iron count 10.5-what does it mean?

[UmmFulaan]

i have been told my count is 10.5 and that i have to take 2 tablets a day, and folic acid...

what does this count mean?

i have a very complicated pregnancy as it is...im wondering when things are actually going to be normal

[DumbledoresGirl]

I thought an iron count of above 10 was fine. Maybe not these days?

Anyway, it doesn't sound too bad to me. I wouldn't worry about it unduly. Low iron count is quite common in pregnancy. I suppose it is all to do with your blood going to the baby, doing extra work, having extra demands put on it, something like that.

The point is, be careful what form you take your iron supplement in. A lot of the stuff prescribed makes you horribly constipated (or did me, anyway). I found Floradix (bought from health food shops) worked best in terms of no side effects.

What else has been going on in your pregnancy?

[belgo]

10.5 is just under normal. Iron levels often go down during pregnancy and many pregnant women are mildly aneamic.

The main thing is that they've given you iron tablets to get your iron levels back up. Remember that iron is best absorbed with the help of vitamin C - so eat plenty of fruit and fruit juice. Milk will hinder the abroption of iron, so don't drink milk for a few hours before or after taking the tablets.

ALso eat iron rich foods.

Good luck, hope all is ok!

[belgo]

I think 11 is the cut off point. But it also depends on how the woman is feeling in herself.

[DumbledoresGirl]

Yes belgo, you are probbaly right. 11 rings a bell too. (My last pg was 5 years ago and I was not sure about the 10 figure as a cut off point.)

[UmmFulaan]

my baby has right kidney has more then likely failed, has growth problems, talipes...possible downs or another abnormality...

its quite alot to take in for first pregnancy...but i guess i am fortunate enough to get pregnant, and have a baby.

i have totally gone off red meat in my pregnancy, use to love orange jices, and fruits like that- but since heart burn!!! no more please...

oh i had low blood pressure before, and fainted a few times, maybe thats why they concerned.

[belgo]

gosh that sounds like a lot to cope with UmmFulaan.

Floradix is a good suggestion from DG.

[PosieParker]

Honestly I'd try and get a homeopathic iron drink or boost my diet as those tablets will make you constipated, well they did me!

[belgo]

I've just googled iron rich foods:

• liver
  
• lean red meats, including beef, pork, lamb
  
• seafood, such as oysters, clams, tuna, salmon, and shrimp, etc.
  
• beans, including kidney, lima, navy, black, pinto, soy beans, and lentils
  
• iron fortified whole grains, including cereals, breads, rice, and pasta
  
• greens, including collard greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach, and turnip greens
  
• tofu
  
• vegetables, including broccoli, swiss chard, asparagus, parsley, watercress, brussel sprouts
  
• chicken and turkey
  
• blackstrap molasses
  
• nuts
  
• egg yolks
  
• dried fruits, such as raisins, prunes, dates and apricots

[belgo]

so if you don't want to eat meats then:

vegetables, including broccoli, swiss chard, asparagus, parsley, watercress, brussel sprouts

• nuts
  
• egg yolks
  
• dried fruits, such as raisins, prunes, dates and apricots

[DumbledoresGirl]

Gosh, yes, you do have a lot to think about with this pregnancy.

I was given a leaflet at some time during one of my pregnancies which lists iron rich foods if it would help you. (The list includes points which I won't bother with).

Weetabix, cornflakes, ready brek, all bran, special K

wholemeal bread, white bread, chapatti

red meat, corned beef, kidney, black pudding, egg, pulses, sardines in tomato sauce

potatoes, raisins, sultanas, spinach

And forrds high in vit C which aid absorption of iron include:

oranges, pineapple, grapefruit, tomatoes, fruit juice, potatoes, green veg and salads.

Avoid drinking tea within one hour of eating as this hinders absorption.

HTH

[Brangelina]

10.5 is borderline, normally at this level you get advised to up your iron intake with food. I know my doc was quite wary of iron pills because of the constipation issue. It gets low because your blood volume increases in pg, so what there is tends to be "watered down".

I had quite a low count at the beginning of pg, when I felt too sick to eat anything other than potatoes, so it was to be expected. Are you still nauseaous? If not, then you can easily up your intake by eating everything wholemeal, snacking on nuts and dried fruit, eating plenty of leafy green veg, eating pulses, cutting out tea, coffee, coke etc. having fortified cereals for breakfast and so on. If you're a meat eater than the odd steak will provide iron too. Accompany all this with fresh fruit or salad (vit C to aid absorption) and you should have no problem. I managed to up mine from 11 in early pg to 13.5 in 3rd trimester and I'm vegetarian, so it can be done.

PS. The odd square of good quality plain chocolate will help too. I remember reading somewhere that chocolate consumption in pg leads to happy babies..... well, mine certainly came out smiling.

[DumbledoresGirl]

Oh belgo, great minds think alike!

[Janus]

Umm, so sorry this pregnancy is not straightforward for you, you do have a lot to deal with.
My recent iron levels were exactly the same as you, 10.5, and my mw hardly mentioned it. She suggested I increase my levels naturally by upping iron rich food and said the best thing for this was watercrest as it requires no cooking which reduces it in the other forms. She also said to not have a cup of tea near to mealtimes (hour or so) as the milk would reduce any beneficial food I was eating and to try and have some orange juice with food. I recently had another test which I have no idea what the results are but assume no news is good news.
I really think your levels are not worrying.
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

My last blood test showed 10.4 which is actually very high for me at this stage of pregnancy, it's usually down to 7/8 which is seriously rubbish. Fortunately they still let me have midwife unit or homebirths if I can keep it above 9.

If you can't face orange juice how about squash as it's slightly less acidic? Blackcurrant would be a good choice - I take a sachet of Spatone (iron rich water supplement) in a glass of lime cordial every morning. Or you could ask if you could take your iron with a Vit C tablet? And don't drink tea or coffee within half an hour or more of taking your iron.

Given that you are not having a normal pregnancy, it might be that the tablets will provide a much better 'hit' of iron than Spatone or Floradix can provide, many MN say that these only maintain their iron levels and don't increase them. If you do find yourself getting constipated then ask midwife/GP for something to combat that.

How many weeks are you?

[UmmFulaan]

thank u all for the advice, im maming notes as readin the msgs...

im 30 weeks today! yippeee!!!

[beforesunrise]

10.5 is borderline as already said, the most important thing is making sure it doesn't drop or you'll be in trouble. i have been recommended Biocare Iron EAP2, whcih is stronger than floradix but no nasty side effects. good natural health shops stock it, or try online.

i got it up frm 9.4 to 10.5 in about 3 weeks.