Anemic

[karenjk12]

I'm 28 weeks now and doc said last week that I was slightly anemic. He suggested iron supplements so I started them a few days ago. Ever since, I have had an upset stomach and spending a lot of time in the bathroom... Was wondering if anyone else is taking iron and if so, any side effects?

I researched some foods high in iron and I think I'm going to try that route to increase my iron intake.

I know pre-pregnancy I could never take multi vitamins with extra iron for the same reason so I'm not surprised that they are making me feel so bad now.

[Ombeline]

Karen, I've been anemic almost since the start of this pregnancy and I'm on a double dose of iron supplements in addition to my prenatal multivitamin. It makes me queasy, too, with nausea and indigestion, but I felt like I was going to flop over and die with the anemia so this is better. I've found that it helps to take it during or after a meal so I have a base for my stomach--something like after my morning bowl of oatmeal, NOT take it with anything acidic like fruit juice, and take it in smaller doses spread throughout the day with each meal or snack.

I wasn't able to fix this with diet (spinach, lentils, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, dried fruit, black beans...) but I'm a vegetarian so you can probably do better. I read that calcium inhibits iron absorption, so if you're taking a multivitamin with calcium you might take it at a different time of day from your most iron-rich meal. And vitamin C helps you absorb it, so make sure you get enough of that.

I hope you feel better.