Low iron + maternity leave

[LaurenMM]

Just had my 28week blood results back... low iron explains why I've been feeling icky Are the iron tablets really bad? I've heard some terrible things about them :S

Also, just wondering when you're all leaving to go on maternity? I'm leaving 6 weeks before my due date and I'm worried I'm gonna be bored (i've pretty much got everything sorted for the baby now ) I would stay longer but I'm still really struggling with fatigue and to be honest working in retail is stressing me out and I dont wanna be stressing!

I do make cards in my spare time so I was thinking of making my thank you cards in advance and getting them sorted as I probably wont have time when baby arrives I've checked round our local area for classes n stuff and literally nowhere does anything for pregnant women I live on an army camp and theres a general chit-chat meet up for pregnant women or those who have just had babies but its only on once or twice a month and it usually ends up getting cancelled lol :S

xx

 

[Mrs N]

I havent had iron pills but my mum got constipation and my cousin got diorreah!! Depends on how anemic you are but remember that spinach, liver and green veg is very high is iron so you could try for a week or two to see if they make any difference??
Im going on maternity at 32 weeks but I already have loads of stuff in mind to do but then I will be finishing at the beginning of dec so will have xmas to get excited about!!
xxx

 

[DW1978]

I had iron tablets after I had Lennon due to my blood loss in child birth. They were ok, just made my poo really black!! LOL. I think they are known for making people constipated but I was fine.

I'm not leaving work before baby is born as I don't get paid maternity leave

 

[rachcraig]

Im on iron tablets and there ok, only thing is they make my heartburn even worse. I'm supposed to take them 3 times a day but I usually only manage 2, been trying to eat more iron rich food aswell though.

I finished 5 weeks before my due date and I was a bit bored at first but as time has gone on I've got more and more exhausted so its been good just being able to relax xx

 

[ft90]

I'm on iron tablets, and I don't really struggle with them at all... Mine are these big capsules, they're half dark green/blue and half red, which is a really unappetising colour pill to try and swallow! Some of the side effects are quite bad but I haven't had anything bad. Some people get constipation, some get an upset stomach, I haven't had either really. I normally go to the toilet about 5 times a day anyway (super fast metabolism) and that hasn't changed!

Like DW said, they do change the colour of your poo, which can be really unsettling actually haha, but it's not dangerous.

The only down side for me is that I don't actually feel any better for taking them... My iron levels were dangerous according to my GP, down at 8.1, and now they're just over 10. MW said I should feel more awake, less breathless etc, but I slept 11 hours last night, so I don't believe I'll feel any better, and I still get dizzy!!! Think that's my low BP though

They are good at getting your iron levels up quickly though, mine went up in about 2 weeks after a serious drop. Much better than iron rich foods, I eat spinach about 3 times a week and it doesn't help that much...

As for maternity leave, I finished my law degree in May, so my life has been maternity leave since then... OH works offshore as well, so I'm pretty fed up on my own. You might get a bit bored, but it's a good chance to do last minute preparations!

xx

 

[Mummy2Adam]

Im on iron tablets too and have been since 20weeks, i take 3 a day plus 1 pregnicare tablet and my iron levels are still dropping! I havent had any side effects but if my levels are still dropping my body must just be absorbing them. The only advice i can give is take them with orange juice and take them after you have just eaten.

Im going on Mat leave 2weeks before little missy is due x x

 

[ft90]

Mummy2Adam that's awful that your tablets aren't working! I'm so glad mine are, because I want to have LO at the birthing centre, and when they told me my iron levels were 8.1, they said they wouldn't take me unless I got them up to 10.5 by 37 weeks, because I'd be considered high risk in case I lost too much blood. Think they're going to keep me on 200mg a day. They were considering lowering it, but decided against it, which is probably for the best.

Definitely a good idea to take them with orange juice. And don't have any milk products an hour before or after because it can stop your body from absorbing it...

xx