Low Haemoglobin??

[{sarah}]

Has anyone had this as an issue? What did you do to help it? My Dr has suggested I increase my Elevit to two per day & we'll see how I'm going at my next appointment. Should I be eating anything different? More of something, less of something? I've got no idea what it means other than it *may* have something to do with iron intake.

[sushee]

I had low haemaglobin with my first three pgs, Sarah, and was on Fefol (iron supplement) from the get go with my last two. With DS2, it got quite bad, I was on 4 a day and yet I still almost wasn't allowed to birth at the birth centre, as it posed an 'unacceptable' risk. Do you find yourself craving red meat? I swear I could have eaten a huge slab steak raw every day, my craving for it was so bad! Lol! With the Fefol and an increase in my red meat intake, I managed to keep the levels just above thier minimum requirements.

[Mrs P]

Hey Sarah - you may already know this, but it's a good idea not to take your vitamins at the same time as caffeine (interferes with absorption), and things like iron are absorbed better if taken with vitamin C - so a glass of OJ goes great!!

[{sarah}]

I didn't know about the caffeine, but I don't have any anyway (or very little, chocolate only & very limited coke) and I always have them with orange or pineapple juice.

As for the meat Sush, the thought of it makes me shudder. I am so not a big meat eater & my Dr always has concerns about anemia, but I've never had an issue. The only thing I've been wanting is bacon, would that count?

[sushee]

I don't think so! Lol! I've always loved my steaks super rare anyway, but the craving for red meat when I was pg was unbelievable! I would look at raw meat in the supermarkets and drool. My XH used to joke that I was becoming a vampire!

Your elevit should give your iron intake a bit of a boost. Just be careful though coz it made me tired and I had a few dizzy spells, too.

[Alan]

Hi Sarah
Low Haemoglobin is usually caused by low iron. Red meat is a good source of iron. If red meat is not for you then leafy green vegies can help. If you decide to take iron supplements then be careful as they are known to cause constipation. A liquid iron supplement is usually more expensive but is absorbed better and usually causes less problems with constipation.

[sushee]

Oh yeah thanks for the reminder, Alan! Lol! yep had problems in that dept too!

[Alan]

LOL Sushee
It can really gum up the works hey hun

[{sarah}]

It's even lower now at 96 (not sure what it should be ??). I've been put on Ferrograd C, so will be taking that along with my Elevit. Has anyone else taken this?

What effects can it have on labour / birth and the baby?

[The[cookie]Doctor]

should be between 100 & 170, least thats what i was told by the dr as my count was 104 & they put me on ferrograd c too. i was also sent to have some tests done to look into anaemia.

ferrograd c - as alan said, can cause constipation. make sure your water intake is high and have some juice around as well. i found (sorry tmi) it actually made my trips to the loo better, but thats probably as i was more conscious of what i was eating and drinking.

i didnt notice any changes during pg, but as it was my first labour im not sure if it made any difference.

hope this sort of helps!

[Alan]

96 is not too bad. It will not have any effect on your baby. The only concern is if you have a heavy bleed this will drop your haemoglobin even lower and if low enough would require a transfusion

[{sarah}]

Cool thanks Alan

And thanks Ash as well.