What I’m doing to raise my iron

At 35 weeks pregnant I found out my ferritin was at a 6. I have always dealt with anemic problems, you know typical dizzyness, fast heart rate, shortness of breath, fatigue, needing to sit down from just simply standing. All these seem like normal pregnancy symptoms but they’re also not as normal as we think. It’s true that baby takes a lot of our blood and iron especially during the end of pregnancy but having a nice back up store of iron can really change things up and help us feel SO much better.

Like I said my ferritin was at a 6 and my hemoglobin dropped down to 10.5. I had to do something fast because I was not about to pass out after birth (again) like I had in a previous pregnancy from being really anemic after birth.

For reference. A normal hemoglobin is 12-16 g/dl and a normal ferritin range is 11-306 mg/ml. With many doctors agreeing that the range of 30-50 is better. However many functional medicine doctors say that an actual optimal ferritin level for women is around 100. That’s a level for when women actually begin to feel good.

Yet, here I was sitting at a 6. 🙃

Here's everything I'm doing to raise my iron before birth, the results I've seen, and the supplements and foods that are making a difference.

Always work with your healthcare provider when making changes during pregnancy.

Let's begin with my results! It may or may not seem like a huge difference, but for two weeks of tweaking my supplement intake and diet, I was more than happy with my improvements.

My results so far

What I’m doing

Supplements that support iron
Iron rich foods I eat daily
Herbal teas
Lifestyle habits that matter
Iron infusions (when needed)

Heme iron vs non heme iron: what is the difference?

Supplements I'm taking:

Hema plex:

It is a non heme iron that I take on an empty stomach with vitamin c (more below) every other day, and I won’t eat for 1-2 hours after. I feel better results if I wait two hours. it also contains copper which is absolutely necessary to help with iron absorption and most of us are deficient in this.

Vitamin c cymbiotika:

It’s tastey and definitely has helped with absorption

Prenatal:

I take this with a meal contains some iron and supports me during pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding.

Fish oils:

This is more for general health of baby and myself but also helps with inflammatory response and inflammation can impact the body’s ability to absorb iron.

Lactoferrin (from Colostrum)

Lactoferrin is a naturally occurring protein found in colostrum and human breast milk. It binds to iron and plays a role in transporting iron throughout the body. Some research suggests lactoferrin may help support healthy iron levels and iron utilization while also supporting a healthy inflammatory response and gut health.

UNSULPHURED BLACKSTRAP molasses:

A natural source of iron that also contains minerals such as copper, magnesium, and potassium. I included it as one of several foods and supplements to support my overall iron intake. I take this in the afternoon or anytime i need an extra boost. It is also a popular product people take as a pre workout.

Nettle Leaf Tea

Nettle leaf is naturally rich in vitamins and minerals, including small amounts of iron, vitamin C, magnesium, and calcium. While it isn’t a replacement for an iron supplement, I included it as part of my overall wellness routine and to help support my nutritional intake during pregnancy.

Chlorophyll:

It has a molecular structure that closely resembles hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Overall chlorophyll supports health and iron absorption. Chlorophyll is also known as a natural "internal deodorant" helping with reducing body odor, bad breath, and stool odor.

I hope this guide gives you a helpful starting point and answers many of the questions I’ve been receiving. In the coming weeks, I’ll also be releasing a more detailed guide that walks through my exact daily routine including when I take each supplement, how I space them around meals, coffee, dairy, and one another, plus the schedule I’ve personally been following throughout this journey. If you’d like to be the first to know when it’s available, be sure to join my email list.

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