Weddingbee boards

I was just told by my doctor this morning that I am anemic (not really a surprise, as I've had issues with fatigue over the past several months).  My iron levels are really low, even though I've been taking prenatals for a month now.  I have to retest my blood next week and then she said I'll probably start taking additional iron supplements.  Yuck.

Does anyone else have advice for anemia BEFORE trying to get pregnant?  I've read that pregnancy often leads to anemia in women because of the increased blood your body must make.  Were you told to hold off on TTC until your anemia was cleared up?  How long did it take for your iron levels to even out? Was it even worse during pregnancy?  Were you just completely zapped of all energy the entire pregnancy?!?  I'm already tired...I'm afraid of what additional fatigue would do to me!  (I'm picturing a narcoleptic preggo woman sleeping with her head on her keyboard at work *Zzzzzzzzzz*)

I went in for my pre-TTC appt and they told me not only was I anemic but I was also folic acid deficient (it's a damn good thing we werent already preggers). So I was put on high doses of both and after my levels stablized (about three months later) we started TTC. I'm still anemic during my pregnancy, and I just take an iron pill and try to eat iron rich foods. There's really nothing you can do to fully prevent pregnancy related anemia- it's very very common. Just try to eat the best you can, take an iron supplement with orange juice to increase absorption, and follow up if you're not feeling well.

Good luck!

Yep I was anemic before pregnancy and all i did was eat a whole lot of beans and took iron supplements, luckily the anemia cleared before I got pregnant but now that I am pregnant I am once again anemic. I am once again taking iron in addition to my prenatals.

Try and eat a lot of greens and just make sure you are also increasing your fiber intake because iron = constipation!

Thanks for the tips, ladies!  I'll definitely stay on the prenatals, and try to work in more of those leafy greens, beans, and it sounds like a lot more fiber into my diet.  I don't eat much red meat, so it is great to know there are other ways of working iron in naturally.  The iron pills do wonky things to my stomach, but like you all said...I guess you just put up with it because it is what will be best for baby!  Also, good tip about the orange juice...gives me another reason to switch up my usually (and not good habit) of diet coke with breakfast.  It doesnt' sound like it will take too long for things to level out, and we're not planning on actively TTC until July, so should be okay (but something I'm sure that will show back up during pregnancy).

It is great being able to come on here and get advice from you guys!!! :)  Thanks!!

@regberadaisy: Yeah, I told my doctor that at the time I had my bloodwork done, I had only been on prenatals for about 3 weeks.  She said to keep taking them and then get my blood retested next week to see if there has been an improvement (so that would have put about 2 weeks between blood test #1 and blood test #2).  My thinking was the same as yours, though (that I should probably go ahead and take the extra supplements) so I went ahead and bought some OTC iron supplements right after my appointment. 

Ugh.  I took the first pill this morning and (not to be absolutely gross) I keep burping up what tastes like Lucky Charms cereal (err...YUCKY Charms).  Bleh.

 @RR: My sister works in a pharmacy and said that maybe something called "Gentle Iron" would work for not upsetting one's stomach so much.  I didn't ask until after I started the gross burping, so I haven't tried it myself.  I'm wondering if anyone else has had luck with taking supplements that aren't hard on your stomach too...