Update in post #19 - 29 week appt and why oh why won't my blood go up?

[cariadanam]

Just got back from my midwife appt. Last month my hemoglobin was 9.1 and I was seriously feeling it. I added a lot of protein to my diet, iron fortified cereals, actually started taking my prenatals, added in some herbal formulas, blah blah blah. Now Im feeling a bit better and I was all excited to see how much it went up with my hard work and it was 7.7!!! Uggg. Im apparantly going to have to drink a bottle of floradix a day. We did do a draw to double check the finger stick in case it was wrong so I should know for sure tomorrow.

I have to get it up since I have a tendency to hemmorhage with birth.

Just wanting to whine,
Julie

[Geofizz]

I actually had a lab do a finger stick and full vial test at the same time on me. The difference was huge: 10.5 for finger stick, and 12.8 for the full vial. Get the lab test done.

Increase your vitamin C. Eat cantalope, drink OJ, eat grapefruit and oranges. If you need a snack, make the vit C count.

Do you eat meat? Meat sources really are absorbed better than plant sources.

Some people just run a little lower than others. Do you have records of your non-pregnant iron counts?

[ljpmom]

I am in the same boat right now and go in tomorrow for a 2 week re-test with my MW. I feel more tired right now so I am scared to even find out. Not sure what she will do? My initial count was 8 something? I had it with ds too and just controlled it with diet etc. hoping it would work this time too.

What other things are you doing for it?

[cariadanam]

I do take my prenatal with oj or grape juice and I finally went and bought the floradix which I took a swig of grape juice after. Im so afraid to eat much fruit or juice because of the sugar content, since I am borderline with my sugar levels when pregnant.

I do eat meat at least once a day, I eat vitamin fortified cereal which has 90% RDA of Iron in one serving if I am not having protein at breakfast. I can't eat eggs for protein. I drink protein shakes which have 200% of Bvitamins.

I take 2 chinese herbal formulas designed to increase blood and qi (Im an acupuncturist).

The floradix should help and I could add in some yellow dock root supplements. I was just really hoping what I was doing was enough and was greatly surprised that with better habits it still went down! Both tests were finger sticks. At my first blood draw my Hgb was 12.1 and I do tend to have anemia off and on, so its no surprise but 7.7 thats crazy.

Oh and my breakfast this morning was canadian bacon (3 slices) with cheese on top, one piece of whole wheat toast with peanut butter and about 6 bite size pieces of cantaloupe.

[Geofizz]

For the cereal, read the label: How is the iron added? Is it in a form that can be absorbed?

I hope the lab draw shows something higher tomorrow.

[cariadanam]

For the cereal, read the label: How is the iron added? Is it in a form that can be absorbed?

I hope the lab draw shows something higher tomorrow.

Hmm under the ingredients it just says "Reduced Iron" - not sure what that means?

[Geofizz]

That generally means FeO, not oxidized enough for your body to incorporate it as hemoglobin without a lot of help. It's probably about effective as taking a basic Fe supplement.

Hmmm, also, I know that calcium can block the uptake of iron. Are you careful to not get too much calcium during your iron-rich meals?

[cariadanam]

That generally means FeO, not oxidized enough for your body to incorporate it as hemoglobin without a lot of help. It's probably about effective as taking a basic Fe supplement.

Hmmm, also, I know that calcium can block the uptake of iron. Are you careful to not get too much calcium during your iron-rich meals?

Its probably a waste of time then since I use milk with the cereal. But otherwise no, if anything I am low on calcium since I don't drink milk. I do get calcium in my soy protein drink, but thats about it.

Thanks for brainstorming with me, I appreciate it!
Julie

[Geofizz]

Wow, it really seems like you're doing everything right! I hope, hope, hope that the lab results give you something different...

[starparticle]

:o

I don't know if it makes you feel any better - but I recently read that our iron levels are the lowest between 28 - 32 weeks, and then get better from there. I think it has to do with the peaking of our blood volume, and then our bodies finally catching up after about week 32 or so...

In any case, maybe all the measures your taking & the additional few weeks will bring your numbers up.

Also, I had my levels tested last visit and they were 12.1 I know this isn't super high, but for me it is AMAZING...I'm chronically low, and can't seem to get it high. I'm giving credit to the floradix & dried apricots :wink

Keep us updated...

Rachel

[ljpmom]

Does 2 weeks sound like too short of a time to get my numbers up? I thought it did and am not sure what action my mw will do tomorrow if they are still low/lower? What are the major risks with this?

[girrllie]

Have you tried cooking in a cast iron pan? One of my friends raised her iron within a week or so and swears by that method!

[cariadanam]

Does 2 weeks sound like too short of a time to get my numbers up? I thought it did and am not sure what action my mw will do tomorrow if they are still low/lower? What are the major risks with this?

I would think in two weeks you could raise it a little, but I don't know that its going to go up whole numbers. I have been anemic off and on my whole life but never had my numbers checked so close together so I can't say for sure.

The biggest risk that I know of is it makes it easier to hemorrhage at birth. It also creates shortness of breath which can get pretty intense and severe fatigue. I have been to the point of passing out purely from the fatigue. Not falling asleep because Im tired, but literally passing out.

If it gets to low they will suggest a blood transfusion. But there are lots of things to try first.

Julie

[ljpmom]

I would think in two weeks you could raise it a little, but I don't know that its going to go up whole numbers. I have been anemic off and on my whole life but never had my numbers checked so close together so I can't say for sure.

The biggest risk that I know of is it makes it easier to hemorrhage at birth. It also creates shortness of breath which can get pretty intense and severe fatigue. I have been to the point of passing out purely from the fatigue. Not falling asleep because Im tired, but literally passing out.

If it gets to low they will suggest a blood transfusion. But there are lots of things to try first.

Julie

Thank you for the response. I have literally crashed a couple of times, when I just couldn't keep my eyes open. Scares me with ds, but luckily I was able to pop in a movie and he stayed put. We will see what happens tomorrow.

[Geofizz]

There are actually two measures of blood iron, though generally only one is reported. One is a measure of the red blood cells (hematocrit) and the other is a measure of hemoglobin iron in the blood. The hemoglobin number can rise fairly quickly (2-3 weeks) but it takes time to generate more blood cells (~6 weeks) so the hemoglobin rise should lead an increase in the number of red blood cells. It's the hematocrit that really matters, but this doesn't get measured with the finger stick test.

[Turtlemum]

When they draw your blood, ask them to consider testing for ferritin levels. This is the best indicator of your body's iron stores. Also, you have mentioned herbs and supplements...have you tried homeopathics? You can try adding Ferrum Phos tissue salts to the mix (6H, 2pellets three times a day)...Good luck.

[cariadanam]

When they draw your blood, ask them to consider testing for ferritin levels. This is the best indicator of your body's iron stores. Also, you have mentioned herbs and supplements...have you tried homeopathics? You can try adding Ferrum Phos tissue salts to the mix (6H, 2pellets three times a day)...Good luck.

They drew it yesterday so it's too late to ask for specifics, Im *assuming* they are doing a CBC, which should at least show the hematocrit. Not sure if it shows ferritin levels (Im not familiar with that?). I should hopefully know sometime today and I will check and see if I can find the homeopathics.

Thanks!
Julie

[cariadanam]

BTW, does anyone know how much floradix I can take? I know it says something like 2 teaspoons twice a day, but can I take more without negative effects?

Thanks for all the help!

[cariadanam]

Update:

Well glad I asked for the blood draw ;) Hgb was 10.5 and Hematocrit was 30.9% so still low but not 7.7!

And I asked about the Floradix, she said to double what the bottle said.

She also recommend some liver oil that comes in capsules. MMM yummy!

[Geofizz]

Great news! 10.5 is low, but not that low. That's interesting -- you saw about the same difference I saw when I had the lab compared the finger stick to vial draw during my last pregnancy. Your hematocrit is really just a teensy low. I know I'm generally aiming for 32%...