Conference moira::parenting_v3

    More than likely your baby is getting enough iron from you.  The
    health professionals will make sure of that.  I was low in iron
    during both of my pregnancies.  The second, more so, I was taking
    around 6 iron pills a day.  I was tired often.  I felt awake, maybe
    5-6 hours a day, then rest, I'd sleep or doze while walking or reclining
    in the lounge chair.  I'm sure I could have eaten better.  I was
    concerned just like you.  Well, both babies were fine.  They were
    both rather large too..91/2 and 8.13 respectively.
    
    Every Friday, I took the finger prick for iron count.  I always
    prayed for high numbers.  I know that you're not suppose take iron
    tablet with milk or diary products since it absorbs most of the
    iron instead of your blood.  Also, I believe it's good idea to take
    tablet with food or vegetables or fruit juice as you stated.
    
    

    I too was anemic and was taking 5 iron pills a day.  The odd thing was
    that I wanted orange juice all the time, and I always hated orange
    juice.  It didn't make much sense to me until my grandfather and dad
    (both doctors ( my grand-dad was OB-GYN)) told me that citric acid
    helps your body absorb iron.  Your body really doess know what it
    needs!
    
    
    W-
    
    p.s one of these days I'll get around to entering an introduction note!
    instead of just entering random replies!
    
    

    One of the reasons you're anemic and the baby will be fine is that
    the baby is pillaging your body for iron. . . 
    
    Each pregnancy is different, so there might not be any particular
    reason for the anemia this particular time.  There might be subtle
    changes in your diet, or you might be under more stress this time.
    The baby might be larger, or have a different muscular structure.
    
    I was more anemic with my third pregnancy.  I felt like some of
    the effects of the first two pregnancies were accumulating, so the
    stress on my body was worse, and that if I were to have a fourth
    pregnancy, I'd have more problems.  Sort of like I've pushed my
    body to its limits.
    
    --bonnie

    I got the following from my doctor's office:
    
    1. Consumption of foods rich in Vitamin C can increase the absorption
    of iron.  They must be consumed at the same meal though.
    
    2. There are two types of iron - heme and non-heme.  Heme is found in
    animal foods only; it is well absorbed, and affected little by what
    other foods you eat at the same meal.  Non-heme is found in both animal
    foods and non-animal foods such as fruits, veggies, dried beans, nuts,
    and grains.  Non-heme iron is absorbed less affectively and is
    significantlly affected by the other foods you eat at the same meal.
    
    3.Cooking acidic foods such as tomato sauce in an iron frying pan
    significantly affects the amout of iron content in the food.  Sause
    cooked in an iron pan, for examole, is 30X greater in iron content than
    that cooked in a glass pan.
    
    4.When taken with a meal, 1 cup of coffee can decrease iron absorption
    by 39%.  One cup of tea can decrease iron absorption by 87%.  But if
    consumed an hour before a meal, these have little affect on iron
    absorption.
    
    5. Bran and high-fiber foods can interfere with iron absorption. 
    

    I, too, suffer from anemia.  I've been plagued with low-iron levels
    on-and-off all my life, and pregnancy simply exaggerates the condition. 
    At the beginning of this pregnancy, I tested (of course) low in iron. 
    I was put on 3 iron tablets-per-day, as well as 2 folic acids which I
    understand aids in iron absorption.
    
    I was tested again at 28 weeks, and after being on this dosage for
    several months, I tested lower in iron than I had at 3 weeks pregnant! 
    I thought perhaps my OB would up my dose of iron, but he says that as
    long as I continue to take my pills everyday, we'll both be fine.
    
    Are you on folic acid pills as well?  Just for the record, this is my
    fourth pregnancy, fourth time being anemic, and aside from being very
    tired, everything worked out just fine!
    
    Dale

    re: .4
    
    The iron frying pans really do help. Since I started using
    primarily cast-iron pans for sauteing and such -- especially
    cooking vegetables -- I haven't had to take supplemental iron
    except during pregnancy or periods of unusual stress.  
    
    --bonnie

    
    How do you know if you have an iron deficiency????  I know someone
    mentioned bing tired allthe time...but doesn't that come with pregnancy
    anyways??? How wouldyou know the difference???  I've only had one
    blood drawn from my OB/GYN and one urine sample so far...(5 mos)
    They did say my urine looked "good" at my visit on Monday.. (but not
    sure what it meant)
    
    Chris
    (who doesn't eat alot of veggies)
    

    The urine test was probably for protein spillage - an indication of
    toxemia...
    

    They test the urine for protein spillage and for sugar, to make
    sure you aren't becoming gestationally diabetic.
    
    If you're always tired -- don't even feel good after a good
    night's sleep or whenever your usual energetic period is -- and
    don't feel refreshed after sleep, you probably should ask the
    doctor to check your iron.  It's a simple blood test, takes about
    10 minutes or so to run right in the office. 
    
    --bonnie

    Another reason that a drop in iron level can happen, according
    to my midwife, is that by the end of the seventh month your body 
    is producing about 33% more blood than you started with, and the
    amount of iron (per unit of volume) lags. She claims that often
    the body will self-regulate in time, but just to be sure, they
    prescribe iron supplements.
    
    Lucy

>>    I was put on 3 iron tablets-per-day, as well as 2 folic acids which I
>>    understand aids in iron absorption.
    
	I was wondering about this.  I have had a hard time with the
	high citric acid juice--It gives me heartburn, indigestion and 
	nausea....To name a few things.  Do the folic acid pills help with
	this?  Do you still have to drink the juice?  I'm going to call
	my doctor's tomorrow morning.  

	Yuck!  I can't stand orange juice.

	Thanks for the information,

	Nancy

    Nancy --
    
    Anything with Vitamin C will do the trick.  Take the pill with
    water and then eat an orange.  Take it with tomato juice.  Take it
    with water and then eat a cup of strawberries.  Just don't take it
    with coffee, tea, cocoa, or anything that has caffiene in it.
    
    --bonnie

    
    What kind of iron are you taking?  I am on ferrous Sulfate which
    is a raw form of iron.  I believe ferrous gluconate is a better
    source though. You can usually find it in anyplace that has
    vitamins...
    
    Also, I believe that only Vitamin C aids in the absorption of
    iron.  Folic acid is for cell regeneration (which is what the
    baby doing.)
    
    Calcium *inhibits* iron absorptions; so be sure you don't take
    it with dairy products.
    
    One of the problems with iron is even though you are taking
    (it seems) 1000 mg's of iron, it is very difficult for the body
    to absorb it.  I think you only absorb something like 13 % of
    each pill (which is why they have you take it so often)  The best
    way to get iron is from raisins and liver (that's all I can think of)
    
    Kristen

    I understand that cooking in iron pans is very helpful.  Has anyone
    corrected anemia by doing this?  I cook in iron, and never had anemia,
    so I'm not a good test case.
    
    Laura

>                     <<< Note 984.13 by USAT02::HERNDONK >>>
>
>    
>    What kind of iron are you taking?  I am on ferrous Sulfate which
>    is a raw form of iron.  I believe ferrous gluconate is a better
>    source though. You can usually find it in anyplace that has
>    vitamins...

	I am taking Ferrous Sulfate also.   I go to the doctor's again
	next week...we'll see how my iron level looks then.  I don't 
	think it is going to be very good.....I can never remember to 
	take my pill.....usually I get 2 in during the day...but I 
	always forget at least one of them.

	I'm also going through a very tired spell right now---could be
	iron problems or normal 7 month tireds...
    
>    Also, I believe that only Vitamin C aids in the absorption of
>    iron.  Folic acid is for cell regeneration (which is what the
>    baby doing.)
> 
>   
>    Calcium *inhibits* iron absorptions; so be sure you don't take
>    it with dairy products.
 
	I am taking the pill with some fruit or some kind of juice. If 
	I feel excessively prone to heartburn/indigestion, I sometimes opt
	for a vitamin "C" chewable tablet.  Indigestion is getting to 
	be a major problem.   It is quite difficult to juggle all these
	dietary requirements....All those dairy products we have to have..
	but don't take the iron pill with them....Fruit will give you
	heartburn so don't eat that in the evening...,etc..  


    >>>>>>raisins and liver >>>>>>

	Someone should work on an iron-fortified Hot Fudge Sundae!!
    

>    Calcium *inhibits* iron absorptions; so be sure you don't take
>    it with dairy products.

    
    I thought it was the other way around: iron inhibits calcium absorbtion.
    Either way - you should avoid mixing your iron-rich foods/supplements
    with your calcium-rich foods/supplements. 

    
    RE: iron inhibiting calcium....
    
    The pamphlet my doctor gave me says that iron cannot be absorbed
    when calcium is present....that is one of the major problems with
    the prenatal tablet...it contains both and you don't get enough
    iron.  The prenatal I'm on, Stuartnatal, contains 335% of the
    recommended iron.  It contains 17% calcium.  You are getting some
    of the iron but that is why they want you to take additional.
    
    Another problem (I found out through a nutrition book) is that
    ferrous sulfate 'eats' up all your vitamin E and it is recommended
    that you take additional E.  **BUT** I would ask your doctor before
    taking any additional vitamins..  Ferrous Gluconate does not use up
    your E.
    
    Another interesting thing my doctor told me (I've never known this)
    is that Calcium also prevents protein absorption...so all those
    peanut butter & jelly sandwiches with a nice COLD glass of milk..
    were nothing but sugar and fat (mostly).  I never got the benefit
    of the peanut butter's protein....just my thighs got the fat..ha ha!   
 
    I'm just 3 months now and I am so sick of having to 'schedule' my
    various food groups in between pills....I think its a plot by all
    OB's to make our pregnant life as miserable as possible...
    
    sigh....to eat normal again.....Kristen

    Except during pregnancy, I haven't had to take iron supplements
    since we started cooking regularly in cast-iron skillets.
    
    --bonnie

    I heard on the radio this morning an "sniglet" article, Seems a recent
    study has shown that by taking Folic Acid in "quantity", the chances of
    have a baby with Spina Bifida and other Neuro Tube Defects is reduced.
    "In certain cases"
     
    Will see if there's anything further printed in today's paper, when I
    get home tonight.
    
    Lyn

re .19:

I suppose this should be moved to the Spina Bifida note (there is one, no?).

From what I remember of the story I heard on NPR, women with a history
of having SB children were given folic acid supplements, which reduced
the incidence.  Such defects occur very early in pregnancy, so the folic
acid had to be given starting before conception.  One doctor was concerned
that pregnant women might start taking megadoses of folic acid, doing their
fetuses more harm than good.  He advised that women trying to become pregnant
should eat lots of vegetables that are high in folic acid.  Women who've had
children with SB should ask their doctors about folic acid.

    My daughter is 10 weeks pregnant and has just tested positive for the
    KIDD antibody.  The doctor did not give her a lot of information at
    this visit and she plans to ask more at the next but in the meantime
    does anyone have any ideas about this test and the result.