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Is someone able to tell me what the normal range for iron levels should be during pregnancy?
I was told today mine are "seriously low" but in my fluster I didn't really ask how serious seriously low is... I was only given a number, and that number is 9.
9 what? i think that's far too small a number to be heamoglobin, but perhaps it's ferritin? quick google search tells me normal ferritin level is 12-150 ng/L
I have no idea. He just said 9...
A hb of 9 is very low. We usually like 11 and above (although 10.5 can be accepted). While the difference between 9 and 11 doesn't seem like alot it is quite hard to get your hb up, especially during pg. Has he given you any options? Are you taking any iron supplements?
Your hb level needs to be 11 and above just incase you bleed during birth it gives you a buffer.
What I have been able to find is that it should preferably be above 15 for pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The normal levels are 9-150 (what a variation =/)
Mine was 7 when mine was tested. No wonder I feel like crud.
He has put me on a High dose if iron and if it hasn't improved by 36 weeks he wants me to have an iron infusion.
I'm worried at exactly how long it's been so low for, and of it's done anything to baby. I've been feeling exhausted too, but I had put it down to just plain old pregnancy and having a toddler. Looking forward to getting some energy back, that's for sure.
My level was 4 with my first preg, 8 with my second. My OB told me they like a minimum of 15. I was on iron supplements from 27 weeks onwards and started on intramuscular injections at 36 weeks when I was getting heart palpitations and major breathlessness. I couldn't believe how good I started feeling after the injections.
I feel breathless all the time too :( maybe I should have gone straight for the infusion?
I feel a bit jibbed, i have never heard of the injections.
I was having really bad dizzy spells / vertigo - i thought it was just low blood pressure but now know it was iron.
Walking even 20-30 metres was enough to give me breathlessness, dizzy and feel like i was going to pass out.
I have been on supps just over a week and feel a lot better but i know that wont last postnatally, especially if any pph etc.
The infusion thing I was offered is actually a three hour stint hooked up to an iron iv drip. So just a one off thing...
I got down as low as 9 in the last couple of months. Ob asked me if I was tired but I too had just put it down to being pregnant. I was put on tablets twice a day for two weeks and then back to one tablet each day until the birth. The next blood test showed that my iron levels had picked up again. I can't remember what the tablets were called....little white bottle with a red label.
Ferrograd C, I think ;):
Highly recommended as I think they are slow release (so no iron overload) and absorbed easier as containing vit c.
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Awesome. Because that's what i got XD:
Helle now this going to be a bit of an over share but hey what's a bit of poo talk between friends ;).
To ensure that your supplements are strong enough watch your poo. Your poo will change colour to a black/grey colour.
Are you having a repeat hb in a few weeks? You can always opt for a transfusion if the supps aren't making you feel better.
That's them! Thanks, dragoncookie :)
Haha thanks! I'll keep an eye out for that. How long do they usually take to kick in?:
as dragoncookie said - Vitamin C optimises the body's ability to absorb iron so it may be worth looking at getting a vitamin C supplement as well - if you can find it in the powdered form without colours and flavouring that's ideal :) I've also heard anecdotally that vitamin c can lower the likelihood that you will test positive to GBS (if you do test for it). Good luck!
The iron tabs I have are "vit c infused" so im all good there. Also went to my naturopath today and got some herbs that help with absorption and restoring red blood counts and it all got a bit confusing after that!:
sounds like you are giving yourself the best chance to avoid a transfusion. Great work. Fingers crossed your hb jumps and you start feeling better.
put it this way... the only reason i had a drug free birth was because of the love i have for needles. ;):