Iron Levels and risk of bleeding

[FarmGirl]

I've just had my midwife appointment and they are a little concerned about my iron level. They are at 97, but this means I may have to birth in the Birth Suite instead of Birth Centre because of the risk of a bleed.

My questions are to everyone -
1. Has anyone had a problem before with their Iron levels and a post birth hemerage (sorry, can't spell)?
2. What advice have you been given about increasing your iron levels?

[LizLemon]

Hi farmgirl.

My iron levels at 27 weeks were very low - I was told a level of 8 but maybe they are talking about a different thing? I can't speak bout haemorage sorry but I am on spatone now to get my levels up. You can also have intramuscular injections - maybe that is an option closer to birth.

[Anila]

I suffer with low iron during all of my pregnancies, this being number 6 is no different, so far i havent had an issue with bleeding after birth, although the drs remind me of it constantly due to the fact that it is 6th baby and low iron.

I take ferro grad c, u get it from the chemist, its in a red bottle and about $15 depending on the chemist, it has a month supply in it, and i just take it with orange juice to help it bind, ive taken this every pregnancy, and my iron levals are rising nicely.

So far they have risen for 96- 100- and last bt was 107, i have another bt in 2 weeks to check again, ill be 36 weeks then.

Good luck hun, get on the iron tablets straight away and u should be fine, just be warey they do turn ur number 2s black lol

[Trillian]

I don't think that low iron will increase your risk of having a bleed, but if you do happen to have one then it will totally wreck you for a while because you are already low in iron to start with. I am happy to stand corrected on that one though. I had a bleed after my 3rd baby, but my iron was fine and I felt like crap for the first few days till I had a blood transfusion. With my 4th I did have lowish iron but I never had a bleed and felt great after the birth.

[Khaleesi]

I suffer from low iron & Hb Levels & i did have a bleed with DD2.
The only thing you really can do is take iron supplements & try to eat more iron enriched foods.
I think the 97 would be Hemoglobin levels

[FarmGirl]

Thanks everyone,

I'm pleased to advise that the midwife called back with my test reults and my levels are back up to 104. I had been supplementing with iron enriched foods and elevit for the past two weeks, and I'm so pleased the work has paid off. Now to keep it up!

[Cherished]

I had a vegetarian pregnancy and took Fero Grade C (sp) it increased my iron. Having said that my OB was not concerned that my actual iron level was low. He tested my iron absorption and that was really good. He said it's better to have low iron levels but lots of the iron that I do have being absorbed rather than having high iron levels and not much of it getting absorbed. I guess that is why plenty of red meat eaters have anemia.