Iron deficiency is something that over half of women will deal with at some point in their lives. For me, the anemia hit as a teenager; I was put on an iron supplement as well as a birth control pill in order to control my cycles, and prevent me from losing so much blood each month. For many, this is when iron deficiency first rears its ugly head; your periods start, they’re a little out of control, and your body can’t keep up with the deficit. For many, this is also resolved by a few months on an iron supplement.
In my case I assumed my iron deficiency was under control and my doctor stopped following up. I stopped the iron once in university, and turned to coffee to control the tiredness. I never really thought about my low iron again, until I was pregnant with Little Oats.
When I hit third trimester with Little Oats, I was absolutely exhausted all the time. I had awful headaches, I couldn’t focus, and I felt really foggy. I assumed this was just typical third trimester (in the blazing hot summer). However, routine third tri blood work revealed that not only was I anemic, but my ferritin levels were at a 3. Normal levels for women range from 12-150 ng/mL, so this was really concerning to my midwives (especially for someone about to deliver a baby and lose a lot of blood).
In a drastic attempt to increase my ferritin levels (the protein that helps with iron storage), I started a high-dose iron supplement formulated for pregnant women. I also began adding dark leafy greens, red meats, beans, and fortified protein powder to just about everything I ate. Combining my iron-rich meals with vitamin C also helped increase iron absorption; take your iron supplement with a glass of orange juice to help this, too.
Thanks to my constant monitoring, my iron and ferritin levels came up a fair bit (to about 15-20 pre-delivery). I stayed on my iron supplement until about eight weeks postpartum, when I ran out and really didn’t see a doctor to follow up.
With this pregnancy, the exhaustion hit almost immediately. Again, I assumed it was typical pregnancy exhaustion, until the familiar headaches, fogginess and inability to concentrate began to show up.
I had bloodwork done at 12 weeks, and lo and behold, my ferritin levels were back down to 4. I grabbed the Palafer supplements from the pharmacy, and began pumping iron into my diet, along with vitamin C to help it all absorb. The fogginess faded, the headaches disappeared, and my energy came back by about 16 weeks. I’ll be continually monitored throughout this pregnancy to make sure my levels stay up, but I’m grateful that we caught it early this time.
So, what exactly IS iron deficiency (or iron-deficiency anemia)? Iron-deficiency anemia is a decrease in red blood cells, caused by having too little iron in your body. When you lack iron, your body can’t produce hemoglobin (which helps blood cells carry oxygen). This lack of iron causes you to feel weak, lethargic, foggy and irritable. What I learned, to my surprise, is that over 50% of pregnant women have low iron; compared to about 20% of non-pregnant women. Men tend to have much more iron in their bodies; only about 3% of men have iron-deficiency anemia.
Iron is essential for producing new blood. During pregnancy, a woman’s blood volume increases by almost 50%…if you’re low on iron, this process is much more difficult. Also, babies tend to load up on iron before they are born, taking all of yours; breastmilk is low in iron, so they’re preparing themselves for the first several months.
So how will you know if you should have your iron levels tested? Here are some of the most common symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia:
- Headaches, worse during exercise
- Breathlessness
- Exhaustion
- Dizziness
- Difficulty concentrating
One of the easiest ways to boost the iron in your body is to eat iron-rich foods. There are two forms of iron that can be eaten: one is called heme iron (coming from an animal source), and nonheme iron (which comes from plant sources). Your body absorbs the most iron from heme sources. When pregnant, you should be aiming for about 30 mg of iron per day through a combination of food, prenatal vitamins, and an iron supplement if prescribed/given by your doctor.
Here’s a list of some amazing iron-rich foods, from both the heme and nonheme categories:
Animal sources:
- 3 oz clams – 24 mg
- 3 oz organ meats – 5-9 mg
- 3 oz beef – 3-5 mg
- 3 oz duck, lamb or chicken – 3 mg
Vegan/Vegetarian sources (average 5-8 mg per serving):
- 1 cup spinach – 5mg
- Fortified instant oatmeal – up to 20mg
- Dried apricots – 3 mg per 6 apricots
- 1 cup swiss chard or other leafy green
- 1/2 cup kidney beans – 3mg
Note: cooking iron-rich veggies can leach some of the iron, so don’t boil them. Steaming is preferable, or sautéing in a cast iron skillet, which will actually boost the iron content.
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Did anyone else struggle with an iron deficiency during pregnancy or otherwise?
cherry / 108 posts
I was placed on an iron supplement with my first pregnancy. My doctor hasn’t placed me on it so far with this pregnancy but I may bring it up due to the fatigue I’m feeling. So were you not iron deficient till your third trimester the first time? I’m just asking because my doctor caught it early on in my first trimester with the blood work.
pear / 1622 posts
I didn’t experience those symptoms but ended up being anemic and needed to take a supplement. I was tired of taking so many pills but already was eating a good amount of iron rich foods.
coffee bean / 29 posts
I remember a blood panel coming back low while we were TTC but let it slip my mind after we got pregnant. I didn’t realize how bad that was until the blood panel came back in L & D when I was in labor. It was so low that I required a blood transfusion after delivery.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
Great write up! I had pregnancy anemia during both pregnancies. Found out the first time via routine blood work and the second time doctor ordered it during the first trimester. Was on iron supplements both times. My older daughter actually has thalassemia trait. We found out when she was 9m her levels were only at a 3. We worked 9 hard months through supplements and diet to bring it up to a 9. We finally were able to wean her off about 2.5.
This time around I’m continuing my supplements while BFing in hopes it will help dd2’s levels. Hoping she doesn’t have thalassemia trait as well.
honeydew / 7235 posts
Sorry to hear you are dealing with this!! I used to struggle with iron deficincy, but when I took the iron pills/supplements there was no change at all!! After a few years of trying to figure out, turns out I have celiac disease. 2/3 months into the GF diet my iron levels were normal for the first time in YEARS! Those iron supplements can be tough. Good luck mama
grapefruit / 4923 posts
thanks for the great info–i’m going to pass this along to one of my friends who will be interested in this.
guest
I haven’t been blessed with children (yet), but I have struggled with iron deficiency due to heavy periods. I’m just about to finish my 9th month straight of iron supplements and hope that my ferritin levels have come up enough, at the same time I’m a bit scared to stop with the iron as my symptoms include depression, irritability, anxiety and a wonky cycle (which increase my anxiety) besides the general tiredness and weakness.
I’m still inclined to ask my GP to continue with the iron supplements when I have my periods just to avoid the misery that preceeded the diagnosis of iron deficiency. If she won’t prescribe iron tablets, I might just take over the counter iron supplements instead. Also, I’m not sure if it’s legal or over the counter in other countries, but Tranexamic acid has been a God send to keep my bleedings under control.