Anemia Questions

I was slightly anemic before pregnancy, but kept my Hemoglobin up around 11.2 with iron supplements.  Since becoming pregnant I also added a prenatal with iron in it, but in just four weeks my Hemoglobin went from 11.2 to 9.5.  My doctor has said to start supplementing with 325mg twice a day...does that sound ridiculously high to anyone else?  I mean, if 75mg is already causing me issues with constipation, what the heck is 650mg going to do?! 

Has anyone else had issues with their iron during pregnancy and what did your doctor have you do?  I'm a little concerned because a 2 point drop in four weeks seems like something you'd want to keep an eye on, but the doctor just said to start the crazy supplementation and they would retest later in my THIRD trimester...isn't that a while to wait?  I would think they should retest in a month, not three months. 

Any info/advice would be appreciated!

I think I would start drinking prune juice to help with the iron. I would tell your doctor you would like to be rested sooner. I would just say, I realize you want to weight till the third trimester but I would like you to retest in 4 weeks for my own peace of mind. If that does not work be insistent.

Good Luck,
Emily

Prune juice...somehow, that just doesn't sound good.  lol!  I think you're right about just telling her to retest.  And if she won't do it (which I doubt, but still) I will just call my surgeon and have him do it. 

Thanks for your reply!!

That sounds off to me. I just started on a carbonyl iron 90 mg, and I'm having my levels rechecked in 3 weeks.

Try taking some colace tabs every night. I take 2 every evening, and I think I would die without them! Death by constipation is probably no fun!

I will definitely be getting some colace...I may even buy stock in the company!! lol. 

I am going to follow up with her about why she is waiting so long to retest.  Another friend suggested I ask her to refer me to a hematologist and I might do that, as well.

Thanks for your reply!