Anemia

What is Iron Deficiency Anemia? How is it treated?

What is Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Iron deficiency anemia occurs when there is not enough iron in the blood. Iron is an important building block for hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen.

In pregnancy, the amount of blood in the body must increase by almost 50% to support the growing baby. As a result, the mother`s body starts to make blood at a faster pace than it is accustomed to. Sometimes the need for iron is greater than the amount stored in the body. The result is iron deficiency anemia. Approximately 20% of pregnant women have anemia.

How Will I Know if I am Anemic?

Most of the time women do not realize that they are anemic. Because anemia is so common, doctors and midwives usually check the blood for anemia during the first prenatal visit. Sometimes they will repeat the test around 28 weeks of pregnancy, or whenever there is a concern that the woman may be anemic.

The most common symptom of anemia is excessive tiredness. If anemia is severe, women may also experince dizziness, fainting, fast or irregular heartbeat, pale skin or shortness of breath.

How is Anemia Treated?

Anemia that is caused by lack of iron is usually treated with iron tablets. If your doctor or midwife prescribes iron, take it with food to prevent nausea. Avoid taking iron with milk because the calcium prevents it from being used by your body. On the other hand, taking your iron pill with orange juice, grapefruit juice or another source of vitamin C will help the iron absorb easier. If you are borderline anemic or the anemia is not severe enough to require iron supplements, your doctor may ask that you consume a diet that is full of iron-rich foods. (See list below)

Sometimes the iron tablets can make your bowel movements dark-colored or even black. This color is from extra iron that was not absorbed in your body. It is not dangerous. Iron may also cause constipation or diarrhea. Talk with your doctor or midwife if this is a problem for you.

What Can I Do to Prevent Anemia?

The best sources of iron are the foods you eat. By eating foods that are high in iron and vitamin C, you may be able to prevent anemia. Some iron-rich foods are:

• Red meats
• Liver
• Dried beans or tofu
• Dried fruits (raisins, prunes, apricots)
• Leafy green vegetables (broccoli, spinach)
• Iron-enriched bread, pasta, and cereal
• Eggs

Comments: Anemia

Comments 1 to 24 of about 30.
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waitingfornumber2 - 13 days ago.
with my son i was severely anemic, he's one now and i'm pregnant again 9 weeks, and i feel as if i'm already becoming anemic, i'm experiencing extreme fatigue, tingling, dizziness, and discoordination. I feel like i've taken a benadryl you know those jolting feelings it gives you through your body, but i haven't taken anything, i haven't been to the dr yet, so idk for sure if i am or not. I've decided that if i'm not feeling better by tomorrow that i'm gonna call the dr and see what he says, is anyone else having similar symptoms? Oh i'm also having leg cramps.

lmt1411 - 26 days ago.
UK girls - My iron levels were getting very low & my MW suggested SpaTone (http://www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com/en/uk/our-brands/spatone/ - available from Boots). I have 1 in the morning b4 work & 1 about 4pm for a wee boost. I have had none of the usual tummy probs associated with iron supplements. Highly recommended!!

vodka82 - 53 days ago.
claie defo go an get checked out hunny x

claire louise - 54 days ago.
I'm worried as know my iron is low but worried it's gotton worse as I'm dizzy with fast heartbeat and shortness of breath. I nearly passed out a few hours ago and dont know if I should go A&E.

Bri - 96 days ago.
owensbaby2 - With my last pregnancy I was just slightly anemic. So, they gave me OTC pills. They sucked! Not only does pregnancy cause constipation but to add iron on top of it! UGH! I'm sorry you have to take them. I'm hoping that I'm not this time around too. Good Luck! They are awful. I could name a million reasons they suck. Constipation was just the worst.

kathy=^.^= - 130 days ago.
my LO is 9 months and he had an iron test and it was at 10 they told me that it was low and i neede to call the dr. now im waiting to hear from the dr!!!! i wish they would call this is scaring me...

Diamond28 - 186 days ago.
Well ladies thank you for posting your pregnancy symptoms. I know in the beginning that i was anemic but didnt know how being anemic could make my heart beat fast. I have had cardiac workup done and everything has came back ok just a mild case of MVP but my cardiologist told me that its nothing to be concern with and didn't give me any medication. But he did place me on Atenolol for my palpitations. I hope this all go away soon i am very tired and it makes me so scare of having these palpitations. I also take prenatal sometimes and Slow FE tablets. I think by reading these comments it makes me feel a little bit better.

furrymama - 219 days ago.
Gamama - I get the iron infusions on a regualr basis too - every 6 months if I am doing well, but I have had it as frequently as 2-3 months. MIne isn't from gastric bybass, but because I have Chron's disease and can't otlerate oral iron supplements. My iron level after the treatment always goes up really well and I have lots of energy. I had a treatment right before i got pregnant, and I know my Doc was wanting to put off any extra infusions as long as possible during my pregnancy as it hasn't been around long enough to know for sure that it won't hurt the baby. I am a little worried though, as I really feel like my iron level is low - but I see him next week to check this, so I will know soon.

ubiquim - 220 days ago.
Actually I am greek. thanks, I plan to look into it!! :)

combatchick09 - 221 days ago.
if u are of greek decent like myself then you might want to be checked for Thalasemia which is pretty much a more severe case of anemia and often misdiagnosed as anemia.

gamama31791 - 222 days ago.
actually no- just the same if not worse, which really sucks!

ubiquim - 222 days ago.
gamama do you feel more energetic by taking the iron?

gamama31791 - 223 days ago.
Unfortunately I am anemic due to gastric bypass surgery that I had 4 years ago. My iron has always been low but since being pregnant is lower then normal. my dr used to check iron the last time I was pregnant but that was almost 8 yrs ago. now they don't do it anymore. I had my sugar test done and THANKFULLY they realized it was pretty bad. It was 7.5 and found out the reason why I was tired, no energy, exhausted, and just couldnt motivate myself to do anything. The bad part is I am unable to take iron pills b/c I only have 1 1/2 ft intestines and IT WILL not absorb them. ( i have a small stomach and short intestines b/c that is part of the process of the gastric bypass) well I had to have an IV iron infusion treatment b/c that was the only way to get the iron in my body. They were really concerned b/c if I went into labor I could lose alot of blood and my blood type is O- and they have a very short supply of it. Now I find out I have to get this 8 hr treatment every year and B12 shots every month for the rest of my life. Too bad dr didnt tell me what I would have to go through for the rest of my life due to this surgery, not that it would matter. Now my oncology dr tells me that it will never get past a 11 and I will never be normal I guess. Well my iron is now 10.3 and he was ecstatic about it b/c I guess someone in my condition, thats pretty good. so the only way i can take vitamins or most medicines is through shots b/c im unable to get the right nutrients due to not being able to eat properly and keep it in me. So now I know why I am so tired all of the time.

aprilraine - 223 days ago.
Jamie - try liquid instead of pill form, I know my body wouldn't absorb the pill form and would just turn my stools black, so my doctor switched me to liquid and my body absorbs it better, also I'm on a 150mg supplement.. so maybe talk to your dr about upping your dose?

jamie - 224 days ago.
I still feel like Im dying Im so tired. I can get through the first couple of hours of the day then I start feeling like I havent slept in 24hrs...My heart starts beating really hard and my body gets all wierd..I rest for about 4 hours then I get some energy back around 6pm just in time to feed,bathe and put my other 2 to bed...12 More weeks of this???? Im gonna lose my mind-

aprilraine - 226 days ago.
I noticed within a couple days, I wasn't as tired as usual.

jamie - 226 days ago.
I just took one of the 65mg supplements..How long did it take for you to get your energy back once you started the supplements?

aprilraine - 226 days ago.
Jamie- I am anemic too. I dont take prenatals because I eat everything I am supposed to. I just take the iron supplement and folic acid. Usually the amount of iron in the prenatal vitamins isn't enough for someone who is anemic, so you should take the supplement as well.

jamie - 226 days ago.
Doc just called to tell me Im anemic-slightly. I guess the low end range is 11.5 and mine is 11.3...I have been SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOO tired lately I have suspected for the past couple of weeks I might be anemic. I havent been taking my prenatals regularly which is probably part of the problem. I get the tiredness and rapid heartbeat, Im glad I know what it is now we can fix the problem! My only question is if I take my prenatals regularly will I still need the 65mg Iron supplement???

ubiquim - 234 days ago.
sweetie2320 wow those symptoms sound really severe. I would not drive if I were you until you find out what the cause is. I have had low iron levels all my life, so when Im pregnant and breastfeeding I take slow release iron. It helps a lot, especially because of the restless leg syndrome I get. At some point in pregnancy the blood volume increases, almost doubles and that is when more iron is needed. I think its possible to get iron deficient at that point. But only your doctor would be able to diagnose you properly. I think you should call him and let him know asap.

elita777 - 234 days ago.
most if not all women get anemic at the end of first beginning of second trimester I heard. This is my second pregnancy and I've always been taking Slow Fe slow iron release tablets, 1 a day, as my primal physician recommended. My OB said it's also ok not to take anything, but prenatal vitamins, though he recommends eating lots of dark green vegetables.

sweetie2320 - 234 days ago.
I think im anemic. It started with having shortness of breath alot. and now a few times ive gotten so dizzy that my vision has gone black and ive near passed out! When i got my blood work done a month ago though the doctor did not say anything about my iron levels. how long does it take to get anemic? Could i have just been fine amonth ago and not now??

dinahmite425 - 289 days ago.
hello everyone , i just emailed my dotor because i think im anemia, i have to be. I have been sleeping 12-14 hours a day!! and when i finally wake up i want to go right back to sleep. I have been SOB and my heart is beating fast with any activity i do. I feel drained, like i have been hooked up to a machine and it took all the life out of me.

Mrs-E-Russell08 - 313 days ago.
Well i was anaemic about 2 months before gettn preggers and now 10 months after giving birth i am still anaemic, even though i have done the iron tablets and injections. AND KALLI - YES dairy foods will make you anaemic especially if you are having it with any iron rich foods, i should know thats the reason why i am so badly anaemic, i am a milk fiend haha. so the idea is to eat meats and all those iron rich foods with vitamin c like drink orange juice not a cuppa tea, or just wait 2 hrs before or after having anything high in calcium to have iron. the reason of calcium and iron not working is cause the lil calcium and iron cells will basically bond together and just pass through your system without being absorbed. whereas with vit C and iron the vit c will help absorb the iron better.....i really hope all that gas bagging helps lol.

chotabubba - 320 days ago.
My obs told me today that my glucose tolerance test indicated that my iron levels are low (no wonder I've been feeling so tired and dizzy lately). So she has prescribed me iron supplements and has warned me about the side effects too (I see katie88 has put that down quite nicely...lol). Hope all you mommas out there are doing great!

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