[AntoninBeGonin]

Okay, rant time. I am having so much trouble getting my iron to adequate levels. To have a homebirth it needs to be at an 11. When it was checked a few days ago it was 9.5! The time before it was at level 10. I have been eating whole grain foods, meat, fortified cereals, and whatever else has iron.

My midwives gave me a list of food to eat. On that list was "Brewers yeast daily". So I've been sprinkling some BY on my food almost every day. Come to find out from my midwives that BY can make iron levels look too low! But they're the ones who instructed me to eat it!

So they tell me I need to start taking a vit B complex pill because when your vit B levels are too low it makes your iron look too low (even if it isn't).

Then some more reading and I find out that calcium inhibits iron absorption, vit C enhances it, and it's really hard to get enough iron from food. So I have a little over a month til my due date and about a week and a half until I'm 37 weeks (the earliest I can have a homebirth) and I'm just finding out about this stuff. It's maddening! I have as little as 2 and as many as 6 weeks to get my iron levels up to 11.

End rant.

~Nay

 

[VBMama]

How annoying that they have been giving you conflicting advice...

Are you opposed to taking a supplement, or does that not "count" for your mws' assessment of your levels? I've been taking one for a while because of trouble with restless legs/insomnia, and it's really helped me sleep better and feel less tired.

 

[Awaken]

Are you taking alfalfa supplements, or tea? That can help w/ iron levels, and won't cause the gi side effects that iron pills do.

 

[maciascl]

Nettle & Red raspberry leaf teas!!!

 

[myhoneyswife]

When I used to give blood, I'd 'cheat' on my iron tests. If I didn't drink anything for a few hours before the test, then my blood would be thick and full of iron percentage wise because pretty much I decreased the volume by being dehydrated. Then before I'd donate I'd chug a bunch of water so they could actually get it out! I'd never 'pass' their tests if I had water beforehand.

Wonder if that would work for you? Not that I'm suggesting you totally dehydrate yourself, but the general idea...

Cara

 

[AntoninBeGonin]

I've been drinking a combo of rrl tea for a few months. recently i added nettle and peppermint. I've gone through several bottles of liquid chlorophyl (made from alfalfa) because i add a generous amount to every cup of tea.

I know I'm not low in iron. Isn't an iron deficiency supposed to make you tired? I have almost limitless energy

That's a good idea about not drinking as much water so my blood is thicker. If nothing else works I'll try that.

~Nay

 

[Triciabn]

take floradix... helped me very quickly
tricia

 

[clovergirl]

ditto on the floradix... it's a whole foods iron supplement that is also high in B's. it's very easily absorbed.
which reminds me, i need more...

 

[sleepypeanutsmom]

Yes, floridix is what I've been taking with a little OJ to help with the absorption and the taste...also make sure you aren't eating any calcium within an hour of taking it.

My mw has suggested a trailmix of cashews, brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, raisins and apricots. I just try snacking on it throughout the day.

Best wishes! Let us know how it goes!

 

[AutumnMama]

My iron level was 10 seven weeks ago, my midwife had me take Floridix--double dose actually (4 tsp 2x a day).
At my appt 4 weeks ago it was 11, and 1 week ago it was 12.
It's nice stuff...I was hesitant to take it until I read the ingredient list, all natural.

Oh, and FTR I didn't actually start taking it until a couple of days before that second appointment, but I had been trying to eat more green veggies and blackstrap molasses.

 

[unitytree]

What about liquid chlorophyll??? I take it every day and this is my first pregnancy where I haven't had low iron issues. Also I bought a half an organic cow at the begining of my pregnancy and have been eating it 2-3 times a week. I was so surprised to find out that my iron levels were so fab...better then ever in my life. So maybe try that beef and greens combo.

 

[AntoninBeGonin]

Those are all great ideas.

I'll try that floramix..dix...? LOL I forgot how to spell it already.

thanks everyone

~Nay