Supplements - too much iron?

I am taking Elevit and have been since prior to conceiving our baby. TMI warning....the iron in it is making my number 2's black as black, and i'm sure is contributing to my irregular bowels and consitipation issues. It was the same before pregnancy as it is now 17 weeks in.
I compared the iron in Elevit to the iron in Blackmores Pregnancy Gold for interest - Elevit is 60mg and Blackmores is 5mg!!!! I'm curious as to the big difference - is there are recommended daily intake of iron during pregnancy?
I am not a vego and I eat very well - i get iron from meat, dairy, leafy greens and other veg plus more so I don't imagine I would be deficient if I swapped to the Blackmores supplement to try and stop the bowel issues?
Keen to hear from anyone about their experience taking Blackmores?
Thanks 2 u all
Lolly x

I am taking blackmores but at 28wks had low iron so had to go onto an iron supplement aswell!! It's good to have higher iron instead of not enough in pregnancy. I think it's fine to keep taking the elevit, they wouldn't put too much in. Maybe just get something else like metamucil or something to help with the constipation??

From memory, Elevit has twice the RDI of iron for pregnant women. Unless you have a rare medical condition, the excess iron is excreted - hence the black and sticky bowel motions.

Don't assume that it is enough to keep your iron levels fine, though. I'm not vegetarian and eat red meat regularly, but ended up so anemic during pregnancy that I ended up taking three additional iron supplements each day on top of the elevit just to try to get my iron levels somewhere approaching normal.

My advice - have your iron levels checked by your care provider before switching, and make good friends with metamucil and drink lots of water...

BW

Hmm....since taking the extra iron I haven't noticed the black no 2's, maybe only once. I wonder if this means I still don't have enough...

SaraJane, I'd think it was more your body adjusting... I feel like I've had sticky black poo forever, and my OB just seemed to want to keep me taking more and more iron tablets. I do recall feeling tired at times when my iron intake couldn't keep up with Samuel's iron demands on my body - but I don't ever recall my poo returning to normal. In fact, my OB put me back on iron tablets in hospital after Sam was born... I'm still taking them now (at least until I run out) and it's starting to feel like this is the way my bowel motions will be forever...

BW

I'm taking Blackmores - partially because I found I got constipated on Elevit, but also there is no Omega 3/6 oils or Iodine in Elevit - both essential in pregnancy. I couldn't be bothered taking extra things.
I am veg - and just found out today that I am borderline anaemic, so doc suggested I take 200mg of iron per day. So I am taking Spatone a liquid iron supplement with excellent bio-absorption (up to 40%) and it's supposed to be less likely to cause the black poo/constipation. I just did a bit a research and found that the iron needs in pregnancy jump quite a bit - 1st trimester is the same as non-pregnancy status, 2nd tri needs x2 the amount usually required and then 3rd tri 4x the amount of iron usually required for women. No wonder I am beginning to feel tired!

Bronners, thats the other reason why I was thinking of changing to Blackmores - the omegas and the iodine. When i asked at the chemist why they recommend Elevit over Blackmores they said it related to the higher amount of folic acid in Elevit. Can anyone quickly point me to a link regarding the recommended intake of folic acid during pregnancy? All supplements have different amounts, I want to know exactly what is scientifically recommended.
I like your suggestion about taking Blackmores and topping up with iron - the better absorption sounds great, i think that's part of my problem too. I didn't realise iron needs increase as the pregnancy progresses.
Thanx!
Lolly

Elevit is known for making people constipated. I was constipated my entire pg with DS. This time I swapped to a different multi and its been fine.
Its not only the amount of iron thats in it, but also the type of iron - different multis have different types of iron that can be more or less easily absorbed.

ROFL I have the opposite with Elevit. It keeps me regular but the Blackmores one bunged me up big time and played havoc with my IBS :rolleyes:
The black poo I can deal with as long as the pipes work alright :lol:

Yes- black poos & constipation caused by excess iron.
I take Blackmores Preg & Breastfeeding and have found even that has slowed me down in the bowel department. However, I have found significant relief from taking psyllium husk and linseeds- (I have a muesli every day which contains both).
Remembering to drink a glass of water every hour is also recommended during pregnancy & breastfeeding and will help significantly. If your body doesn't have enough water to carry out its basic operations- it will 'steal' water from your intestines & bowel, leaving your poos hard, dry and difficult to pass! (Sorry if TMI!)
If you are interested in switching over to blackmores and would like to compensate with a great iron supplement that doesn't constipate, try the liquid iron tonic 'Floradix' (the yeast free one) available from health food stores. Just confirm with the staff that it is ok to take during pregnancy! (I'm quite sure it is). Taking a probiotic supplement (ie- Inner Health Plus or the wonderfully amazing 'In-Liven'- again, ask at your health food store) can also provide significant relief. There is an article here on bellybelly about the the miraculous In-Liven - brilliant for IBS too Raven!!
I hope you find some lasting relief soon!!

XX

Ahh....maybe it's coz I'm on Inliven aswell that the extra iron I'm taking isn't giving me any trouble. Go Inliven!!
Lolly- folic acid is most important in the first trimester so the fact that Blackmores doesn't have as much wouldn't matter too much now.

Lolly - I think the recommended intake of folic acid is 400mcg per day during pregnancy. But there would be certainly no harm in having more, especially in the first trimester.