Low iron and supplementation

[HRJ]

My iron is a little low.  I think it was 15.  My OB prescribed an iron pill that he says is nonconstipating - Ferralet90.  It is 90mg!  That seems like a lot esp when my prenatal has 30 mg.  I also don't like that it is coated in green food coloring.  I found a supplement by Solgar that is 25 mg per pill.  I'm thinking of just taking the Solgar (3 pills a day).  Does anyone have experience w/ this?  I asked about Floradix, and he wasn't familiar with it (which is surprising as this is the OB that told me to take querecetin for my interstitial cysitis).

I also met w/ a doula last night the recommended a prental that doesn't have calcium in it (then they sell the calcium separately) so that you aren't taking a pill w/ iron AND calcium in it since they prohibit absorption together.  I wonder if changing to that prenatal would help as well. 

[WifeofAnt]

I'm on Floradix.  I haven't had my iron rechecked since I started it but a lot of my symptoms (exhaustion, heart palpitations, ect) have pretty much disappeared.  I've been taking it in the pill form (there's also a liquid but the pills are cheaper) and haven't had any issues with getting blocked up.  The bottle says up to 3x daily with meals but I usually only take it once in the morning and it has still helped tremendously.

[gemasita]

I am taking Solgar, 25mg, 3 times a day, as my midwife suggested for getting my iron back up to normal.  It's non-constipating.

[HRJ]

Oh, is this what you are taking?  I just ordered this.  I was googling the bisglycinate form, and it looks safe for PG. 

http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-17955-solgar-gentle-iron-non-constipating-180-vegetarian-capsules
 

Originally Posted by gemasita 

I am taking Solgar, 25mg, 3 times a day, as my midwife suggested for getting my iron back up to normal.  It's non-constipating.

[HRJ]

Do you take the one with or without herbs?
 

Originally Posted by WifeofAnt 

I'm on Floradix.  I haven't had my iron rechecked since I started it but a lot of my symptoms (exhaustion, heart palpitations, ect) have pretty much disappeared.  I've been taking it in the pill form (there's also a liquid but the pills are cheaper) and haven't had any issues with getting blocked up.  The bottle says up to 3x daily with meals but I usually only take it once in the morning and it has still helped tremendously.

[JudiAU]

I take ferrous gluconate preparations of OTC iron. I find it much easier to tolerate than other blends of iron. I think your doc at least get credit for the ferrous gluconate in the perscription version. Iron is hard to absorb which is why the dosage tends to be high in pregnant women. 

[lillymonster]

I took Iron Sorb by jarrow - only 18 mg. Now I am taking MegaFoods Blood Builder - 27 mg plus other stuff and I feel really good, so good I am kicking myself for not taking it sooner. I actually don't take my prenatal, but I do take cal/mag/vit D liquid at night, and the iron in the morning.  No constipation issues - the magnesium helps with that.

[WifeofAnt]

Originally Posted by HRJ 

Do you take the one with or without herbs?
 

It says with herbs.  I bought mine through Amazon.  Its on the more expensive side from what I've seen but 180 tablets is going to last me a while.

[rlee*]

wow! 15 seems ok to me according to my midwife.  my iron levels were at 14 last time i was checked and she said that was great! ? weird.  anyhow, chlorella and spirulina are naturally high in iron and pumpkin seeds are as well...

[HRJ]

That's why I didn't want to take a pill with 90 mg right off the bat - esp since there is 30 in my prenatal.  But I did look at this page when looking at different forms of iron, and it says if iron is less than 30, you should supplement w/ 80-100 mg a day.  Both my family dr and my OB were like "oh, you're a little low."  But they weren't like stop the presses, we've got a big problem.

http://www.suite101.com/content/iron-supplementation-during-pregnancy-a85413

 

Originally Posted by rlee* 

wow! 15 seems ok to me according to my midwife.  my iron levels were at 14 last time i was checked and she said that was great! ? weird.  anyhow, chlorella and spirulina are naturally high in iron and pumpkin seeds are as well...

[nia82]

What number of iron are you guys talking about? Ferritin? Mine was 36 and ok and haemoglobin at 11.7 which is at the low end which is why I'm taking Floradix now too, but also bought some iron chelate cause pills are easier and those were the only ones without herbs that might be dangerous in pregnancy (NOW had a blend with herbs that are on the no-no on my midwife's list). My prenatal has 18mg, the Floradix is another 18mg if I take it and the natural factor pills have 25mg. They have the neat side effect of getting rid of my constant soft stools in this pregnancy (TMI!!!) which is a huge relief for me ;)

[gemasita]

Originally Posted by HRJ 

Oh, is this what you are taking?  I just ordered this.  I was googling the bisglycinate form, and it looks safe for PG. 

http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-17955-solgar-gentle-iron-non-constipating-180-vegetarian-capsules
 

Originally Posted by gemasita 

I am taking Solgar, 25mg, 3 times a day, as my midwife suggested for getting my iron back up to normal.  It's non-constipating.

 

Yes, that's it.

[CinCanada]

Originally Posted by rlee* 

wow! 15 seems ok to me according to my midwife.  my iron levels were at 14 last time i was checked and she said that was great! ? weird.  anyhow, chlorella and spirulina are naturally high in iron and pumpkin seeds are as well...

 Mine is 18 at last testing & my midwives didn't say much either.  I took the results to my Naturopath however & she freaked out!  She had said that she's constantly surprised that Dr's don't make more of an issue out of iron levels below 30 given the very large range of "normal".  They don't flag you as officially low iron until you drop under 11 but at 7 you need a blood transfusion.  She's recommended Spatone liquid as it's a little cheaper than Floridex & is easier to take with you as it comes in little individual serving packets. 

I've 15wks now & she wants me to get my iron up FAST (I've had major issues with exhaustion) as apparently between 20-24 weeks your blood volume doubles & it will dilute things even further.  To get it up she's suggested doubling the dose (each packet is 5mg).  Though I've started to feel a little better in the last day or two I'm now having major issues with constipation.

Any suggestions for dealing with the constipation?  I guess just the usual of drink lots of water, lots of fresh fruit & veg, high fiber & exercise right?

[lillymonster]

Originally Posted by CinCanada 

Originally Posted by rlee* 

wow! 15 seems ok to me according to my midwife.  my iron levels were at 14 last time i was checked and she said that was great! ? weird.  anyhow, chlorella and spirulina are naturally high in iron and pumpkin seeds are as well...

Any suggestions for dealing with the constipation?  I guess just the usual of drink lots of water, lots of fresh fruit & veg, high fiber & exercise right?

Magnesium or magnesium/calcium supplement. Start slowly. I take Bluebonnet liquid, and I only take 1/2 of the dosage - 1TB. That helps me, I can't be constipated at all. Actually, I have to take a combo of strong probiotics (nature's way optima), mag/cal supplement and 2 colace at night. Even with all that I can have problems!

[HRJ]

Just don't take the calcium w/ your iron or you won't absorb the iron.
 

Originally Posted by lillymonster 

Originally Posted by CinCanada 

Originally Posted by rlee* 

wow! 15 seems ok to me according to my midwife.  my iron levels were at 14 last time i was checked and she said that was great! ? weird.  anyhow, chlorella and spirulina are naturally high in iron and pumpkin seeds are as well...

Any suggestions for dealing with the constipation?  I guess just the usual of drink lots of water, lots of fresh fruit & veg, high fiber & exercise right?

Magnesium or magnesium/calcium supplement. Start slowly. I take Bluebonnet liquid, and I only take 1/2 of the dosage - 1TB. That helps me, I can't be constipated at all. Actually, I have to take a combo of strong probiotics (nature's way optima), mag/cal supplement and 2 colace at night. Even with all that I can have problems!

[lillymonster]

Originally Posted by HRJ 

Just don't take the calcium w/ your iron or you won't absorb the iron.
 

Originally Posted by lillymonster 

Originally Posted by CinCanada 

Originally Posted by rlee* 

wow! 15 seems ok to me according to my midwife.  my iron levels were at 14 last time i was checked and she said that was great! ? weird.  anyhow, chlorella and spirulina are naturally high in iron and pumpkin seeds are as well...

Any suggestions for dealing with the constipation?  I guess just the usual of drink lots of water, lots of fresh fruit & veg, high fiber & exercise right?

Magnesium or magnesium/calcium supplement. Start slowly. I take Bluebonnet liquid, and I only take 1/2 of the dosage - 1TB. That helps me, I can't be constipated at all. Actually, I have to take a combo of strong probiotics (nature's way optima), mag/cal supplement and 2 colace at night. Even with all that I can have problems!

 

yes, I take the iron in the morning and the cal/mag supplement at night before bed.

[jessica_s]

It's crazy that the iron levels are all over the place, I feel *super* low at 10.5!! Eek! Although my midwives said the low range of normal for them in pregnancy is 11.4 I believe. I'm really not even tired and I don't feel anemic :/ They have me taking Slow FE, has anyone taken that? I haven't had any problems with constipation with it so far. 

[HRJ]

I don't know.  I looked up the pkg insert for the iron my OB rx'd for me, and it had colace in it (which must be why it doesn't constipate).  I don't want to take colace every day if I can help it, so I am trying Floradix and/or Solgar first. 
 

Originally Posted by jessica_s 

It's crazy that the iron levels are all over the place, I feel *super* low at 10.5!! Eek! Although my midwives said the low range of normal for them in pregnancy is 11.4 I believe. I'm really not even tired and I don't feel anemic :/ They have me taking Slow FE, has anyone taken that? I haven't had any problems with constipation with it so far. 

[GolfAddict]

I have always been anemic and denied at blood drives.  I take Garden of Life Raw Iron.  One pill has 22mg and it has an extra 400mg of folic acid as well.  So far I've been happy with it and no constipation at all.  My iron at last visit was 36 and 12, which is above the levels they like it at but still seems kinda low to me.  But I wasn't aware of the iron/calcium connection.  I always take it in the morning and usually with milk.  Guess I will have to save that one for lunch time.  Thanks for the info!!

[CinCanada]

yes, I take the iron in the morning and the cal/mag supplement at night before bed.

 Same here.  I understand that calcium is best absorbed by your body at night & the insert for my iron suggests taking it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning for best absorption so that's how I've been doing it.  (Plus the magnesium does help with sleep when taken right before bed) I think I may try spacing the iron out through the day though to see if that helps.  I just find that one large dose in the morning is the most convenient so that I can ensure it's taken with juice but away from any sources of calcium.

maybe I'll have to try increasing my probiotics too.  I started out with 2 a few days after doubling the iron dose & let's just say that the combination of constipation & extra gas from the probiotic wasn't terribly pleasant.