Hello all the lovely pregnant ladies, few questions for you today...?

Question

Im 21 weeks with a little baby girl. I recently had my blood tests back and they said my Iron levels are borderline. Ive been feeling ok, I just wondered if this will seriously effect the baba?

I read a question earlier about dental x- rays and people were saying it is fine after 20 weeks. Im really really worried now because I had x- rays for a root canal at about 3 weeks pregnant, but I didnt even know at the time. I cant stop stressing about it and Ive worried myself sick! At the scans she has got everything in the right place but Im worried it has effected her brain or something?

Answer 1

Hi, I'm 33 weeks with a little girl and my iron level have been very low since the start.

I have been taking a supplement every day, but it's to help me during and after the birth in case I lose a lot of blood. Low iron will not affect the baby directly,but it may make you feel a little tired and sometimes faint. Try to eat foods rich in iron (red meat, green veggies etc..) and ask your doctor if you need to take a supplement.

As for the x-ray I don't think there is anything to worry about but it's best to speak to your doctor about your concerns and you may get very mixed answers on here!!

Good luck and congrats xx

Answer 2

Hi, well, I'm not pregnant any more but darn do I miss this section! lol

If your iron is borderline, no worries, but they should keep testing you and if it becomes low, you will need to take a supplement. I had to take it from 3 months, as my levels were very low. It doesn't pose much of a problem for baby, but low iron can make you tired, dizzy etc... and could lead to a fall.

As for x-rays.... I went to hospital with a hip problem when I was 2 weeks pregnant and they did an x-ray then. I didn't know I was pregnant yet at that point. My daughter is now 3 months old and gorgeous and healthy! I wouldn't worry too much, as before discovering that x-rays can cause health problems, doctors used to use them instead of ultrasounds to see baby!

Good luck, and I'm sure your teeny one is fine!

*Mummy to Alex, 5, and Encarni, 3 months*

Answer 3

The dental x-rays you received when you were pregnant did not even reach your uterus. Your baby did not receive any dose of radiation. Radiation doses have been reduced significantly. Improvements in equipment, film and even the developing process have allowed us to lower the dose received by the patient. X-rays do not fly around a room all willy-nilly. They are highly directed beams which expose only the area of interest....in your case, the teeth.

The following websites have questions answered by qualified medical personel who are experts in radiation and it's effects. Here is what I found:

"Dental x rays, as with most x rays, are taken with the machine focused right on the area where the x rays need to go. Because of this there is virtually no exposure to anything other than the item of interest (in this case, a tooth or teeth). While dental x rays would not expose your baby, there could be exposure of the baby if you had abdominal or pelvic x rays. In case you’re interested, after week 20 the baby is fairly insensitive to radiation exposure—relative to the
first 12 weeks of gestation."

http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q360.html

"The level of exposure from scatter x rays from dental x rays is too low to harm the embryo or fetus at any stage of pregnancy."

http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q2118.html

"There is no information suggesting any risk to an unborn child from dental x rays received by the mother. When a pregnant patient undergoes a complete dental x-ray examination, the radiation dose to the fetus is insignificant. And, by the way, it does not matter whether a lead apron was used or not."

http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/dentalpatientissuesq&a.html

Answer 4

Firstly, congratulations!

Secondly, having low iron levels in pregnancy is very normal and will not affect your baby at all. In fact babe is taking everything it needs from you and leaving very little spare, so ask your midwife about the correct supplements to take in pregnancy. They really will help and you'll feel much less tired when they kick in.

Thirdly please don't worry about the x-rays you had so early on. Dental x-rays are very specifically directed and absorbtion of the x-ray itself is very low. Your baby was so tiny and well protected at that stage that there should be no ill effects at all.

Good luck, don't panic and enjoy your last few weeks

xx

Answer 5

For iron it's not too big of a deal. if the iron in vitamins bothers you try cooking in a cast iron pan.
On the x-ray I've never seen one where they didn't lay a lead vest over the patient whether they're pregnant or not. If your dentist didn't use a vest call and explain to the nurse and ask her to find out what the dose is and how well concentrated the aim of the machine is. It reall shouldn't extend more than an inch or so past the lens itself.

Answer 6

hi and congratulations!!

if your bloods are borderline then i would recommend taking iron tablets and a tonic such as spa tone or floradix both these are excellent i have been using them off and on since having my third baby in dec last year. he is 8 months now and i had to have a blood trasfusion when he was a week old as id been anaemic throughout pregnancy and lost a lot of blood during his birth!! its best to build youself up now and eat plenty of greens also red meat is good. avoid liver though as its not safe for pregnant women to eat as it contains too much vitamin a. the baby will be fine its your stores that will suffer. also helps to avoid aneamia if you want to breastfeed. i have just found out im 8 wks pregnant with baby no 4 so am taking floradix and iron tablets to avoid another blood transfusion this time around!!

all the best with the rest of you pregnancy get lots of sleep while you can!!! xx

Answer 7

Do not worry about the xrays, baby is fine. As far as the iron goes you need to take an iron supplement to prevent you from becoming anaemic. Your iron level being low does not affect your baby, but it is very important for yourself, especially in case of a haemorage. You don't need a prescription for the iron supplement and most pharmacies will know which one to give to a pregnant woman. In Ireland they give you Galfer.
Enjoy and congrats!

Answer 8

Don't worry, please. Your baby is fine . They are overly cautious with everything when pregnant . The baby was in the early stages of development and I am positive you and baby are okay. The reason you are so worried is out of love which is normal.
As far as the iron you do not want to become anemic pregnant because that can cause all kinds of problems with your own health so take those prenatal vitamins !

Answer 9

ok firstly, the iron levels wont seriously effect your baby no, you should just try and keep you levels high, they may reccomend iron tablets, but they would have done this already if they thought it was neccessary.

dental x-rays im told by my dentist dont effect the baby

good luck with the baby, any worries ask the gp/widwife

Answer 10

i doubt which you gained weight because of the fact you're pregnant - you prob ate too a lot at yuletide, thats to no longer say which you're no longer pregnant yet you dont purely placed on weight the minute you concieve cramps are no longer possibly an uncomplicated being pregnant symptom the two take a mild preg try - reliable success yet i think of you're examining a sprint too a lot into something which would be no longer something