Can low iron lead to a blood transfusion durning labor?

My iron is low by 1 point so my OB put me on Slowfe to bring it up a bit. Someone told me if your iron is low during labor you can lose a lot of blood which can lead to a blood transfusion.

I am a nervous wreck over this now thinking what if.

Has anyone heard of this? Or has it happened to anyone?

Re: Can low iron lead to a blood transfusion durning labor?

My iron is low and was low with my DD. I never needed a blood transfusion with her. You'd be surprised how much blood you have to lose to need one. And I am on RX iron supplements because of my #'s. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

Re: Can low iron lead to a blood transfusion durning labor?

My Iron was extremely low when I had DD 2 weeks ago. I was taking a prescription iron pill and was given a shot of procrit(stimulates your bone marrow to produce more red blood cells) a week before her delivery and an IV iron infusion to try and avoid a transfusion during my c-section.
Iron count should be between 65 and 165, mine was 27
Hemaglobin count should be 16.5 mine was 9.2
I DID NOT GET A TRANFUSION!
I am still struggling trying to get my numbers up, but so far no luck. I am having my blood tested again this week, so we will see what happens.

I think it is a last resort to do the blood transfusion, My Dr was avoiding it at all cost because he says it increases your chances of infection greatly and makes your recovery more difficult!

Message edited 5/6/2008 11:36:10 AM.

Re: Can low iron lead to a blood transfusion durning labor?

Makes complete sense, in both cases I definitely feel relieved! I can't tell you how nervous this person made me but luckily my OB didn't make a big deal about it.

Re: Can low iron lead to a blood transfusion durning labor?

im under by 4 points and I too take the slow fe. I highly doubt by being such borderline like myself that we would need a blood tranfusion. My dr. doesnt even seem to think the borderline anemia is anything serious at all and I spoke with her today about it actually. Im sure you will be fine and the person that told you this just made you nervous for no reason!

Message edited 5/6/2008 6:10:20 PM.