Anemic - question

Well, the good news I received today is that I DON'T have GD, the FFN came back negative so I'm unlikely to have PTL for at least a week or two, and no UTI. The bad news is - i'm "significantly anemic"

My Hb (no clue - hemoglobin something?) has gone from 11.8 last time they checked (weeks ago) to 9.8, and anything below 10 is considered significantly anemic.

My OB is convinced it's because i have not been able to keep down my vitamins since my 12th or 13th week: I'm now almost 29 weeks, but i had hyperemesis and was sick as a dog for four months. I've tried and tried, but no matter when i take them, i end up getting sick and nauseous from them (this may be TMI but i end up burping them up for about 8 - 10 hours, which is just GROSS - almost as gross as throwing up vitamins!)

I've asked about injectibles, and she just told me that I really want to avoid injecting - any ideas why? Is it some kind of giant needle? Burning pain??

She is going to try me on a multi called chromagen (sp?) which she says is digested in the lower GI tract, so less likelihood of upper GI response; also an iron supplement called Relavir (or something similar)

Does anyone have any experience with this. I feel AWFUL not taking vitamins, but - given all the early vomiting, if I'm just going to throw them up with the food i eat, it doesn't seem to make sense to keep trying. Of course I'm afraid that i'm short-changing my babies and denying them 15 - 25 IQ points, as well as who knows what else.

And, of course, the anemia probably explains my EXTREME exhaustion - i walk around feeling like i've been hit by a truck nearly all the time.

APologies for this being so long....

 

Well, the good news I received today is that I DON'T have GD, the FFN came back negative so I'm unlikely to have PTL for at least a week or two, and no UTI. The bad news is - i'm "significantly anemic"

My Hb (no clue - hemoglobin something?) has gone from 11.8 last time they checked (weeks ago) to 9.8, and anything below 10 is considered significantly anemic.

My OB is convinced it's because i have not been able to keep down my vitamins since my 12th or 13th week: I'm now almost 29 weeks, but i had hyperemesis and was sick as a dog for four months. I've tried and tried, but no matter when i take them, i end up getting sick and nauseous from them (this may be TMI but i end up burping them up for about 8 - 10 hours, which is just GROSS - almost as gross as throwing up vitamins!)

I've asked about injectibles, and she just told me that I really want to avoid injecting - any ideas why? Is it some kind of giant needle? Burning pain??

She is going to try me on a multi called chromagen (sp?) which she says is digested in the lower GI tract, so less likelihood of upper GI response; also an iron supplement called Relavir (or something similar)

Does anyone have any experience with this. I feel AWFUL not taking vitamins, but - given all the early vomiting, if I'm just going to throw them up with the food i eat, it doesn't seem to make sense to keep trying. Of course I'm afraid that i'm short-changing my babies and denying them 15 - 25 IQ points, as well as who knows what else.

And, of course, the anemia probably explains my EXTREME exhaustion - i walk around feeling like i've been hit by a truck nearly all the time.

APologies for this being so long....

 

I have had pregnancy related anemia with both my pregnancies after the 2nd trimester. I am however able to take the supplements.
I can only suggest that you try to add more iron rich foods to your diet, this link may help get you started:

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy...ons/3073.html#5


about the injectables:

"Iron supplement shots can cause side effects. Shots given in a vein (intravenously, IV) pose the risk of an allergic reaction. Shots given in the muscle of the buttock (intramuscularly, IM) may produce permanent tattoolike marks on the skin." taken from WebMD

http://www.webmd.com/hw/anemia/hw167027.asp?pagenumber=2


HTH

Alyson

 

You don't want to take any injectible iron because it has a tendency to permantely stain the skin a brown hue. My best friend had to get iron shots once a week and her skin is permantely stained all around her hips and buttocks. Also, iron is known to upset the stomach so you shouldn't take it on an empty stomach FYI. I also had hyperemesis and I could only take one prenatal vitamin called vinnate and I could hold it down. Maybe you could try it too. Maybe just get a few pills to see if you can tolerate them. Definately, increase the red meat if at all possible. Hope that it improves for you.
Melanie- 31 weeks 5 days with b/g twins

 

I have a related question. Does anyone take extra vitamins (one for each baby) or do you still just take one. I only take one prenatal a day and have never been told to do otherwize. Well let me know. Thanks.

 

i don't have any experience with anemia, and i'm sure you've tried this, but can you eat foods very rich in iron (spinach and red meat, right?) rather than taking a vitamin supplement? or would you have to ingest like massive amounts in order to get what you need? stouffer's makes a great spinach souffle...it's high in fat, but yummy.

 

I have not been diagnosed with being anemic, but I to had a lot of problems keeping my prenatal vitamins down. My doctor told me to switch to Flinstone vitamins of all things. I started taking those and have not had any problems since. They are a lot easier on my stomach.

 

quote:
Originally posted by brianamurnion:
I have a related question. Does anyone take extra vitamins (one for each baby) or do you still just take one. I only take one prenatal a day and have never been told to do otherwize. Well let me know. Thanks.

No you only need to take one a day

 

I have been anemic in all my pregnancies and with the twins ended up on iron 2xs a day towards the end. The pills should be taken on a full stomach.

As for prenatals, mine always made me sick until this last time when I took prima care one. For some reason they didnt bother my stomach. In my other pregnancies since I couldnt handle the prenatals I was told to take Flintstone vitamins 2 a day. Never had a problem with those either

 

Flintstones also makes gummy vitamins, and adults can take two. They are YUMMY. My 3 y/o begs me for one every morning. Could you maybe buy the gummy vites and suck on them or just eat them like candy? My friend had hyperemesis and she had to do flintstones since the prenates were too much for her to handle.

When you take your vitamin, do not eat any calcium rich food such as milk for 30min-hr before or after ingesting the vitamin. Calcium blocks iron absorption. As far as eating iron rich foods, it doesn't really matter if you eat calcium rich foods with NATURALLY iron rich foods such as liver or spinach b/c it is a different type of iron than what is in supplements (heme vs. non-heme I think). Believe it or not, the best sources of iron in the diet or fortified cereals (your doc should give you a list), but you would need to eat them dry since the iron is added and not just naturally in the cereal. You would be amazed how much real food you have to eat to get enough iron in when pregnant. It kills me when folks say "there is not way I'd get anemia...I eat too healthy."

I feel for ya. I have anemia every pregnancy and if I don't catch it I end up in a total fog with headaches, heart racing, all kinds of nasty symptoms.

 

quote:
Originally posted by brianamurnion:
I have a related question. Does anyone take extra vitamins (one for each baby) or do you still just take one. I only take one prenatal a day and have never been told to do otherwize. Well let me know. Thanks.

Briana,
My doctor has me on extra vitamins. i'm taking prenatal, extra calcium, extra iron, and extra folic acid. My friend is pregnant with a singleton and my doc didn't give her any extras - ????

 

I, too, was told to take Flinstones when I couldn't keep down prenatals (they still make me sick, even though I'm no longer nauseated) -- so, I happily take my daughter's Flinstones gummies! They taste like gummy bears, and reading the label makes me think I can eat up to four.

To get even more vitamins, I drink a shake every day made of one banana, 12 oz. of milk, one packet of Carnation Instant Breakfast, and one scoop of whey protein powder. The instant breakfast is good and fortified, and this shake has 41 grams of protein...it goes down pretty easily, too.

I was "slightly" anemic early on in pregnancy, so was told to take Slow FE. It's a really small pill, and doesn't make me sick at all, esp. taken with food. I haven't been tested again, so I don't know if it's working or not -- I've been really tired, but I suspect that's just the general exhaustion of carrying twins.

Hope you find something that works!

 

try the flinstones vitamins.

 

hi i too have come up anemic. i have gone from hb 12.6 to 9.7
apart from the iron supplement that i have already been having, you need to increase intake of food that is rich in iron. i will add a list of couple of things you can try.
as for extra vitamins, my doc hasnt put me on anything extra. am still having one of each.i did ask my doc about extra folic acid but she said no.

list of things you can add to your diet. as i am a vegetarian, i can only suggest foods accordingly.
1)green leafy vegetables-esp spinach
2) beetroot
3) raisins and other nuts
4) jaggery
5) promegranate- 1 daily

best of luck,
ketki