Rough Few Weeks

As I previously noted I am nearing the end of my 5th pregnancy. This one has come with many challenges, especially in these last couple weeks. It has been an ongoing challenge during this pregnancy to keep my iron up. However, my body is not winning the fight. I guess with so many pregnancies so close together my body is rebelling against me. My iron battle started by my increases my iron with foods I ate and then in addition to my prenatal vitamins I had to add an extra iron supplement daily. When that wasn’t helping we went to two extra iron supplements daily. Unfortunately, it still was keeping up with my body’s need for more iron.

So two weeks ago I was sent to a hematologist (who was absolutely amazing) who discovered my iron stores in my body was virtually gone. I was then told I would have to have iv iron infusion every other day until the arrival of the baby. I had no idea of what to expect. (The other pregnancies where virtually problem free.) Would it hurt, would I have a reaction, how would the baby handle the treatments, what if I didn’t get enough treatments before he came, these were all questions that ran through my mind. So scared and shaking in my flip flops I made my way to the chemo room at the hematologist office. As I walked into the room all these chairs were lined up with others getting various treatments for all kinds of ailments. This really intemidated me. I was then hooked up for my iv. First, I was given tylenol for aches and pains that can follow with iron infusions, then benadryl intravenously (just to prevent me or the baby from any kind of allergic reaction, then a test dose of the iron. All this took over two hours and still I hadn’t even started with the hour treatment of the iron infusion. The whole process took well over 3 hours, but I was assured it was only because it was the first time. They were right each time after that it has only taken about 1 1/2 hours.

My body has already responded well to the treatments and is producing more iron. I am so excited that soon I will be holding my new baby boy. And hopefully since we took precautions with the iron it will be a problem free delivery. For anyone who may have problems like this during your pregnancy I want you to know that it isn’t very painful, and any discomfort you may encounter is so worth it in the end to have a happy healthy baby and mommy for delivery.