[my3beautifulboys]

Hi, I have recently had to have a blood transfusion as I had a m/c and lost alot of blood. When I left hospital my haemolglobin level was 97, which is considered quite low. The doctor said that it should be over 100. She has advised me to keep taking my iron tablets daily to build up my levels. I still feel quite weak and drained, is there anything like a vitamin/supplement you could recommend to help me get back to normal?

[Wigglemama]

Take your iron with Vitamin C to help absorb the iron better.

[my3beautifulboys]

Thanks Wigglemama that sounds good, I will have to get some Vitamin C tablets as well.

[Schnitzelvonkrum...]

Also make sure you are not taking your iron with calcium rich foods, because they will reduce absorption. Leave at leat a 2 hour gap.

ETA sorry about your loss

This post has been edited by willanddaisysmum: 08/04/2012, 02:06 PM

[TheAP]

There's no proven link between Vitamin C and Iron absorption so take them together or don't. My OB & GP said it makes no difference.

You can however make a big difference with vitamin B12. It's available in tablet form from health food stores and supermarkets/chemists.

I lost 1 litre of blood after DS's birth OP so I know how crap you feel. Try and get as much rest as you can including early nights and eat red meat. You absorb something like 3-5% of the iron supplement your taking which is barely anything.

[my3beautifulboys]

Thanks for youre replies, I feel a little confused now, some of you say Vitamin C and Smyla80 says Vitamin B12? Thanks for the suggestion regarding Chinese medicine, but Im not sure that I would have one of those where I live(in the country).

I do actually eat quite abit of red meat, but it seems my absorbtion is the trouble. As when I was only 4 or 5 weeks pregnant they we re quite low then and in previous pregnancies they we re also low, so my GP advised I take Iron supplements.

I imagine after blood loss like that, it will take some time to build myself up again, I will have to concentrate on not overdoing it for a while, although its abit hard with 3 little ones to run after.

This post has been edited by my3beautifulboys: 08/04/2012, 03:26 PM

[Wigglemama]

OP all the literature I have read states that there is a proven link between Vitamin C and the absorption of iron due to Vitamin C being able to break down iron into the most soluble and absorbable form, so that it is absorbed into the intestinal tract easier. The hospital I work at still medicates women with Vitamin C and iron together, so if the literature is false, then not everyone has cottoned onto it.

You can also try other iron rich food like spinach and even Milo! Yum!

[AvadaKedavra]

Hi OP. sorry about your loss.

A haemoglobin of 97 is not particularly low and should not be making you feel particularly tired or run down. Honestly, a miscarriage is enough to knock you about for a while!

Take the iron if you want, take vitamin c if you want... But I actually think you should be kind and gentle with yourself as give yourself time to mourn your loss and heal. I think that will do much more for you than any supplements or eating red meat.

Incidentally, vit c does help absorption of iron

[muminbusiness]

My dh had a low hemoglobin of 65. He had to have transfusions

[Ella mum]

Sorry for your loss OP.

Try the liquid iron along with increasing iron intake through diet.

I had iron injections when my levels were really low. A few days later I felt like a million bucks!

Good luck!