Boy, it’s been quiet ’round here in the comments section lately. Not that I blame you. I’ve been reading blogs on my iPhone and haven’t been commenting much myself.
I talked to the camp director today and heard that Gatito had a great first week. He bonded with the teachers, played well with the other kids, did well at swimming. I know all indications have been that it was his school, not him, that was the problem, but I didn’t really know until I put him in another environment. So this is just a huge relief.
Dr. WCS missed my second appointment in a row yesterday. I am starting to think there is something going on in his personal life and worried that he won’t be around on the day of my c-section! There’s really only one other doctor in that office with whom I’d be comfortable having my stomach cut open, so I don’t know what to do about that. I know my options are limited if I go into labor before the scheduled date, but what if something happens day of?
Two weeks ago, I saw one of the other doctors and asked her about the anemia. She talked to me about the risks of needing a blood transfusion after the delivery and convinced me to try the iron pills. So I said fine, and I took one pill and spent the whole day burping metallic burps and feeling nauseated and once I even threw up a little in my mouth. And every day after that I would tell myself that some nausea and metallic burps are infinitely preferable to a blood transfusion and yet, never did I convince myself to take another pill.
Yesterday, I saw the head of the practice, the only other one I’d want doing the c-section. So I asked him about the anemia and he said since my levels were normal at 12 weeks (12.8), the fact that they went down by 24 weeks (10.3) was almost surely a result of dilution– simply having more fluids in my body because I am pregnant. He doesn’t think I’m anemic. “After all,” he said, “Where did the iron go? It’s not like you’re getting periods.”
Isn’t it just fascinating how every doctor has a different opinion about this crap? I’m going with his, and we’ll re-test again in two weeks, and if I have to take the iron pills at that time, at least I’ve bought myself six weeks.
Now can somebody please remind me: How long after giving birth does a reasonably but not excessively fit person regain the ability to climb a single flight of stairs without feeling like she is going to have a heart attack and die?
You might find Floradix (this iron supplement stuff made out of, I kid you not, flower and vegetable extracts) to be effective. When I took it, it tasted ok and didn’t have an aftertaste. Also, if you like granola/dried fruit/nuts, Planters makes these tasty “Breakfast Blends” that have between 50% and 70% of your DV of iron in them. I’ve been able to give blood more regularly since eating these things, seriously.
Iron pills – yum. I luckily can take them before I go to bed along with the fish oil gels. Talk about nasty burps. I assume being pregnant limits your ability to take iron pills before bed. I’ve been anemic for over a year – I do get periods – nasty ones. I keep trying to get them to yank the parts I won’t be using, but the doctors keeps refusing…
Not that I don’t prefer Dr. #2′s answer, especially if it lets you off the iron-pill hook. And I know I have exactly zero medical degrees to hold up against his…but I’m not sure I follow his logic. I admit that I LIKE it: it has a very calm, common sense ring to it. I love that in a doctor. But… Where does ANYBODY’S iron go when they’re anemic? Surely there are other causes besides monthly blood loss?