I'm anemic and frustrated

[Pilgrim]

I hope I'm not intruding over here on this forum, but I'm feeling desperate and would like some perspective, if that's okay.

I'm 30 weeks pregnant, and have been dealing with low ferritin levels for at least 4 months. My hemoglobin levels continue to hang out at 11.5 - low end of normal. But I *feel* awful & drained all the time.

My first ferritin level was 8. I began supplementing with a supplement from my ND called Hemavite. Next test, it was a 9. I stopped the Hemavite and started on Floradix. I also started nettle tea daily w/ molasses mixed in, plus swallowing frozen chunks of raw organic beef liver. Next test, it was a *5*, and I'm not feeling better.

So the ND sent me for iron shots, and I've added in *another* iron supplement (Ferrofood by Standard Process), and I still don't feel better.

My midwives are being supportive of me. I'm scared of risking out of a homebirth, and I'm really scared because my body isn't cooperating in getting well. I'm concerned for the baby - I don't know if having a level of 5 leaves any for the baby to take from me.

I'm hoping that a collective group of birth professionals would have some wisdom for me here. I surely would appreciate it!

[Aunt Em]

I just wanted to empathize with you, as I went through the same thing in my last pregnancy. I did lots of Floradix, dietary changes, etc. and I still had to go in for iron shots twice a week all the way through. Remember though that at around 28 weeks (right around the time they test you for iron levels) your blood volume is at its peak, which means your body may need time to adjust and build all that iron back into the extra blood you have. Basically the test is done right exactly at the time your iron may be diluted in all that volume! Go for the shots, keep doing what you are doing with the supplements, and rest when you can. I was super low too, but by the end I ended up ok and didn't risk out thank goodness. I'm sure the other ladies will have more specific advice for you, I just wanted to give you some hope from someone who's been through it.

[jengacnm]

I'm not even concerned about a hgb of 11.5. I would encourage supplementation and increasing food sources, but my risk out level is 10.0.

Is there any other reason you could be so fatigued?

I'm not as well versed in the significance of ferritin, but I wouldn't be compelled to do one unless the hgb is less than 10.

My concern would be if you have some other kind of anemia. Have you had a full anemia workup, testing for inherited anemias? Because if you have one, iron supplementation will not help and might hurt, because iron metabolism is not as good with an inherited anemia. It would explain why such aggressive iron supplementation isn't working.

But to me 11.5 isn't even anything to worry about!

[majormajor]

i'm not a birth professional, but i am an anemia professional. i've been anemic since i was 15.

my ferritin has been as low as 1. the only thing that has ever helped it get up is lots and lots of iron supplements. i was on slow Fe during my pg (3 a day), and it was actually enough.

so, you probably know this already, but calcium binds with iron and makes it difficult to absorb, so i always separated calcium and iron by at least 6 hours. and vit C helps absorbtion. caffeine also hurts absorbtion. do you eat meat? meat sources are the easiest for your body to absorb, but don't eat liver, too much vit A.

it's no wonder you're exhausted though! i'm 10 weeks pregnant and haven't had my iron checked yet, but i'm afraid it's pretty low because i'm sooooooooo tired. worse than with DD. so, you have my sympathy!

good luck!

[pamamidwife]

At this point in your pregnancy, you're not likely to have your hemoglobin drop more - and 11.5 is good from looking at levels.

However, I believe in treating anemia in pregnancy only on how a woman feels. We expect to see a drop as the blood volume expands, so when the peak is reached (around 30 weeks), it should be lower than the initial hgb.

It sounds like you're feeling like you're anemic (because from labs, you don't look like it), and that's reason enough to treat.

Have you tried liquid chlorophyll?

I agree with JengaCNM - if you have done all these things, but are still feeling bad I'd start to wonder if there isn't something else going on.

[sevenkids]

Low ferratin levels are associated with B12 deficiency, not so much iron. The deficiency of B12 causes the iron to not bind to your tissues and store efficiently. I'd recommend weekly 1 cc B12 IM injections, it really helps with the lousy feeling and boosts how your body utilizes and stores the iron it has. You're getting plenty of iron, with supplements and with food sources, you don't need more. In fact, I'd cut down on the supplements, which can be pretty hard on the body, and eat iron-rich foods.

[MsBlack]

OMG seven kids! I adore your siggy! coulda written that one myself...

anyway, I quite agree that b12 needs to be looked into. A really good b-complex supplement might be a good idea, as well as making sure you're getting enough protein. and I hate to be too obvious, but since it's come up a few times lately in my practice--are you really getting enough rest/sleep? So many pregnant women seem to think they ought to be able to carry on as usual--but pregnancy is hard work, 24-7, even when you're asleep or watching tv. I've known a few who wondered if they were anemic, but upon investigation it seemed not--and getting more sleep did help.

just to cover all the bases....

[Pilgrim]

Hi y'all,

I want to thank you all very much for your helpful replies! I am especially intrigued with the B12 issue. I can not take B supplements, as it interestingly triggers bladder infection "symptoms," but not an actual infection. I get a burning urethra and bladder spasms when I supplement with more than a tad of B's. In fact, I can't even take a prenatal without this happening.

But I do sprinkle nutritional yeast on nearly all of my meals, and that is okay. I also take 1 tablet per day of a Standard Process brand Folic Acid/B12. I can handle that.

But, on a whim, I did ask the doc to throw in some B12 into my iron shot. Problem was that it hurt like the dickens!! And I stayed sore for days! The iron shots don't bother me a bit. I was nervous about getting those nasty bladder symptoms with the shot, but I guess that by bypassing my digestion, it did not trigger those symptoms. I also ordered some sublingual B12 to try - should arrive next week.

I do eat lots of protein - lots of meat. My diet follows along the WAPF principles (traditional, whole, organic foods). And I *think* I am getting plenty of rest. One never knows exactly how much is enough. Nah - I'm probably not getting enough sleep actually. Sleep just hurts after 4:30 am!! (hips!)

But DH has been truly angelic. When he comes home from work at 3:00 pm, I plop myself down and don't do anything. I usually lay down, but sleep does not come. There are days that I can drive DD around to her classes, and then days that I simply can't get off the couch. We even hired a housekeeper - I'm totally useless around the house at the moment.

Oh yeah, and I did also order some liquid chlorophyll. I'm a little leary of it though because it is so detoxifying. How much is safe to take during pregnancy?

I'll be getting more bloodwork done next week, and I'll definitely add on a B12 check. I'll also ask my ND about other tests he could do. We did do the pernicias anemia (sp?) intrinsic factor test, and that thankfully came out negative.

Thank you all again!!

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I do eat lots of protein - lots of meat. My diet follows along the WAPF principles (traditional, whole, organic foods).

Then you're probably comfortable with things like organ meats. Don't forget that liver is a great source of the Bs, B12 included. What about some pate or adding some ground liver to ground meat dishes like meatloaf, meatballs, hamburgers, etc? Oh...and freeze dried liver like the capsules from Dr. Ron.

There's a B vitamin challenge thread from last year that touched on this topic.

[applejuice]

I just wanted to suggest that vitamin C will help the absorption of iron in the body. Avoid taking vitamin E with iron. So drink some fresh squeezed OJ with that iron pill or Floradix. Make sure it is ferrous fumerate or gluconate not sulfate.

Just a suggestion. It has always worked for me.

[dimibella]

I'm not a birth professional but I have also always had anemia, and it is especially bad, so much so that my with first pregnancy my OB thought there was something wrong with my heart?!? Of course he was wrong and massive amounts of prescription iron tablets did nothing to help. Thankfully with my 2nd pregnancy, I found my wonderful midwife! She "prescribed" a number of things, but what we found to make the biggest difference was liquid liver tablets, the difference in my amount of energy was amazing! Funny because they have now changed the name of them to "Energizing Iron" they are made by Enzymatic therapy and come in a bluish bottle.

[sevenkids]

Originally Posted by dimibella

I'm not a birth professional but I have also always had anemia, and it is especially bad, so much so that my with first pregnancy my OB thought there was something wrong with my heart?!? Of course he was wrong and massive amounts of prescription iron tablets did nothing to help. Thankfully with my 2nd pregnancy, I found my wonderful midwife! She "prescribed" a number of things, but what we found to make the biggest difference was liquid liver tablets, the difference in my amount of energy was amazing! Funny because they have now changed the name of them to "Energizing Iron" they are made by Enzymatic therapy and come in a bluish bottle.

Enzymatic Therapies Ultimate (Energizing) Iron is the best, it can bring a hemoglobin from 8 or 9 to 10 or 11+ in a few weeks. I don't like Floradix because of the amount of sugar in it.

But I think OP's hemoglobin is fine; it's more of a problem of storing iron, hence the low ferritin levels.

Pilgrim, I wonder why the B12 injection hurt you so much? I give them all the time, and no one has complained about it. Maybe they should use a smaller gage needle. If your intrisic factor was normal, maybe it's not B12......hmmm.

I've found that oral supplements don't work as well as the IM injections-

So, for sleeplessness at night, take your calcium/magnesium supplement before bed, 1000 ca to 500 mag, THAT always worked for me, and most people I know, when I was pregnant. It's really good for labor, too, great for minimizing pain and increasing muscle function. I think I must have overdosed on cal/mag with one of my pregnancies, I almost missed my own birth, didn't feel a thing.

[ComfyCozy]

:

Fascinating thread... I've been hovering at 9.5 for the last five weeks. Just can't seem to get it bumped up. Thanks for all the great suggestions.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by pampered_mom

Then you're probably comfortable with things like organ meats. Don't forget that liver is a great source of the Bs, B12 included. What about some pate or adding some ground liver to ground meat dishes like meatloaf, meatballs, hamburgers, etc? Oh...and freeze dried liver like the capsules from Dr. Ron.

There's a B vitamin challenge thread from last year that touched on this topic.

I'll go check out that thread on the B's. I actually take Dr. Ron's organ delight, and I have the liver capsules for when I'm out & about. When I'm home, I swallow raw chunks of frozen liver - cut small enough to gulp down. I also put small amounts of liver puree in my meat patties that we all enjoy!

Sevenkids - As far as the B-12 shot hurting, I don't know either. This doc is *good* at giving shots, and I usually don't even feel the needle or the iron going in. But the day he added in the B-12 - OUCH!! (he used the same gauge needle as usual) And it hurt for a few days too. But, if that's what it's going to take, I'll do it.

About the calcium - so it's okay to take *all* of that calcium before bed? I've been taking my cal/mag supplement before bed each night, but only about 1/3 that amount (as I would normally split the doses throughtout the day, but can't as I'm busy chowing down the iron!)

[Human_Being]

Hi- I am a midwife and was very anemic in my pregnancy as well.

I always recommend dietary sources and floradix or chlorophyll, I think synthetic iron is too hard on the body and not that helpful. For the hard to get up hemoglobins, I find that yellowdock tincture taken with iron supplements really helps you utilize the iron. Take 10-40 drops twice a day with your floradix or chlorophyll, it boosts it sometimes a point a week. Beware it can cause loose bowels, back off to a lower dose and add a few more drops daily until you are 40 if you experience that.

The only thing that finally worked for me to boost mine up t oout of hospital birthing level was acupuncture. If you have low kidney chi, you are anemic and tired and nothing seems to bring it up those hemoglobin levels. Symptoms of low kidney chi are often descried as adrenal fatigue. Nettles tea helps your iron and your kidney chi/ adrenals.

But if you have access to an acupuncturist, give it a try. It will make you feel better by getting to the source of your problem, instead of just correcting the symptom of low iron levels. Fixing deficient kidney chi will prevent a host of other related problems you might experience in birth and postpartum as well.

We are lucky to have excellent Chinese acupuncturists in my town since there is a acupuncture school here and I have found Chinese medicine is a fabulous way of healing the root cause of many fertility/pregnancy related issues that western medicine has no explanation for. Severe unresponsive anemia is one of those things!

good luck!