putting spinach in everything, eating as much broccoli as possible and munching on raisins and dried apricots.

 

[PeanutButter]

I was on 3 a day from 28 weeks until baby was 8 weeks old. My tiredness didn't leave until she was 8 weeks either.
Ask your Dr to prescribe you some lactulose to help with constipation.
Feel better x

 

[mylullaby]

Always take the tablets with a glass of orange juice (because you can’t absorb iron without enough vitamin c). Eat as much iron rich food as possible when you feel well enough to eat better. Plenty of fibre too for the constipation. A bowl of bran flakes with a handful of raisins/sultanas would be good- slightly more manageable than a plate of spinach! Beans are also good for iron so if you could manage beans on toast (brown is better than white for iron and fibre) if the nausea does ease off that’s another relatively easy one. Xx

 

[April4415]

Also, my midwife said not to take tablets half hour either side of milk as it stops the iron being absorbed, so time your cuppas and tablets accordingly! Xx

 

[Hoody81]

Wow! This is all so so helpful! Thank you

I’ve got an appointment with the GP today as he wants to discuss...
I finally managed to get through to my midwife who advised me to take 1x 220mg tablet per day...which isn’t so bad. I think in my last pregnancy I was taking them 3x a day and I couldn’t poop at all!

I just need this tiredness to go away as I can’t afford to take any time off work

I really appreciate all the advice xx