Low Iron Levels: 3rd trimester

[Anonymous]

Just heard from the doctor that my iron levels are low, and I need to take a supplement. Just began the 3rd trimester. Any others in the same situation?

[Anonymous]

Totally normal to have this happen -- baby takes what they need, you get left with the short end of the stick. You need your iron levels up (not high, just within normal range) especially for delivery because apparently it makes for a better delivery - somehow. My doc (at Reiter Hill) started me on an OTC iron supplement called Vitron-C that is supposed to have less constipation side-effects. So far so good, and I've been taking it for about a month now (i'm 33 weeks).

[Anonymous]

I had low iron throughout my pregnancy. I was on the regular iron supplements and I think took them for a while after giving birth as well. No issues whatsoever. Don't take them at the same time as your regular prenatal - the calcium prevents the absorbtion of iron (or maybe the other way around).

[Anonymous]

I have been there and ended up not being able to take any of the oral iron supplements because of really bad constipation. I ended up having to get 5 days of venofer (an IV iron supplement) in order to get my iron up fast enough. The constipation was pretty awful, I wish I had spoken up earlier. Hopefully, the same thing won't happen to you (it is really rare), if it does speak to your sooner rather than later!!

[Anonymous]

I think that the iron in food (mostly meats like beef, liver, and some seafood) is more readily absorbed by the body than supplements. I had borderline iron levels in both pregnancies and it wasn't a big deal. I tried to eat more hamburgers instead of taking supplements, which made me sick to my stomach. And on the constipation -- don't ignore it if you have it, it can get really severe and painful! (Sorry for the TMI, but this happened to me and it was very traumatizing. Think impaction).

[Anonymous]

Yes, same boat for me. I'm taking an iron supplement called Ferro-Sequels. It is a timed / slow release and has not caused any issues with stomach upset. I take it in the evenings (prenatals in the morning).

[Anonymous]

My levels were in the low end of the normal range in the first trimester, which left me freezing all the time. Once I heard about my labs, I made a concerted effort to start eating more meat, especially red meat, and iron rich foods and felt much better. I now have more energy and am not shivering. If your level is low you probably need the supplement, but it may also help to add iron rich foods to your diet too. Also, I read that not only calcium, but also fiber, impedes absorption. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I was advised the same in the 3rd trimester too. I wasn't advised to take a supplement though. I'm a vegetarian so it really didn't come as a surprise. My husband has gotten me to eat a little bit of red meat but we mostly just made more of an effort at eating dark greens. I was already eating Raisan Bran every weekend, but apparantely that wasn't enough.

[Anonymous]

I'm also taking Vitron-C, and I have to say I noticed a difference in my energy level as soon as I started taking it. Now for the TMI, it upsets my stomach, so I have a weird combination of sort of urgent need to go after taking it, and it is those awful black, constipation poops. It will be over soon, though!

[Anonymous]

Increase in blood volume (yours and babie's combined) will sometimes cause anemia. I took Vitron C with first pg and had terrible constipation; took SlowFE for second pg and had normal BM.