Slightly Anemic? Anyone Else Taking Iron?

[Sheri1972]

My doc's nurse called a few days ago and said I was slightly anemic and that I should take an iron supplement. I told them that I hadn't been taking my prenatal for the last week because it was giving me bowel trouble and maybe that's why, so if I went back on them, perhaps it would fix it?  The nurse said no, go ahead and take both the prenatal and the iron.  I asked her how much and she said anything over the counter was fine.

Sooooo... there are lots of iron supplements out there, and it seems in different forms and dosages. I purchased some Slow Release Iron (50 mg) from Target because it's supposed to be more gentle, but I'm worried about taking it.

My prenatals have 29 mg of iron in them already, and these have 50 mg of iron, so is 80 mg of iron a day too much?  I don't want it to hurt the baby and for some reason I got the impression the nurse wasn't listening to me.  I also don't want to get sick again... I just got over being nauseated and I'm already at 30 weeks. All I need is another 8 weeks of nausea to round out this pregnancy!  I have the squirts right now for some unknown reason, I guess the prenatals or something, so maybe the iron would balance that out because I hear they cause the other problem.

Anyone else on iron supplements and have advice on if this is too much or if I'm okay and should take it?

Sheri

[Sheri1972]

Thanks, everyone!

I was having really bad diaherrea from... who knows what? Hormones?  Prenatals?  All I know is for about a month I've had some bad gas, cramps, and the squirts!  The doctor didn't really find that unusual at my stage and sort of shrugged it off.

Soooo... I did start the iron pills and thus far they've improved my squits problem!  I'm moving more towards "normal" now, though I still have lots of gas. :(  I'm hoping I don't go constipated and instead just land on normal!  Lord knows I don't need a stool softener right now! LOL!

Sheri

[nursekim]

My OB wanted me to take my prenatal and two iron tablets daily (but not together, in separate doses).....like pamelabee said you can take a stool softener (up to 6 daily I was told) if needed.

[PamelaBee]

Hi!  I take iron supplements twice daily.  Feosol 65mg each (Walmart).  I had bled severely after a vaginal delivery, and had an emergency D&C (long story) anyway, during my pregnancy my blood count was low, so my OB said to take 2 iron pills preferably on an empty stomach with OJ (Vitamin C absorbs iron best)...I also developed constipation while on iron.  As you may know, your bowel movements are very black/green and somewhat pastey (TMI), my OB recommended I take Colace, which softens your stools and helps with constipation.  Your dosage sounds ok, but check with your Dr you may want to take 2 pills daily.

[Sheri1972]

Hi Sally!

Me too I guess! I'll call the doctor today.  I know that I have to be non-anemic before my C-section because it can be dangerous to have surgery if you are even slightly anemic.  I have no desire for a transfusion!

I read online that lots of women take iron when they are anemic during pregnancy, and that I'm right in the normal time span to get anemic, but I still want to be 100% sure that the amount I'm getting will be okay.  I went ahead and took a pill last night and it didn't make me nauseated, but it did make my tummy cramp!

Sheri

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

I am confused about the iron.  My iron came back a bit low, and then I had surgery, and following all this my endocrinologist wanted me to start iron supplement.  However, my Obe saw the same results and said they weren't low enough to start taking iron and that taking iron would affect the baby's iron uptake and asked me not to take any.

Long story short, I am not taking iron (and only taking the prenatal from time to time)...

Guess I need to research this a bit further.

Sally

[adgal]

I am on iron as well.  I had 2 incidents of severe hemoragging, 1 was borderline life threathening and my hemoglobbins got really really low.  I am on 600mg/day iron plus my prenatals which contain 27mg.  I was also very worried about the effect when I got pregnant again, but my OB says it doesn't harm a developing fetus/baby.  I have discussed it with him more then once now.  What I can tell you is that metamucal is my friend.  Iron definately plugs things up, and in addition to prenatals, its a double whammy.  I will take a laxative from time to time, but never when I know I may be pregnant.  The metamucal is safe during pregnancy according to my OB and the pharmacist, and of course as high a fibre diet as possible.  Anyway, the amount your taking is fine as far as I know.  If I can be on 600+ a day and no one is worried, even knowing I am trying to conceive and am pregnant again now (as far as I know), then I think the smaller amount you are on should be just fine.  It sure wouldn't hurt to bring it up with your Dr. at your next visit, but in the meantime, I would stock up on the metamucal/high fibre foods.  Good luck to you!