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  | WestiesGirl   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 11 October 2007
 Location: Aotearoa - In the 'Sunny' S.I
 Points: 4550
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Topic: Low Iron - What dosage tablet? Posted: 28 May 2011 at 12:27pm
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   Ok so I have been told my Iron is in the low range and that I need to take Iron tablets. Which would explain the constant headaches and tiredness Im getting. But the MW I saw yesterday didnt tell me what dosage to take, duh!
 So for those of you that take additional Iron tablets, whats your dosage?
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     Our Angel July 08    Gone but not forgotten  
   And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
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  | AandCsmum   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 13 May 2008
 Location: Palmerston North
 Points: 8432
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 28 May 2011 at 12:35pm | 
 
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   I take a 1500mg Kelp when I need it. It's a one a day & thompson's brand. Just looked they've changed it & it's a 1400mg tablet. But just looked, not for pregnancy.
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     Kel
   A = 01.02.04   &   C = 16.01.09   &   G = 30.03.12 
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  | choco69   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 30 August 2008
 Location: North Shore, Auckland
 Points: 840
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 28 May 2011 at 12:42pm | 
 
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   my sister's ob in australia suggested spatone (which is a liquid supplement) i take it on days when my energy is way too low - i put it in water and the water does have that metal taste but i find it easy to swallow
 the other alternative is floradix (think you can get it in the supermarket) it also is a liquid so easier for the body to absorb
 
 with the tablets i always found they interfered with my normal bowel rhythm so haven't taken them for awhile
 
 good luck and hopefully you have some more energy soon!
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  | Shezamumof3   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 14 April 2007
 Points: 10096
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 28 May 2011 at 1:27pm | 
 
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   Your MW should perscribe you iron meds, as the dose depends on how low your iron is, you dont want too much iron as that can be just as bad as not enough.
 Spatone is no good if your irons already low, but its good if you have a normal iron level, to help keep it there. I was on spatone my last pregnancy and it didnt do anything at all, I ended up in hospital having an iron infusion.
 Floradix is good as its natural and has other things in it too, I used to take that as well as my iron meds, I was on 5 pills at one point    The floradix helped stop the constipation. 
 Edited by Sheza
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  | WestiesGirl   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 11 October 2007
 Location: Aotearoa - In the 'Sunny' S.I
 Points: 4550
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 28 May 2011 at 2:14pm | 
 
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   Thanks girls. I went to the pharmacy and tried to get a liquid, but ended up with a tablet as the liquid is way over priced for my liking.
 Sheza the MW I saw is just a RN (with an interest in Midwifery) and cant prescribe medication here in Aus, well QLD anyways. And my Dr is $65 per visit so I wasnt going to see him just for a script! So ridiculous here.
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     Our Angel July 08    Gone but not forgotten  
   And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
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  | Shezamumof3   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 14 April 2007
 Points: 10096
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 28 May 2011 at 2:20pm | 
 
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   Oh wow so different to here! 
 Im a bit anal about iron due to the major issues I had with Bella lol.
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  | WestiesGirl   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 11 October 2007
 Location: Aotearoa - In the 'Sunny' S.I
 Points: 4550
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 28 May 2011 at 2:51pm | 
 
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   Yeah its crazy huh! The thing that annoyed me was that 2 different Dr's saw my Iron results and didnt tell me they were low. 
Cant wait till were back in NZ and Im under 1 LMC.
 
 Yeah I remember you having issues with both Bella and Caden. Did you ever have a feeling like your heart was beating really fast and skipping a beat at random times?
 
 Fingers crossed the extra tablets I've got now kick in.
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     Our Angel July 08    Gone but not forgotten  
   And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
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  | Shezamumof3   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 14 April 2007
 Points: 10096
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 28 May 2011 at 5:35pm | 
 
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   Yep Id get heart palpations and it would race, id get breathless really easily(more so than normal pregnancy breathlessness), I had dry skin, no energy etc it was awful!
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  | Gekka   Newbie
 
   
 
 Joined: 27 August 2010
 Points: 15
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 May 2011 at 7:36pm | 
 
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   I got a pamphlet (in NZ) on how much iron different people should take as I was deficient. Women 19-50 years are reccommended 18 grams, Pregnant women 27 grams, and breastfeeding women 9-10 grams.
 I'm about to TTC and have 10 grams in my prenatal pills so I take a 20gram iron supplement every second day (it's called Gentle Iron & doesn't cause constipation like some iron supplements can)
 
 Remember not to consume caffeine within 2 hours of your iron supplement (decreases absorption) and try to eat some vitamin C with the tablet (like an orange) which increases absorption. :)
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  | Gekka   Newbie
 
   
 
 Joined: 27 August 2010
 Points: 15
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 May 2011 at 7:38pm | 
 
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   And I should have said, I feel sooooo much more energetic now i'm taking iron supplements, before it would quite often be a mission to get through the day... but now I feel fantastic!
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  | WestiesGirl   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 11 October 2007
 Location: Aotearoa - In the 'Sunny' S.I
 Points: 4550
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 May 2011 at 10:58pm | 
 
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|  Gekka wrote: 
 Remember not to consume caffeine within 2 hours of your iron supplement (decreases absorption) and try to eat some vitamin C with the tablet (like an orange) which increases absorption. :)
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 Ohhhhh I didnt know this. Thanks for that, I will stop taking it after my morning coffee and leave it till after dinner    | 
 
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     Our Angel July 08    Gone but not forgotten  
   And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
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  | Buttons2   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 21 July 2009
 Location: Nelson
 Points: 475
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 01 June 2011 at 2:03pm | 
 
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   Hi - I got diagnosed in last couple of weeks of pregnancy as having REALLY low iron stores (was only 4 - my midwife wanted to know how I was still functioning with it so low), which came as a surprise as I'd been taking Thompsons Organic Iron 25mg tabs throughout as it had been a bit low to start with.  MW reckoned my little one had obviously been sucking it all up for her growth leaving me not much.  So definately get a BT again part way through remainder of pregnancy (I didn't do that and would have picked it up earlier if had).
 In saying all that... I functioned fine   But absolutely struggled in past weeks with taking the super duper Iron they have me on (300mg). Body doesn't seem to tolerate it especially in regards to bowel movements.  So I'm at the moment seeking out a liquid alternative to see if that is easier on the body. So it's been great to read everyone's feedback. 
 Hope the increased iron helps the headaches & tiredness Westiesgirl
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