iron supplement

[aronka]

i am in 15th week.
my doctor told me to take irron supplement called ferrous sulfate 325 mg three times a day.
is this common for pregnant woman?
i do not think i am anemia.
i heard that if anemia, usually need to take 30-50mg of iron supplement.
but 325 mg is too much anyway

[aronka]

Thanks!
How much are you taking?
I am not sure wwether takling iron is really needed for me...  

[aronka]

For my case, 65mg three times a day plus 90mg, still too much!!
I think my prenatal vitamin includes enough!!
I am thinkijng just to take prenatal voitamin, or plus 65mg only once a day.

[aronka]

It's not good idea to constipate...I have to think about how much I should take...

[40smama]

I thought I would add this link for more info if you need it:  http://www.drugs.com/ferrous_sulfate.html.  I hope it helps!

[Atlanta Girl]

Oh that explains it! Mine is as Ferrous Fumarate and I'm taking GNC Iron 18, two pills a day, plus the 27 mg (also ferrous fumarate, which is 150% of daily value) that are in my prenatal.  I have also read that iron deficinecy is very common during pregnancy but I believe it is corrected later.  Your doc is trying to prevent it, looks like.  I don't know if that good or not.

[houston49]

or ask your doc about a laxitive.  that much iron is certain to constipate.
houston49

[aronka]

thank you for your information.
i checked my prenatal vitamin. it also includes 90mg.
i also read that i do not have to take iron if not necessary in a book,
but also i found that half of pregnant women were more or less anemia and they need iron to take,,,
i will ask my doctot about the result of blood test in the first visit,

[tricia448]

i could be wrong...but my doctor advised me not to take anything except prenatal vitamin. he said unless he draws blood and there is a need for additional supplements he will let me know.
with my last pregnancy i had the anemia...so i took extra iron (slowfe). but i am sure the prenatal vitamins supply you with what you need. maybe your doctor could draw blood to confirm his need to have you take more iron.

[aronka]

Thank you for your information.
What kind of iron are you taking?
I have just figured out that 325mg of ferrous sulfate is equivalen to 65 mg of iron.
My doctor did not check my bood except the first visit. but ayway, he did not check its result. I think he prescribes it to all pregnant women.

[Atlanta Girl]

That is a LOT of iron.  Usually they test at the beginning of the 3rd trimester and give you the supplement if your levels are less than 10.  I read it is pointless to test before because you blood volume is increasing.  The beginning of the 3rd isusually when they prescribe the treatment, to make sure you get to the end with sufficent stores since you may bleed a lot during delivery.  They prescribe me 150 mg a day and I thought it was too much.  I talked to my sister in Italy and she said over there they prescribe 180 mg for any deficiency, mild or severe.

I started with low levels because I have the thalassemia trait (hence mild anemia) but they did not prescribe additional supplements at that time.  Now, I went lower so they did.  

Did you have lab tests done? I would ask your doc if you have any deficiency.