Bringing Iron Levels Up
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
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Topic: Bringing Iron Levels Up
Posted By: kebakat
Subject: Bringing Iron Levels Up
Date Posted: 22 January 2009 at 7:09pm
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I need to bring my iron levels up (they are 9.8) and I need some ideas within these boundaries..
I'm a vege so no meat whatsoever Silverbeet and spinach - all those leafy vege make me wanna puke at the mo so they are a no go as well. I have flurodix which I've started taking today. I was taking spatone and am unsure if this has helped or not but I've run out of that. I've been given iron tabs but I just know they are gonna bung me up. Otherwise I need to get jabs for that and B12 *sigh* |
Replies:
Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 22 January 2009 at 7:50pm
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I used Iron Fizz, a healtheries one from the supermarket that you make like a berrocca drink, tastes a little like blackcurrent (sort of!) Anyway my ms was really bad but I could cope with this. -------------  
 
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Posted By: HippyMama
Date Posted: 22 January 2009 at 8:12pm
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I should have probably mentioned it in your August thread Stacey, but at www.healthpost.co.nz you can get the 28 packs of Spatone on special for $27 at the moment, which is why I grabbed 3mos worth at once. ------------- Mama to two earth walkers & two angels. Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience; You are raising a human being. ~ Kittie Franz Next Slingbabies! Meet - Friday 4th May !! |
Posted By: hailstones
Date Posted: 22 January 2009 at 8:16pm
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Have you tried the Thompsons organic iron pills? My last pregnancy I was taking 4 a day towards the end as my levels were 4. They have 24mg iron, 30mg Vit C, 100mcg Folic acid and 2mg B12 in them.
I can't take the prescription ones as they bung me up really bad, but I didn't have too many issues with these (although I REALLY made sure that I up'd my fibre majorly!) ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 22 January 2009 at 8:33pm
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Stacey, mine's about as low (9.1) and I have been on the ferrograd 105mg - with no bunging probs! I guess I'm absorbing it properly instead of it being converted to waste too much. Anyway there is another product available but I have forgotten the name, it helps you absorb more iron out of what you are already eating. Might be worth asking your mw about. -------------  |
Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 22 January 2009 at 8:41pm
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Flurodix is pretty good..... Not instant, but good.... tastes nice too and I personally prefer that to tablets... easier for body to absorb.
If you go with tablets- avoid bungin up by eating kiwifriuit, and prunes..... they are magic. Not too many prunes lol. They are my super food at the mo. And raw almonds. I discovered COLD fruit from the fridge was awesome for me when nothing else tasted good- esp oranges. Tofu has some iron in it- nice crumbled into a stirfry. Tricky when you cant stomach much food hey- I totally identify!!!! You prob cant stomach seaweed then huh! Cos thats a good source of B12 and iron. There are also some herbal teas you can try too that have iron in them- ask at a health food store for the right ones. (FYI- if you go with a berroca type thing- look out for the ingredients... avoid aspartame, and Phenelananine.... not so great even when not preggo IMO, there are a few, even within the same product range that dont have it in.) ------------- 
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 22 January 2009 at 8:46pm
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I took Carbonyl Iron as it's known for not bunging you up (according to pharmacist). I'm also a vegie and wanted to puke at the thought of anything with leaves on it lol for the first two thirds of this pgcy so just like you!! My first test at around 20 weeks came in at 128. Don't take the Iron anymore (forgot) and my tests came back a couple of weeks ago at 126 but that's cause I can eat vegies now. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/"> 
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 22 January 2009 at 9:16pm
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foods to aid those supplements, dried apricots have been recommended by many of Apr 09 mummies midwives...
Parsley has the highest percentage of iron I think... I cant stand it and wouldnt even know how to incorporate it into my diet. not very helpful was i, lol. -------------   
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 22 January 2009 at 9:45pm
I was going to write a pretty much identical post to this one, my levels dropped to 5 and the prescription pills totally bung me up! I find them terrible. But I have been absolutely fine on the Thompsons Organic Iron pills, 3-4x daily, which my MW recommended when I complained about having to take Ferrograd C. I've been eating heaps of fruit anyway, especially apricots and nectarines, which helps... but even that didn't help when I was on the ferrograd 
I've felt HEAPS better since taking the Organic Iron supplements as well, so I can tell they are working. You can get them from most pharmacies. ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
hailstones wrote:Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 22 January 2009 at 9:46pm
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Spatone is good, just gotta make sure you take it everyday and keep taking it, its rather pricey though, I have to take it aswell.
The floradix is good, but your already taking that 
Ummmm.....marmite! have marmite on toast if you can. Cashews, prunes, dried apriots, almonds are all good for boosting your iron, oh and brown rice. When my iron was low when preggers with caden, i would have my floradix then marmite on toast for breakfast, a handful of dried apricots and some pure orange juice, then my iron pills in yoghurt and I never got bunged up cos of the yoghurt and the orange juice. ------------- |
Posted By: MrsH23
Date Posted: 22 January 2009 at 10:37pm
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My iron stores were 9 at my bloods just before xmas so the MW said for me to take Iron & Vitamin C, I've been prescribed 170mg Iron and 40mg Vit c in the one tablet but the bottle says it's healtheries stuff so I imagine you could get the same over the counter.
The vitamin C is supposed to help stop you from getting bunged up i think. I've also made sure i'm having at least 2 pieces of fruit each day and there have been no problems. ------------- Lisa mummy to Ryan http://www.alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 23 January 2009 at 8:01am
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According to the NZFSA booklet I got from my doctor at the start parsley is on the list of foods we can't have during pregnancy. I googled to find out why and apparently it can cause uterine contractions and may lead to abortion. I assume that's only when eaten in large amounts though. -------------  
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 23 January 2009 at 8:05am
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What about bran flakes, for breakfast or in baking, or even baking with iron fortified baby food (I'm sure I've seen recipes that call for baby rice). List of Iron in Foods : Vegetarian Iron Rich Foods
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Posted By: jaycee
Date Posted: 23 January 2009 at 8:17am
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a trick that a friend told me with almonds is to soak them in cold water overnight - it changes the taste and texture a bit and makes them heaps nicer (not so bitter) it also makes them easier to digest.
My mum has had low iron for years and used to take iron tables but now she just takes spirulina all the time - but I am not sure how that goes with being pregnant sorry. -------------   
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Posted By: Tigerish
Date Posted: 23 January 2009 at 8:24am
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My only suggestion, is to take or eat something with vitamin c in it at the same time as your iron. Vitamin C helps your body to absorb iron! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 23 January 2009 at 8:44am
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Thanks for all the tips!!
And thanks Pearls for the healthpost thing. I've just ordered some more because I really don't mind taking it and that's way cheaper than in the health shop. |
Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 23 January 2009 at 9:24am
I totally agree- I read a really interesting chapter on Almonds in a book called something like Top 10 Power Foods.... sorry I dont remember the details it wasnt my book so I cant refer to it eek In a nutshell (hehe excuse the pun!) By soakin them you are effectively encouraging them to germinate... and the almond goes about readying itself to sprout.... the nutrition content multiplies by an enormous amount- Like sprouts! And the easier to digest part too. How to make the most from your almond 
Good with a small amount of honey too- yum. Cool reference chart above! Very interesting. -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |