low HB level - iron tablets Vs Spa Tone to increase levels??

[Freya]

Bugger and blast. 28 week bloods revealed a low HB level and it needs to go up! Otherwise no home birth or birth centre birth. Been prescribed Pregaday iron supps, but had iron tabs last pregnancy and the side effects were completely grim! Soooooo, been doing some research about alternative ways. I heard about Spa Tone, from the chemists, as being a good alternative. Liquid iron water sachets that you add to a fuit juice drink to help absorption. Apparently more iron is absorbed this way, as opposed to the tablets where a lot enters the digestive system causing the nausea, constipation and black poos

Anyone had any experience with Spa Tone?? Or any other alternative ways to boost iron? I'm now on the dried prunes - supposed to be iron rich. Apparently spinach isn't as good as you think for iron.... Also heard of liquid chlorophyll?

 

[MidnightSun]

I am going to sound like an advert for Spatone soon ...

I was feeling terrible last week and the beginning of this; just absolutely exhausted, no appetite, spending half the day in bed, palpitations, headaches and so, so pale.

My MW recommended an iron supplement as my levels were low and I loved the idea of Spatone being pure iron enriched water from the Snowdonian hills and valleys.

I take mine with OJ in the mornings and I am not kidding but within two days I felt more normal and my symptoms were almost gone.

I have been on them for four days now and feel like my old self, I have cleaned the house from top to bottom and haven't had to have a nap!

Sadly I also suffer from IBS, but Spatone is very gentle and says that it shouldn't cause any tummy problems or constipation ... lucky I haven't had either of these !

Give it a go, you won't regret it.

 

[stephwiggy]

Spatone all the way - i had very low iron post c-section and within 2 weeks my levels were practically normal !! and i didnt get an upset tummy and cramps like i do with iron tablets

 

[mons75]

I have no idea about the Spatone, never heard of it. I take Floradix and I like it. Not sure what its done to my levels yet...

 

[babyJune]

I have been taking spatone before i became pregnant and when i was 30 weeks pregnant i had to start taking 2 sachets and now i am 39 weeks (on Friday) and have very good iron levels they are 12.4 which is good i take two sachets with some juice before i go to bed much better then tablets.

 

[Tinkerbellxxx]

Not 100% sure but I was stuck between the choice of Spatone or Feroglobin, and found Feroglobin to be cheeper with more iron in it. Feroglobin is liquid iron https://www.vitabiotics.com/Feroglobin/?utm_nooverride=1&gclid=CPCOv56ohqkCFQUe4QodfmkjkQ

I took the maximum dose whilst eating iron rich foods and drinking orange juice to aid absorption. It didn't upset my tummy at all, and within days, my anaemia symptoms began to subside. I ate loads of steak, watercress and spinach washed down with more orange juice and I'm so much better now. BTW this recipe is yummy: https://www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/pregnancy/sesame-beef-stir-fry x

 

[mummySS]

I've been taking Spatone for a couple of weeks, well i still feel tired but I think that's cos i'm just not sleeping very well!

But I have to say it forces me to drink orange juice every day, and it hasn't bunged me up! I would def go for spatone over regular tablets.

 

[kmumtobe]

I ordered some spatone the other day after reading everyone rave about it on here, unfortunately I missed the postman this morning so I'm looking forward to trying it tomorrow! Got my fingers crossed x

 

[dbspider]

well my wife must be the only one that spatone dont work for. after the 12 week bloods feritin level was low so told to take greens and iron rich foods and we agreed to go on spatone but at the 28 week bloods nothing had changed although was on 2 spatone and 1 pregnacare a day so now on 2 iron tablets a day and she is feeling it now the poor thing

 

[Freya]

Thanks so so much for your thoughts and sharing your experiences, seems most are positive. Shame Mrs dbspider hasn't has such a good time of it!

I've gone with getting some spa tone in and having 2 sachets each morning with oj. Avoiding tea - tannin content apparently prevents absorbtion of iron, avoiding dairy at times I'm trying to take on iron rich foods, eating fortified cerals, eating 5 dried prunes a day and going for the greens and red meat meal options lol. Back on the sanatogen preggo vits too. I was going to avoid taking the prescribed pregaday iron tabs but I think I'll take one a day (instead of the advised 2 a day).

Thanks for the recipe tips Tinkerbellxxx xxxxx

xxxx

 

[Tinkerbellxxx]

Excellent, hope it works out for you! x