Iron??

[Storm Bride]

Okay. I had blood tests in December. In January, I contacted my GP, and found that my iron levels were low. I immediately started to supplement (Floradix, molasses in my breakfast). When my Floradix ran out, I switched over to some prescription iron pills I still have from after I had Aaron (fairly severe anemia post-op - white as a ghost, with no colour in my face, hands, etc.). I'm still taking those.

Yesterday, I had more blood work - glucose tolerance test and another hemoglobin check. I'm still low. (This is actually good news, in a way, because I've been freakishly exhausted, and at least this explains it!!) My GP wants me to pick up an iron supplement called Palafer, which I've used before. I can do that, but I really don't know if it's any more high-power than the prescription ones I'm taking, yk?

Does anybody have any other suggestions? Nobody in my family is benefiting from mama being so wiped out...including mama!!

[abigail_b]

You probably already know this but you should avoid taking the iron with dairy products since that inhibits absorption. Taking it with orange juice or other Vitamin C rich foods increases absorption. Also if you are having any intestinal issues because of it then you should get a supplement made with iron bisglycinate as that is non-constipating (I know of one brand called Bluebonnet that makes this). Basically, from what I understand it is very hard for the body to absorb iron from supplements so you have to do everything you can to increase absorption, and that is why you have to take so much when you are low.
Good luck!

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by abigail_b

You probably already know this but you should avoid taking the iron with dairy products since that inhibits absorption. Taking it with orange juice or other Vitamin C rich foods increases absorption. Also if you are having any intestinal issues because of it then you should get a supplement made with iron bisglycinate as that is non-constipating (I know of one brand called Bluebonnet that makes this). Basically, from what I understand it is very hard for the body to absorb iron from supplements so you have to do everything you can to increase absorption, and that is why you have to take so much when you are low.
Good luck!

Thanks. I've been adding vitamin C and avoiding dairy when I supplement. I'll have to check my numbers with the GP and see if I've made any progress at all. This is really frustrating. I'm soooo tired, and being such a miserable mama to my kids.

[cristeen]

Have you been supplementing your diet other than molasses? Red meat, liver, leafy greens, dried fruit, cooking in cast iron, etc.

I would definitely check your numbers, since "low" iron is normal in pregnancy... it's a matter of *how* low is it. And don't forget to supplement your B vitamins, which can also cause anemia.

[Storm Bride]

I already eat lots of leafy greens (probably about 3-4 cups of spring mix a day, plus I snack on broccoli almost every day...I also eat spinach, asparagus and such fairly frequently). We cook some meals in cast iron, but not all - only have one pan and it's not very big. Dried fruit is one of my regular snack items, including dates and apricots. We eat red meat 3-4 nights every week, and more than that sometimes. Oh - I've been taking spirulina...think I forgot to mention it...

I'll check the numbers (was more than half asleep on the couch when they called), but when I've checked with this office in previous pregnancies, they've been pretty low. Generally, if they're concerned enough to call me the day after the tests, the levels are quite low. I'm also really, really exhausted, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if this is fairly serious.

[Talula Fairie]

Yellow Dock!

[acupuncturemomma]

Are they sure it's due to iron deficiency?

[bigeyes]

I was wondering if they checked your B12 and D levels. Those being low can make you tired also, IIRC.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by acupuncturemomma

Are they sure it's due to iron deficiency?

Sorry - I'm not tracking well. Are they sure what is due to iron deficiency?

bigeyes: I think my diet is pretty good for the B vitamins (I tend to be at least somewhat aware of those, because of my mom's "magic" cure for my insane PMSing in my teens - a B-complex capsule every day). I'm not so sure about vitamin D, though...it's not at all an uncommon deficiency around here (not much sunlight!). Maybe I should look into that.

[bigeyes]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

Sorry - I'm not tracking well. Are they sure what is due to iron deficiency?

bigeyes: I think my diet is pretty good for the B vitamins (I tend to be at least somewhat aware of those, because of my mom's "magic" cure for my insane PMSing in my teens - a B-complex capsule every day). I'm not so sure about vitamin D, though...it's not at all an uncommon deficiency around here (not much sunlight!). Maybe I should look into that.

Plus your plate is pretty full. 3 dcs and 1 on the way? I'm exhausted just thinking about it. It's hard to take care of other people when you're tired, whatever the cause is.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by bigeyes

Plus your plate is pretty full. 3 dcs and 1 on the way? I'm exhausted just thinking about it. It's hard to take care of other people when you're tired, whatever the cause is.

"Take care of" might be an exaggeration. I make sure they're fed, and between dh and I, they're clean, but that's about it this week. I'm so tired and grumpy. I've started my day yelling at the little ones two days in a row (and when I say "started", I mean before I got out of bed). *sigh*

Oh, well - only two more days until dh is home for two days. Maybe I can get some sleep then.

[acupuncturemomma]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

Sorry - I'm not tracking well. Are they sure what is due to iron deficiency?

Oh, I meant, are they sure the low hemoglobin is due to iron deficiency. It can also be caused by folic acid or B12 deficiency, internal bleeding (ulcer, GI issues), and a few other blood-loss-related things, IIRC.

[Storm Bride]

I see. I had no idea this was the case. I'm fairly certain I have no internal bleeding or anything like that. I'm also inclined to think that folic acid isn't an issue, as I've supplemented with all my pregnancies, including pre-conception. But, it's possible there's a b-vitamin issue happening. I do have some history of being deficient in those, even though I try to watch them.

I'll get the numbers. I thought they actually checked blood iron, but I do think she said hemoglobin specifically...

[Aufilia]

Nettles are high in easily-absorbed iron; that's the only thing I supplemented with when I was anemic with DD, and it worked pretty well. I bought dried nettle and used it to make tea, and drank 3-4 cups per day. I'm supposed to be doing that now but haven't had a chance to get the nettle yet.

I would think your provider would've checked your vitamin D automatically. Mine did (in Seattle).

[Ola_]

I take Palafer as a supplement and it does seem to work well for me (I'm not pregnant though). I know it's not natural but personally I don't eat liver or red meat so it really limits the natural sources. And I was literally falling asleep on my feet a lot of the time due to the deficiency. Our local Costco has started carrying EuroFer which is a generic that is about half the price, so I've recently switched to it.

I find taking it before bed reduces any tummy upsets, and of course with a glass of vit. C juice. I was taking 2 per day at the beginning but now I'm down to one every other day.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Aufilia

Nettles are high in easily-absorbed iron; that's the only thing I supplemented with when I was anemic with DD, and it worked pretty well. I bought dried nettle and used it to make tea, and drank 3-4 cups per day. I'm supposed to be doing that now but haven't had a chance to get the nettle yet.

I would think your provider would've checked your vitamin D automatically. Mine did (in Seattle).

Maybe I'll try that, although I'm wondering if it's something else completely now.

I don't know if they checked vitamin D in December or not. That was a the whole blood work for pregnancy thing. The tests on Tuesday were only glucose tolerance and hemoglobin. Because I'd had low iron before and was still tired, the OB added a re-test on iron levels to the paperwork.

Originally Posted by Ola_

I take Palafer as a supplement and it does seem to work well for me (I'm not pregnant though). I know it's not natural but personally I don't eat liver or red meat so it really limits the natural sources. And I was literally falling asleep on my feet a lot of the time due to the deficiency. Our local Costco has started carrying EuroFer which is a generic that is about half the price, so I've recently switched to it.

I find taking it before bed reduces any tummy upsets, and of course with a glass of vit. C juice. I was taking 2 per day at the beginning but now I'm down to one every other day.

It does seem to work (I've used it in previous pregnancies). Maybe I'll give it a try again. If this fatigue is due to low iron, it would do my whole family a favour if I could find a way to deal with it. The only reason I'm on the computer, instead of the couch, is that ds2 will jump on me and hurt my stomach if I try to lie on the couch.

[mischievium]

*

[Storm Bride]

What do they check when you donate blood? I tend to be just in the acceptable range for blood donation, as well...but I'm not sure if that's iron or hemoglobin...

I've only been taking the recommended dose of Floradix, but I am switching to Palafer today. It has helped in previous pregnancies, so I suspect this is iron based, but...it's just been so ridiculous trying to deal with this when I'm already so tired...

And, today, I earned a "worst mommy in the world" award. I actually told dd and ds2 that there was no point in trying to be nice to them, because they won't behave or be nice to me, so I'm just going to go ahead and be mean.

[Ola_]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

What do they check when you donate blood? I tend to be just in the acceptable range for blood donation, as well...but I'm not sure if that's iron or hemoglobin...

I believe it's hemoglobin.

[Storm Bride]

Okay. So, whatever's going on with me might not be iron related. I never even thought about it being anything else...and nobody's ever mentioned the possibility before. Interesting stuff.