Oh NO! 29 weeks and my iron is low! - Page 2

[nancy926]

I wasn't anemic at 28 weeks, but my hematocrit was on the low end (32.x). In my last pregnancy (which I kept a rather extensive/anal written journal for!) it was 38 around this time. This is about the lowest point for iron in the entire pregnancy.

My mw said I wasn't anemic, but could try Floradix, leafy greens, red meat (if I was into that sort of thing), etc.

She did say not to have the Floradix with any dairy, because that reduces iron absorption, while vit C assist iron absorption. So I usually dump 10 ml in a half-glass of OJ and drink it all down. tastes fine.

Beans are also a great source of iron, and I bought some Total cereal (though I eat it with milk, so the whole dairy thing might come into play).

I have also read that if you're dehydrated, your iron levels will be relatively higher, since your blood volume is lower. I drink water like it's going out of style, so I like to think I'm just well hydrated.

HTH

Nancy

[alexia_i_aa]

Huh, interesting stuff. My mw tested me because I told her I'd been a bit tired and craving beets and Tang (!) and my iron was 10 point somethin'. I'm 31 weeks. She told me to keep eating beets and iron foods. She wasn't too worried.

Alexia

[kathma26]

I went from 9 to 11.4 with Floradix in 6 days. I was taking it 3 times a day.

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by pamamidwife

ok, your iron is FINE! it's not low at all. not at all.

are there really mws out there treating for anemia with numbers like that????

I was wondering that too Pam, her hemoglobin doesn't sound low to me AT least not 'worry about it hurry try to fix it low'.

[Thmom]

Originally Posted by lorijds

I'm seconding the black strap molasses (though we would also be fine with your levels....).

Here is my recipe (I stole if from a friend, so it isn't really mine, I guess):

1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses
1-3 tablespoons nondairy creamer (I recommend White Wave French Silk)
1/2 to 1 cup cold water
a couple of ice cubes.

Shake well. Use imagination. If imagination used, tastes like a caramel latte. :LOL

could I add coffee to this without it interfering with the iron absorbution? anyone know?

I agree, 12 seems a bit higher than usual... but I usually hover around 7 and have gone as low as 5 in pregnancy

[lorijds]

No, you shouldn't add coffee. It will impede iron absorption. Your supposed to add *your imagination* !!! :LOL

[lorijds]

I'm just guessing here, but 12 is considered the cut off for anemia, at least in our lab. 12-16 is what is normal. Perhaps the physician this mw works with has some sort of protocol set up stating that a woman cannot be anemic. Just a thought.

To the PP, you have plenty of time to bring up your iron, by the way. One option for you is to use the Floridex once a day, and the black strap molasses twice a day (or vice versa, I suppose, though blackstrap molasses is alot cheaper). You'll bring it up very quickly with that.

Don't fret. It'll happen. Have a nice birth!

Lori

[sevenkids]

Our cut off (by statute) is 11.0 for homebirth. Truthfully, I don't worry about H&H at term as much as I worry about platelet levels, and 10 at 29 weeks is not a cause of panic as far as I'm concerned. Hemodilution is still pretty high at that point.

For really low H&H, we recommend Enzymatic Therapies Ultimate Iron, 2 tablets twice a day, plus nutritional yeast for B complex and a boost of energy. I have never had a mama have digestive trouble with this supplement.

Floridix is alright, but it can blow blood sugar levels crazy high, especially for someone who already has blood sugar levels on the high side, OR someone who is not used to a lot of sugar in their diets.

Anyone who is chronically "anemic" I want to know what their ethnic background is. Mediterranean and North African people can often have a thalassemia, and no amount of iron supplements is going to bring H&H up, and can make them very sick.

[pamamidwife]

Lori, our lab lists the same values for "normal". However, I have always assumed this to be for NONpregnant people. The hemodilution that occurs always changes any sort of value, so I never pay much attention to their value range.

I think that there is a huge misunderstanding about TRUE pregnancy anemia in this country. I can gather up some resources if others would be interested, but really, far too many women are given iron supplements (and most supplements given by mainstream providers SUCK) when pregnant.

[Keeper]

Our cutoff is ten, so I was surprised by the OP, too. A normal adult's hemoglobin is anywhere from 12-16, but a pregnant woman will naturally range a bit lower because of the blood volume expansion.

I would never have had a homebirth in Ohio, I guess....and neither would many of my preceptor's clients!

Sarah

[homemademomma]

11.3 isnt that low especially considering you are at 28 weeks, which is when hemodilution is at its highest. it is normal to have a drop in hemoglobin at this point, and really and truly 11.3 isnt that low.

snack on dried fruits and nuts, eat meat, cook in a cast iron skillet, use blackstrap molasses, eat whole grains. . . . . just some ideas.

[Parthenia]

The cut-off for my mw's was 10. At 30 weeks I was 9 something. In addition to my prenatals, I used floradix, upped my high iron food intake, used my cast iron skillet as much as possible, and also took Liquid Liver Enzyme, and Ultimate Iron with liquid liver. I have to find the name of the company. I know it sounds horrible, but if you are a meat eater I'd recommend it. It comes in pills, so you don't taste it, and it's easily digestable. It did not make me constipated. I got my numbers up to 11.5.
I am generally anemic anyway, and I've always had a hard time boosting my numbers. Now I take Floradix regularly.

You can do it!
ETA: I had a big craving for meat throughout my pregnancy, which I think was because I was anemic. When I'm really anemic, like just after my period (which is usually heavy) I crave meat. While pregnant, I really wanted to eat a big bloody steak, but I refrained. I cooked it. Reluctantly

[ramlita]

Here's a link to an interesting collection of thoughts on the subject...

http://www.radmid.demon.co.uk/anaemia.htm

and a good quote from the page:

"A woman who has a low hemo owing to adequate blood volume expansion as seen by hemodilution (falling hemoglobin) from start to end of pregnancy is at less risk for adverse reactions to bleeding than a woman who has a high hemo concentration owing to reduced blood expansion."

[JeanetteL]

Fantastic link - thanks so much. I learned a great deal from reading the responses.

On the blackstrap molassas suggestion - good ideas for hiding it in other foods (besides smoothies) to hide the taste? I tried to just take it by spoonful - but really cannot stomach it.

Jeanette

[ramlita]

Glad you liked it!
It's kind of a funny mishmash...

Molasses IS a strong flavor. I just tried the smoothie idea today, and liked it well enough- I used it in a mix I might have otherwise added chocolate syrup, and it was richer and more satisfying.

The Enchanted Broccoli Forest has a recipe for broccoli/tofu/pasta, from which I stole the basic ingredients for a yummy pasta sauce:

Hot Water (to soften/thin the)
Peanut Butter,
Balsamic Vinegar
Tamari or Bragg's Aminos
Ginger Powder or diced fresh Ginger
Blackstrap Molasses

It's not a main ingredient, but it just came to mind... yummy.

[homemademomma]

oh yea, vitamin c helps increase absorption of iron, and calcium and iron both limit each others absorption. soooo take your floradex with an orange or some strawberries, and dont drink any milk or take your prenatal vit with it. hth

[JeanetteL]

Floridex and vit c don't work for me - if I take it with citrus or other vit c source I get SO sick

[Eaglevoice]

I tested at a 9.2 at around 30 weeks, my mw gave me a tincture of Yellow Dock Root, and my levels went way up.

[peaceful_mama]

I took a pill called slowFE while I was pregnant----I was probably around 26 weeks when mine came back low. (It was the appt. when I had the glucose test, which was a month I think after the big ultrasound appt--where i found out it was a DS That was 22 weeks, and I remember that number because my appt where they said the next one would be my US was at 18 weeks and I wanted the US then at 18 but they said they don't do it till at LEAST 20 because the point is to look for any major problems and they want the baby to be at *least* 20 week size. And they MADE me wait the WHOLE MONTH...........*I* WANTED to come back in 2 weeks at exactly 20!! I wanted to KNOW!!)

Anyway the slowFE stuff worked for me, no side effects or anything. I also had a chiropractor tell me (but not during pregnancy so if anyone knows a reason NOT to do this while pregnant, PLEASE speak up) but blackstrap molasses, a tablespoon a day is supposed to be a good iron booster. Also, vit. C helps you absorb iron better, so you could try taking whatever iron supplement with some OJ and/or eating foods with iron and Vit. C at the same meal. (I've got a GREAT salad recipe......it's got spinach leaves (iron) and strawberries (C) with this great dressing with poppy seeds.......YUM......watch me LOSE THE RECIPE before I get pregnant again! )

And calcium can make it harder to absorb iron, so whatever you do, take an iron supplement at a different time than your prenatals and not with anything high in calcium, or an extra calcium supplement. (which I also needed while pregnant, I got horrible leg cramps and the OB nurse said that was why.....I thought it sounded crazy, but it WORKED)

If somebody already said this too, sorry......but just a few ideas.

[applejuice]

Molasses and OJ together will enhance your iron count in a week...drink alone and be careful taking iron with other things as calcium and vitamin E.