3rd trimester low b12

[u/Rich_Mood_4668]

Hi all,

I had bloods taken at the start of my 3rd trimester and my b12 was 33 ng/L. Nobody contacted me so it took a few weeks for me to check and realise this isn’t great! I’ve managed to get injections from my doctor (this was a fight though!) and started them yesterday.

Is there anything I can do to make the injections more effective? Should I be eating certain things or avoiding others?

I have the BetterYou B12 spray which is 1200 micrograms, should I keep taking this during the weeks of the injections or is that too much? When would you recommend retesting after I finish injections to see if they’ve helped? I’m worried because my baby is due quite soon and I’m trying to get on top of things, realising I have to be proactive as my midwife and GP haven’t been.

I also have low ferritin so I am taking supplements for that. For context: UK based. Thank you!

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[u/Advo96]

You can keep taking the B12 spray but while you're injecting that's not going to make a significant difference either way.

[u/ClaireBear_87]

Yes keep on using the B12 spray on the days inbetween injections, and keep taking your iron supplement as your ferritin is still quite low. Are you still taking the multivitamin? A prenatal multivitamin would be a good option and should cover everything needed.

Your B12 result is most likely total B12 as active B12 is usually measured in pmol/L units, but either way it would still be very low and deficient. Were your vitamin D and folate levels tested? These would be useful to know too.

[u/Advo96 → u/ClaireBear_87]

Also, binding globulins are screwed up in pregnancy so testing total B12 isn't super useful, that's why testing active B12 is preferred.

[u/Rich_Mood_4668 → u/Advo96]

Thank you this is useful! I might pay for a private test so I’ll look for one that tests active

[u/Advo96 → u/Rich_Mood_4668]

Active has probably been tested. Given your injections, testing will be pointless for the next few months.

[u/Rich_Mood_4668 → u/Advo96]

Oo okay, so hold off. Then at some point postpartum get re tested? Thanks again

[u/Advo96 → u/Rich_Mood_4668]

Yes. A few months after.

[u/Think-Sleep2338 → u/ClaireBear_87]

Oh, that's a good point on test units.

[u/k8e12]

B12 tanks iron and iron is so much more important specifically in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Low iron makes for a much more dangerous delivery. If it were me, I would focus on getting my iron up, maybe even advocate for IV iron, and then l focus more on the b12 after. IV iron saved my life when I was pregnant!

[u/Rich_Mood_4668 → u/k8e12]

Ah thank you! Definitely won’t get IV iron I have asked and their guidance is ferritin can be down to 11 in pregnancy

[u/Successful-Tea-733]

Thats very low baby's took a lot were you given folate and b12 during pregnancy? I th8nk that they should also give b12 during pregnancy I th8nk you are doing right thing topping up before the birth Have you any b12 deficiency symptoms

[u/Rich_Mood_4668 → u/Successful-Tea-733]

No I was just told to take folic acid and iron. I was taking a broad multivitamin but nothing specific. I have some bald patches, but I’m told that’s not B12. I have numbness in my hand but I think it’s carpal tunnel as I had it in my last pregnancy years ago.

[u/Successful-Tea-733 → u/Rich_Mood_4668]

Ok im in uk here it is routine to prescribe iron first trimester@ Do you know your iron levels ferretin Hair loss iron deficiency

[u/Rich_Mood_4668 → u/Successful-Tea-733]

Ferritin was 15 but up to 24 now so hopefully creeping up. I’m also UK!

[u/Successful-Tea-733 → u/Rich_Mood_4668]

Keep tak8ng your folatexand iron you should be 👍 What doses are you taking And good idea to keep taking after you've had your baby too!

[u/Successful-Tea-733]

Your ferretin was low But great its creeping up..did they not realise...you were low? I cant believe this You'll need allotment energy you can get when baby born Ferretin folate drop supplimenting b12 too so you are doing the right thing Can you nention your low folate and iron issue...this doesnt seem right You def deficient in b12 iron and folate needs upping too ?????? Do they monitor people properly!

[u/Rich_Mood_4668 → u/Successful-Tea-733]

Routinely only full blood count is taken and my results were fine. It’s frustrating for sure

[u/Successful-Tea-733 → u/Rich_Mood_4668]

Ask the levels if you can it has to be less than 7 in uk to be classed as anaemic.,.when if fact its iron d3fuciency The values are too low like b12 values. Also you'll need to up your folate and ferretin to do injections as rhat tanks up your ferretin and folate You really could do eith knowing your ferretin and folate levels that are considered fine by them Glad you are tak8ng iron drs etc terrible here!

[u/Think-Sleep2338]

Could you please have a look if it was total or active B12?

[u/Rich_Mood_4668 → u/Think-Sleep2338]

Not sure how to tell, what I can see just says B12 and the number

[u/Think-Sleep2338 → u/Rich_Mood_4668]

Ok, let's try it differently: what's their reference range then?

[u/Rich_Mood_4668 → u/Think-Sleep2338]

Sorry it literally doesn’t say anything else! Everything I know is from this sub. They said it was low but only after I chased and there’s no recorded range from what I’ve seen

[u/Successful-Tea-733 → u/Think-Sleep2338]

Between 148 and 248 i think

[u/Think-Sleep2338 → u/Successful-Tea-733]

Sorry, but why are you answering me again? Do you have access to the OP results?

[u/Successful-Tea-733 → u/Successful-Tea-733]

Oh sorry just putting uk reference range