Iron?

[Irish Marie]

I was prescribed iron tablets at last week's appt and took them everyday
until Sunday. I had to stop as I was getting constipated (sorry tmi) and
starting to get piles (even more tmi!!).
I had another appt and told my dr that I don't want to take them anymore so
she told me that I will get very tired after the birth if I don't take them.
So she recommended I take them every 4 days and eat more green vegetables.
She suggested broccoli and kiwis!!!
I thought iron was in green, leafy vegetables?
Can anyone list what foods I can get iron in, please say sprouts I could eat
them all day!! lol
Oh and does anybody think that all the fuss about taking iron in pregnancy
is over-rated, especially when they cause constipation and piles?

--
Marie
Mum to DD5, DS3 and due #3 July '03

[Shelly]

I had the same problem with iron tablets. My doc told me to take them every
2 days. which for me helped. Play around with them alittle it won't hurt.
try every ohter day and if that don't work try every 2 but having low iron
after giving birth can make you anemic (spelling) You do lose alot of
blood. Of course you probably knew that!

--






Shelly
Mommy to Zachariah
January 24, 2003
"Irish Marie" > wrote in message
...
> I was prescribed iron tablets at last week's appt and took them everyday
> until Sunday. I had to stop as I was getting constipated (sorry tmi) and
> starting to get piles (even more tmi!!).
> I had another appt and told my dr that I don't want to take them anymore
so
> she told me that I will get very tired after the birth if I don't take
them.
> So she recommended I take them every 4 days and eat more green vegetables.
> She suggested broccoli and kiwis!!!
> I thought iron was in green, leafy vegetables?
> Can anyone list what foods I can get iron in, please say sprouts I could
eat
> them all day!! lol
> Oh and does anybody think that all the fuss about taking iron in pregnancy
> is over-rated, especially when they cause constipation and piles?
>
> --
> Marie
> Mum to DD5, DS3 and due #3 July '03
>
>

[Buzzy Bee]

On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 22:14:13 +0100, "Irish Marie" >
wrote:
but then again I might just have mucked up the snipping as usual!
>Can anyone list what foods I can get iron in, please say sprouts I could eat
>them all day!! lol

I had the same problem with iron supplements (even those in prenatal
vitamins were too much for me and I couldn't even take them). My
midwife recommended Spa Tone, which you can get over here from health
food shops and the like. Its water from a spring somewhere in
Snowdonia that happens to be extremely high in iron. Its a sachet of
about 25mls or so (they vary the amount according to the amount of
iron in the water) and you either knock it back on its own or tip it
in juice. Made a huge difference to me, in fact I just started taking
it again because I have had AF twice in 3 weeks and thought I might be
a bit run down as a result.

I have a massive box, so if you can't get it I could send you a few
sachets to try out.

Megan
--
Seoras David Montgomery, 7 May 2003, 17 hours: sunrise to sunset (homebirth)
Seoras' story: http://seoras.farr-montgomery.com

To e-mail use: megan at farr-montgomery dot com

[Irish Marie]

"Buzzy Bee" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 22:14:13 +0100, "Irish Marie" >
> wrote:
> but then again I might just have mucked up the snipping as usual!
> >Can anyone list what foods I can get iron in, please say sprouts I could
eat
> >them all day!! lol
>
> I had the same problem with iron supplements (even those in prenatal
> vitamins were too much for me and I couldn't even take them). My
> midwife recommended Spa Tone, which you can get over here from health
> food shops and the like. Its water from a spring somewhere in
> Snowdonia that happens to be extremely high in iron. Its a sachet of
> about 25mls or so (they vary the amount according to the amount of
> iron in the water) and you either knock it back on its own or tip it
> in juice. Made a huge difference to me, in fact I just started taking
> it again because I have had AF twice in 3 weeks and thought I might be
> a bit run down as a result.
>
> I have a massive box, so if you can't get it I could send you a few
> sachets to try out.
>
I'll go down to the health food shop tomorrow and suss that out, thanks
Megan.
I won't get you to post me anything, I'm hoping that the iron issue will be
erased by baby's appearance next week.
Thanks

--
Marie
Mum to DD5, DS3 and due #3 July '03

[kereru]

"Larry McMahan" > wrote in message
...
> Irish Marie > writes:
>
> : Oh and does anybody think that all the fuss about taking iron in
pregnancy
> : is over-rated, especially when they cause constipation and piles?
>
> Oh, absolutely. Especially if you eat well and get lots of foods which
> contain iron. I am beginning not to trust your OB.

I did both and still got iron deficient. I'm pretty up there with nutrition
(did a paper at varsity which covered the basics) and still managed to have
a problem. I may be an exception but it's possible some people/families are
prone to it.

>
> And, oh. Presumably your OB has done a blood test that tells what your
> iron level is. You have the right to get the test results from her and
> make your own determination of whether it is good enough or not. I
> suggest you get the numbers.


I agree theres no point causing constipation when she may not even need iron
supplements. Iron levels and iron store levels should have done it as part
of the general blood tests about 30 weeks I would have thought. It's easy
enough then to decide if they are low and then how low they are. Dietry
changes may well be enough even if she is a bit lacking.

The OB should also be aware of differnt types of iron supplementation. I
take a herbal one which has improved my iron levels and has caused no
constipation. Sorry I'm in NZ so telling you the name of it will probably
not help (Floradix).

Judy

[Irish Marie]

"Larry McMahan" > wrote in message
...
> Irish Marie > writes:
>
> : Oh and does anybody think that all the fuss about taking iron in
pregnancy
> : is over-rated, especially when they cause constipation and piles?
>
> Oh, absolutely. Especially if you eat well and get lots of foods which
> contain iron. I am beginning not to trust your OB.
>
Well she is my GP as part of the Combined Care system, and it was the
midwife at the hospital who prescribed the iron. Hopefully I will get to
see my OB on Monday.

> And, oh. Presumably your OB has done a blood test that tells what your
> iron level is. You have the right to get the test results from her and
> make your own determination of whether it is good enough or not. I
> suggest you get the numbers.
>
I had bloods done at 12 weeks which were 12.3, at 34 weeks they were done
again and the results were 10.0, so it looks like I am deficient in iron.
Marie

[Irish Marie]

"kereru" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Irish Marie" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I was prescribed iron tablets at last week's appt and took them everyday
> > until Sunday. I had to stop as I was getting constipated (sorry tmi)
and
> > starting to get piles (even more tmi!!).
> > I had another appt and told my dr that I don't want to take them anymore
> so
> > she told me that I will get very tired after the birth if I don't take
> them.
> > So she recommended I take them every 4 days and eat more green
vegetables.
> > She suggested broccoli and kiwis!!!
> > I thought iron was in green, leafy vegetables?
> > Can anyone list what foods I can get iron in, please say sprouts I could
> eat
> > them all day!! lol
> > Oh and does anybody think that all the fuss about taking iron in
pregnancy
> > is over-rated, especially when they cause constipation and piles?
> >
> > --
> > Marie
> > Mum to DD5, DS3 and due #3 July '03
> >
> >
>
> If your iron is low I would persevere. I became iron deficient after the
> birth of my first child and it really knocked me about. I caught every bug
> going around and was weak and tired. It really tainted the newborn
> experience for me and I think contributed to me developing PND. Okay a
> pretty extreme case but definitely a vote for the pro-iron team!
>
Certainly is!

> The reason she probably suggested kiwi is because kiwi is high in vitamin
C
> which aids iron absorption. Oranges and other fruit will help too as will
> vitamin C tablets. The kiwi is doubly good because it will help prevent
> constipation. Apricots are high in iron (esp dried) and will also help the
> constipation.
>

Thanks for that tip! On the shopping list for tomorrow!

> Avoid tea with the iron supplements because it contains tannins which
> restrict iron absorption.
>
What about raspberry leaf tea?

> I don't think supplementing iron is overrated at all, I am doing all I can
> to avoid a problem with my second pregnancy. If it were me I would keep up
> some form of iron and the deal with the constipation using fruit or
> Metamucil (dietry fibre). I know it's a pain but I think it's worth it. If
> you haven't already you can get a blood test and find out if you really
need
> iron supplementation of not.
>
> Judy
>
Thanks Judy, some fair points made there.

--
Marie
Mum to DD5, DS3 and due #3 July '03

[Larry McMahan]

Irish Marie > writes:

: Oh and does anybody think that all the fuss about taking iron in pregnancy
: is over-rated, especially when they cause constipation and piles?

Oh, absolutely. Especially if you eat well and get lots of foods which
contain iron. I am beginning not to trust your OB.

And, oh. Presumably your OB has done a blood test that tells what your
iron level is. You have the right to get the test results from her and
make your own determination of whether it is good enough or not. I
suggest you get the numbers.

Larry

[[email protected]]

How absorbed is this iron?? Many iron supplements (and your cream of wheat is supplemented unless
I'm wrong) you can only absorb about 10% of.


"Em" > thought everything was going well until Wed, 16 Jul 2003 02:03:57
GMT, when "Em" > wrote the following to misc.kids.pregnancy :

>"Plissken" > wrote in message
>> Here is one of a few websites that will give you list of foods high in
>iron.
>> Personally my favourite is Cream of Wheat which contains something like
>60%
>> RDI and I usually have two portions for breakfast.
>
>I eat a bowl of frosted mini shredded wheats every morning for breakfast
>(sometimes another later for a snack). Aldi brand--yummy! I eat them because
>I like them, they have lots of fiber, & because they are a relatively hearty
>breakfast (as far as cereals go). Anyway, they have 90% of one's RDA of
>iron. I was on a bran flake kick for a while too (they have 50%). I also
>cook in iron skillets. No iron problems so far (and no constipation
>either--maybe the nice fiber-y cereal helps :-)


---
"Most people are pantywaists.
Exercise is good for you."

-EMMA 'GRANDMA' GATEWOOD,
at age 67 first woman to thru-hike
the Appalachian Trail (1955), 1887-1973

[[email protected]]

I use generic Niferex I can take 300mg per day with no ill effects.



> thought everything was going well until Wed, 16 Jul
2003 12:09:42 +1000, when > wrote the following to
misc.kids.pregnancy :

>On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 22:14:13 +0100, "Irish Marie" >
>wrote:
>
>>I was prescribed iron tablets at last week's appt and took them everyday
>>until Sunday. I had to stop as I was getting constipated (sorry tmi) and
>>starting to get piles (even more tmi!!).
>>I had another appt and told my dr that I don't want to take them anymore so
>>she told me that I will get very tired after the birth if I don't take them.
>>So she recommended I take them every 4 days and eat more green vegetables.
>>She suggested broccoli and kiwis!!!
>>I thought iron was in green, leafy vegetables?
>>Can anyone list what foods I can get iron in, please say sprouts I could eat
>>them all day!! lol
>>Oh and does anybody think that all the fuss about taking iron in pregnancy
>>is over-rated, especially when they cause constipation and piles?
>
>have you tried an organic iron suppliment Marie... it worked for me,
>when all the others treated my bowels harshly...
>
>Michelle


---
"Most people are pantywaists.
Exercise is good for you."

-EMMA 'GRANDMA' GATEWOOD,
at age 67 first woman to thru-hike
the Appalachian Trail (1955), 1887-1973

[Shannon]

Eat alot of red meats cooked properly though. If you take your iron and eat
alot of fruit and grains the constipation shoudlnt last long. Even wihtout
the mass consumption of fruit n grains it shoudlnt last long. Had you waited
a few days you prob woud have been over it. The reason you get constipated
in the beginning is your body is getting used to it. Anyways back to where
to get iron. Spinich is said to be the best however that is false as spinich
also has something in it which stops your body from absorbing the iron. So
alot of red meats green leafy veggies and drink juice with vitamin c(like
OJ) everyday to help your body absorb the iron. You could also try a
prenatal vitamin which as far as i know doesnt have the same amount of dose
as iron pills so there should be less toilet issues.

Good luck

Shannon
due sept 12

[kereru]

..
> > Avoid tea with the iron supplements because it contains tannins which
> > restrict iron absorption.
> >
> What about raspberry leaf tea?

Sorry I don't know but my instincts say that raspberry leaf wouldn't have
tannins. I think the effect is minimal if you take the iron at a different
time from the tea anyway.

Judy

[Stephanie S]

"Irish Marie" > wrote in message
...
> I was prescribed iron tablets at last week's appt and took them everyday
> until Sunday. I had to stop as I was getting constipated (sorry tmi) and
> starting to get piles (even more tmi!!).
> I had another appt and told my dr that I don't want to take them anymore
so
> she told me that I will get very tired after the birth if I don't take
them.
> So she recommended I take them every 4 days and eat more green vegetables.
> She suggested broccoli and kiwis!!!
> I thought iron was in green, leafy vegetables?
> Can anyone list what foods I can get iron in, please say sprouts I could
eat
> them all day!! lol
> Oh and does anybody think that all the fuss about taking iron in pregnancy
> is over-rated, especially when they cause constipation and piles?
>
> --
> Marie
> Mum to DD5, DS3 and due #3 July '03
>
>

You can also add prune juice to your repitiore for relief of the
constipation. Not everyone thinks it is as yucky as I do. ;)

I think maple syrup was on my high iron list, and maybe beets? Molasses was
another one, I think. Either that or I am having severe brain drain.


S

[Larry McMahan]

Irish Marie > writes:

: I had bloods done at 12 weeks which were 12.3, at 34 weeks they were done
: again and the results were 10.0, so it looks like I am deficient in iron.
: Marie

If I remember correctly 10.0 is bottom of normal, and also iron levels are
expected to drop as the baby grows. It doesn't sound like you are at any
danger level.

Larry

[toypup]

"Larry McMahan" > wrote in message
...
> Irish Marie > writes:
>
> : I had bloods done at 12 weeks which were 12.3, at 34 weeks they were
done
> : again and the results were 10.0, so it looks like I am deficient in
iron.
> : Marie
>
> If I remember correctly 10.0 is bottom of normal, and also iron levels are
> expected to drop as the baby grows. It doesn't sound like you are at any
> danger level.

I'm no doc here, but whoever wants to wait to danger level to start
worrying? I think it would be good, if the levels are at the bottom end, to
make some effort keep them from dropping further.

[Welches]

toypup > wrote in message
news:pehRa.79059$ye4.53284@sccrnsc01...
>
> "Larry McMahan" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Irish Marie > writes:
> >
> > : I had bloods done at 12 weeks which were 12.3, at 34 weeks they were
> done
> > : again and the results were 10.0, so it looks like I am deficient in
> iron.
> > : Marie
> >
> > If I remember correctly 10.0 is bottom of normal, and also iron levels
are
> > expected to drop as the baby grows. It doesn't sound like you are at
any
> > danger level.
>
> I'm no doc here, but whoever wants to wait to danger level to start
> worrying? I think it would be good, if the levels are at the bottom end,
to
> make some effort keep them from dropping further.
>
>
Having got down to less than 8 last time I'd completely agree. 10 is exactly
the bottom, and if I was that then I'd want iron to stop getting so
exhausted as I did last time. Iron tablets worked wonders with me.
Debbie

[Iuil]

"Larry McMahan" wrote
>
> And, oh. Presumably your OB has done a blood test that tells what your
> iron level is. You have the right to get the test results from her and
> make your own determination of whether it is good enough or not. I
> suggest you get the numbers.

My iron level post-partum was 10.5. Just above the lower end of the normal
range. I was officially "Not anaemic".

Problem was that I'd lost 1500ml of blood and had 2000ml of fluid pumped
back into me, so I *was* anaemic. My iron levels are normally very high,
somewhere around 18-20, normal in a male (men generally have higher levels
than women because of menstruation). Anaemia is associated with late onset
of milk production, in my case day 8, not something I particularly needed.

I'd go on symptoms personally. Marie, my ob suggested the one every two
days thing as well. But you've had good suggestions on dietary intake as
well. Another herbal remedy I've seen recommended over here is Floradix -
some chemists stock but you should be able to find it in a health-food
store.

Jean


--
"And he said:
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of
Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and
though they are with you, yet they belong not to you." Khalil Gibran

Return address is unread. Replies to <firstnamelastname> @eircom.net.

[H Schinske]

>So I talked about it with my MW when I was pregnant with DS and she
>recomended taking FLORADIX (Iron + Herbs, Liquid Extract Formula),
>because it doesn't cause constipation. And she was right!

It's available in the US in both liquid and some kind of pill/capsule form. At
least it was five years ago.

--Helen

[Sidheag McCormack]

iuil19 writes:

> Anaemia is associated with late onset of milk production, in my case day
> 8, not something I particularly needed.

Ouch, not someone anyone needs - but that association's a new one on me.
Where did you get that information? Do you have a reference? Does it only
apply if you have symptoms of anaemia, or is it a reason for being
concerned about a low number even without symptoms? I had a quick search
but didn't find anything.

> I'd go on symptoms personally.

That's certainly my plan, or was until you mentioned a milk coming in link!
The evidence (see http://www.radmid.demon.co.uk/anaemia.htm for some
pointers and discussion) is that the optimal level in late pregnancy is
between 9.5 and 10.5 - i.e. many women who are told that they should
supplement actually have optimal levels already! Generally levels will rise
after birth as the extra fluid is lost from the blood.

I wasn't planning to have my levels checked again, unless I develop
symptoms of anaemia, but I might change my mind if there's reason to think
that low levels without symptoms might cause milk to be late in.

Sidheag
edd Oct 13th

[Iuil]

"Sidheag McCormack" wrote
>
> > Anaemia is associated with late onset of milk production, in my case
day
> > 8, not something I particularly needed.
>
> Ouch, not someone anyone needs - but that association's a new one on me.
> Where did you get that information? Do you have a reference? Does it only
> apply if you have symptoms of anaemia, or is it a reason for being
> concerned about a low number even without symptoms? I had a quick search
> but didn't find anything.
>

It's in one of my bfing books. I can't remember which one and Marie now has
them anyway :-).

I think the average given was 4-5 days, which is later than normal but not
excessively so. In my case, there were a whole host of other problems going
on so I wouldn't blame the anaemia totally.


>
> I wasn't planning to have my levels checked again, unless I develop
> symptoms of anaemia, but I might change my mind if there's reason to think
> that low levels without symptoms might cause milk to be late in.
>

I had low levels *for me* and had all the signs and symptoms but because the
test said my levels were normal, I was told that treatment probably wasn't
necessary so I wasn't as vigilant about my diet and supplements as I could
have been.

Jean


--
"And he said:
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of
Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and
though they are with you, yet they belong not to you." Khalil Gibran

Return address is unread. Replies to <firstnamelastname> @eircom.net.