Conditions We Treat » Pregnancy and Postpartum
Pregnancy and Postpartum
Iron deficiency is one of the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth. It is also one of the most undertreated. You should not have to feel this exhausted.
22 - 50%
Of women experience postpartum anaemia
41%
Iron deficiency anaemia in the puerperium: UK audits
Safe
From second trimester of pregnancy
2 - 4
Weeks to feel meaningfully better
Why it happens
Why pregnancy and childbirth deplete your iron
During pregnancy, your body produces significantly more blood to support your growing baby. This increased blood volume requires more iron than usual. At the same time, the baby draws on your iron stores for its own development.
Then comes childbirth. Even a straightforward delivery involves blood loss. A caesarean section or complicated labour can involve considerably more. By the time you are home with a newborn, your iron levels may be significantly lower than they were before you were pregnant.
The result is a new mother who is exhausted beyond what sleep can fix, struggling to breastfeed, feeling low and disconnected, and being told this is simply what new motherhood feels like.
For many women, it is not. It is iron deficiency. And it is treatable.
How it feels
Symptoms to look out for
These symptoms are often dismissed as a normal part of new motherhood. They are worth taking seriously, especially if they feel severe or are not improving over time.
Crushing fatigue
Exhaustion that goes beyond tiredness from broken sleep. Feeling physically unable to function normally.
Low milk supply
Iron deficiency can directly impact breast milk production, making breastfeeding harder than it should be.
Low mood
Feeling flat, tearful, or emotionally numb. Iron deficiency is a significant risk factor for postnatal depression.
Breathlessness
Getting out of breath easily, even during light activity like walking around the house with the baby.
Brain fog
Difficulty concentrating, forgetting things, feeling mentally slow. Sometimes mistaken for sleep deprivation alone.
Pale skin
Looking washed out. Sometimes visible in the face, gums, or inside of the lower eyelids.
A note on postnatal depression
Iron deficiency is a recognised risk factor for postnatal depression. If you are experiencing low mood after childbirth, it is worth having your iron levels checked alongside any other support you are receiving. Treating iron deficiency does not replace other care, but it may be contributing more than you realise.
Is it safe
Is IV iron safe in pregnancy and postpartum?
Yes. IV iron is a well-established, clinically recommended treatment for iron deficiency in pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Ferinject (ferric carboxymaltose), which we use at this clinic, is safe from the second trimester of pregnancy onwards. It is not used in the first trimester, as with most medications, due to the sensitivity of early fetal development.
For postpartum women, there are no restrictions. IV iron is appropriate as soon as iron deficiency is confirmed following childbirth, and can make a meaningful difference to recovery, energy levels, and breastfeeding within weeks.
Every patient is assessed individually before any treatment is offered.
Who qualifies
Are you eligible?
The following criteria are used as a guide. Every patient is assessed individually. If you are unsure, book a consultation and we will review your results with you.
01
Second or third trimester of pregnancy
IV iron is safe from week 13 of pregnancy. Confirmed iron deficiency anaemia with symptoms or haemoglobin below 100g/L is the typical threshold.
02
Postpartum iron deficiency
Any postpartum woman with confirmed iron deficiency and significant symptoms. There is no minimum waiting time after delivery.
03
Oral iron not tolerated or insufficient
If tablets are causing nausea, constipation, or are simply not raising your levels adequately, IV iron is the appropriate next step.
04
Not in the first trimester
IV iron is contraindicated in the first trimester of pregnancy. If you are in early pregnancy, please speak with your midwife or GP.
You should not have to
feel this way.
Book a consultation. We understand what postpartum iron deficiency feels like, and we are here to help.
Or email hello@londonironinfusionclinic.co.uk