Anaemic

[g00ber]

After getting results from my recent blood tests i have found out that i am Anaemic. I am currently taking an Iron supplement, a vitamin c supplement (to aid in iron absorbtion) and the Blackmores Pregnancy and Breast Feeding formula tablets. I am trying to add as much iron to my diet as possible but i am not big on leafy greens (spinich.... yuck!!).

Can anyone here tell me of any other good sources of iron apart from red meat?

[AnyDream]

Try Floradix, it's an iron and vitamin herbal tonic thingy. It's quite expensive but very effective. From the nutrition dot org dot au site:

• Liver, Kidney and heart are particularly rich sources
• Chicken, other poultry and fish
• Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals
• Rolled oats, rice and paste (use some wholegrain)
• Bread (include some wholemeal and mixed grain)
• Legumes (baked beans, dried peas, beans and lentils)
• Potatoes and vegetables, particularly peas, beans and broad
beans
• Dried Fruit

[Adnil]

It sounds like you are taking enough. I would actually be a little bit wary of taking too many supplements IYKWIM. Did you talk to your OB about other options? I know there is an iron injection you can get which may be more effective if you aren't getting enough from the supplements.

I am also too low on iron, unortunately iron tablets make me terribly constipated So I am having to force down all the red meat etc that I'd normally be happy to avoid

[MumofLewis]

Hi,

I am anaemic too and have been taking Floradix because the tablets made my stomach really sore. It has made me feel loads better but my latest blood test show I'm still too low.
Apart from red meat, I try and eat breakfast cereal, lentils or chick peas, spinach etc but it is really hard to get enough. Milo is supposed to be quite good too.

[Mummy Mummy]

Hi There, When I recieved my results I was told that I was anaemic. Since then I have had another test and my levels have increased just above the aneamic level. I was told to take my pregnancy supplement & iron supplement with a meal that did not contain too much calcium, but more vitamin C. In other words I would take mine at luch with a sandwich and a glass of juice - rather then with a bowl of cereal with milk. Sounds like your on the right track anyway - hopefully your levels will increase soon. Best wishes, Sarah

[Feathertop]

Happy to lend you some iron, I'm full of the stuff and have never been anaemic in my life! (Don't be too envious, its a genetic thing....)

[Keira]

Hi g00ber

I've been anemic for years, and it gets so bad that i have severe heart palpitations, get dizzy, can't catch my breath and feel like i'm going to faint! When that happens i eat a big handful of pumpkin seeds/papitas (they're the green ones) and within a couple of minutes the palpitations stop and i feel all better! Otherwise i would feel like fainting for up to an hour.... but if you're taking iron supplements and eating your greens and meats, you should be ok.

[blueflower]

Hi Goober.
I suggest taking the iron supplement with a glass of Vit C fortified/enriched OJ as opposed to another supplement.
Vitamins and minerals are shown to be better absorbed through foods rather than supplements, so the less supplements the better IYKWIM.
Make sure you stay away from liver- it is really high in Vit A, which we are ment to avoid excessive amounts whilst pg.
There is way way more iron in red meats than green leafy veges, so stick to the red meats where ever possible.
Also, check out changing supplements- I know elevit is a complete pg and bf supplement that includes iron, although it is a bit more expensive.
Make sure you increase your fibre as iron supplements tend to make you more constipiated. I also suggest playing around with the time of day that you take the supplement. I know if I take mine in morning I am contispated during the day, but if I take it at night I am okay.

HTH
Blueflower

[Morgaine]

I would personally take Floradix or Spatone since they're gentlest on the body, less adverse effects. I wouldn't worry though if your iron levels were between 85-105 since it is physiological and normal for your iron levels to be "low" in your third trimester.

A large study done on haemoglobin levels concluded that "the magnitude of the fall in haemogloblin concentration is related to birth weight", with highest average birth weight being in women whose haemoglobin concentration was between 85 g/L and 95 g/L.

Results showed that when haemoglobin concentration failed to fall below 105 g/L in pregnancy, there was an increased risk of pre-eclampsia, premature birth and low birth weight. Other studies indicate risks with haemoglobin and hematocrit values which are high, and that maternal anaemia usually is not associated with adverse risks and may be an indicator of increased maternal plasma volume.


Steer P, Alam MA, Wadsworth J, Welch A. Relation between maternal haemoglobin concentration and birth weight in different ethnic groups. BMJ 1995; 310: 389-91

Raman TSR; Parimala V; Bhalla M; Venkateswar V; Iyenkar A. A correlative study of maternal haemoglobin and birth weight Medical Journal Armed Forces India. 2001 Apr; 57(2): 110-3

Blankson ML, Goldenberg RL, Cutter G, Cliver SP. The relationship between maternal hematocrit and pregnancy outcome: black-white differences. J Natl Med Assoc. 1993 Feb;85(2):130-4.

Theresa O Scholl Iron status during pregnancy: setting the stage for mother and infant1,2,3,4 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 81, No. 5, 1218S-1222S, May 2005

[Adnil]

Thanks for that info Morgaine. I know my level was 104, which my OB said was on the low side of normal, and to get eating my red meat! She wasn't too worried but did say I'd have another blood test done at some stage.

[Feathertop]

Hi Morgaine, thanks for the references, that's really interesting reading!

It appears there's an optimal haemoglobin level during pregnancy in terms of risk to the baby, and that above and below this, the risks increase. I found a Chinese study which looked at the relative risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, and the lowest relative risk was in the group with Hb 120-129. The highest relative risk was in the group with Hb of 60-89 (pretty low) - roughly 3 times the risk of the above group. An English study by Little found a similar pattern, but the group they stated was at lowest risk was 90-110. The study by Steer certainly suggested max birthweight with Hb 85-95 (as their lowest measurement during pregnancy) - it also said that "the lowest incidence of low birthweight and preterm labour occurred with a lowest Hb concentration of 95-105".

Wow, what an interesting set of articles!!!!! This is really interesting for someone like me who has genetically high iron levels and has never had anaemia. I'll be interested to see what outcome I have!

[Morgaine]

If you have genetically high iron levels Feathertop, it is more than possible that the physiological drop of iron during pregnancy will still leave you in the range of what is considered acceptable by your care provider? So the drop in iron level for you still occurs and whatever that level is for your body is physiologically normal for you as an individual?

Linda, 104 sounds a healthy normal! I wouldn't even be doing floradix/spatone for that. How are you feeling?

Anaemia is best diagnosed with a reading BEFORE you get pregnant and comparing it to the reading in the third trimester apparently.

[Adnil]

That's good! I *think* I was around 120 at the beginning. I'm feeling pretty good. I'm tired, but I think that's to be expected when pg, especially with an active toddler. Thanks again Morgaine.

[Morgaine]

Really? 120 is good for non-pregnant women. You obviously weren't anaemic prior or at the start of your pregnancy which according to the research on iron levels and pregnancy, you aren't anaemic now and not at risk. It just seems like another case of medical care pathologising the normal in pregnancy.

What is in the iron supplement you are taking? Hopefully it is not ferrous sulphate. Since it is not supported by evidence and your body that you currently need iron supplements, you might want to look into just relying on diet and your prenatals for iron. If it is ferrous sulphate, and you don't want to stop taking it, talk to your doctor about a supplement that is ferrous fumarate and ferrous gluconate - or just get a substitute for your supplements like floradix or spatone.

[Adnil]

I am not taking any supplements. I find that taking iron blocks me up really badly, which is why I am trying to get the iron up with just diet - so it's great to know that I'm not doing too badly.

[Feathertop]

Hi Morgaine, I normally sit around 140-150 or so when not pregnant so I have had a drop in my levels.

[ej_1974]

I take a diff pg supp to you, which is elevit as the iron content it much higher than the one you take eg its 60mg. I've taken this for both my pgs and found it to be most helpful, so maybe you should consider switching rather than taking lots of supps?!

general food things I eat that have high iron are - red meat (not that its my fav), green veges, legumes, almonds, dried apricots and licorice (yum).

hope this advice is helpful that you are are back to feeling like your goodself soon

[Tracey]

I am having bloods done this weekend to check my iron....