My Experience with Iron Infusions During Pregnancy: What to Expect & Benefits

My Experience Getting Iron Infusions During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a beautiful and transformative journey, but it can also come with unexpected health challenges. Towards the end of my second trimester, I felt exhausted, which was surprising because everyone tells you the second trimester is when you get a burst of energy! I remember with my first pregnancy feeling more energized and motivated to nest during my second trimester, with this pregnancy things were different. Over the last month or so of my second trimester, I was becoming increasingly exhausted, and honestly, it felt more extreme than just normal pregnancy tired. There were many nights when all I could do after work was lay on the couch while my husband cared for our toddler. My eyelids felt heavy and I had no energy to move my body. Most days I found it hard to focus at work and get things done due to my lack of energy and stamina.

During a routine bloodwork check my doctor noticed my iron was extremely low and that boosting my iron would help my energy levels and would be important so my body could create more red blood cells after birth. I’ve never had any procedure like this so I was nervous, but I was also so desperate to improve my health situation so I could feel more like myself again.

If you’re a pregnant mom who has been told you might need infusions, I want to share my experience—why they might be necessary, what the process is like, how I recover, and the benefits versus risks of getting an iron infusion.

Why a Pregnant Mom Might Need Iron Infusions

Iron deficiency is common during pregnancy because your body produces more blood to support your growing baby. Some moms can manage this with iron-rich foods or supplements, but others, like me, may struggle to keep iron levels high enough through diet and pills alone. Low iron levels can lead to extreme fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, and possible growth restrictions for the baby. My prenatal had iron, but this wasn’t providing what my body needed so my doctor recommended iron infusions to boost my iron stores quickly and effectively, especially before labor.

What the Iron Infusion Process Is Like

After seeing how low my levels were my doctor set me up for 5 iron infusions, to be completed once a week. On the day of my infusion, I checked in to our local hospital, where they have an infusion unit. In this location, people were getting all kinds of treatments and it was a busy area. The infusion unit is very open and has many “cubicle” open rooms and each section has about 3-4 chairs for patients to receive their infusion. Once I arrived at my seat, a recliner chair with heat and massage, I was offered snacks and drinks. Then the nurse set up my IV and brought over the iron. I’m gonna be honest the liquid iron has a strong metallic smell, is black, and looks like goop. My iron was set to be administered over 5 minutes, a pretty quick time frame. Once I was all set up I was given a pillow, and blanket, and was able to recline and relax. To help pass the time I bring my Kindle to read a book.

My nurse told me it’s common for people to experience a burning sensation when they receive iron, and for me during most of the 5 minutes, I do feel a twinge of the burning feeling, often with it increasing in intensity at the end of the infusion. Once the iron was done the nurse would flush the IV to push all the medication into my arm. Then I would sit there with the IV in for 30 minutes to ensure I didn’t have a negative reaction to the iron. While it’s not pleasant keeping the IV in, I focus on reading to pass the time.

From the time I check in, get prepped and have the actual infusion the entire process takes about an hour. It’s not too long and while uncomfortable the infusion isn’t unbearable by any means. When it gets too painful I try to focus on my breathing by taking slow controlled breaths, which is great practice for labor!

Tips for a More Comfortable Infusion

• Ask for a Slower Infusion – For my last two infusions, I was told some people feel less pain if the infusion is slowed down. Instead of a 5-minute infusion, I had a 10-minute infusion for my last two sessions. While I still had some pain, I felt the slow down of the infusion helped minimize this. For me, the most noticeable difference was the remainder of the day, I didn’t get a headache or feel as tired when the iron was administered over 10 minutes! I wish I had known this trick sooner, so if you need an infusion ask if you can have the iron administered at a slower rate, you might find it beneficial.
• Use a Heat Pack – Towards the end of my infusion experience I learned nurses also recommend a heat pack just above the IV, where the iron goes in as this can also help decrease the pain. I honestly felt this helped minimize the pain and helped make the infusion process more comfortable.
• Put a Pillow Under Your Arm – You will likely need to keep your arm straight during the infusion process so this just adds some additional comfort and helps you to relax more during the infusion process. The infusion unit should have these available as well, you might just need to ask!

How I Recover After an Iron Infusion

After my infusion, I usually feel tired and get a massive headache. If you have to work, you might be eligible to use FMLA to take time off to recover since this is a medical procedure, check out my blog post here to learn more about FMLA.

I fortunately work from home, so on days I have the infusions I ensure my workload is light and try to avoid any meetings as I know I won’t have the energy. I personally try not to take medicine during pregnancy so to manage the headache I often use a cold compress on my forehead and drink a Coke, this helps some. Usually after dinner that day I start to feel more like myself. It can be common to experience mild headaches, flu-like symptoms, or sluggish for the rest of the day.

After my first infusion, I was told it could take 3-5 sessions to feel a difference in energy levels, but honestly, a few days after my first infusion I started to feel my energy come back and felt more like myself. I was so grateful to see positive results so quickly!

Benefits vs. Risks of Getting an Iron Infusion

Any medical procedure comes with risks and benefits. Every person should research to understand if the benefits outweigh the risks for their specific health needs. I wasn’t given additional risk information until I arrived at my first infusion appointment so I read the information and asked questions. This helped me feel confident in my decision to move forward with an infusion. If possible, you should ask your doctor to go over the risks and benefits with you in advance of your first appointment, this will give you time to digest all the information and decide the best course of action for you and your baby.

Benefits:

• Works faster than oral supplements
• Helps prevent complications like low birth weight or preterm labor
• Reduces fatigue and improves overall energy levels
• Bypasses digestive issues that oral iron can cause

Risks:

• Potential for mild side effects like headaches, nausea, or dizziness
• Rare risk of allergic reaction
• Some discomfort at the IV site
• Temporary flu-like symptoms after the infusion

Final Thoughts

While I was apprehensive at first, getting iron infusions was a game-changer in this pregnancy. The process was straightforward, pretty quick and for me, the benefits far outweighed the risks. If your doctor has recommended an iron infusion, I think it is a great option for you to support both your health and your baby’s development.

Have you had an iron infusion during pregnancy? I’d love to hear about your experience—share your thoughts in the comments below! If you have any questions about getting an iron infusion, let me know in the comments! I would love to provide as much guidance and support as possible.