Hi. Is it possible that 4 pregnancies in 5 years and breastfeeding can deplete b12 stores, if diet was bad and no supplementation?
if this is possible then what is the best way to get stores back up? through injections, sublingual tablets or diet?
my levels in november 2017 were 150. MMA was high.
Now my levels are 606 without much supplementation. Is this likely my diet is increasing my levels slowly?
Thank you
I think what you're suggesting sounds very likely. As far as I know, having gas and air during labour will adversely affect B12 as well. If you were symptomatic you should perhaps have had a course of injections back in November to boost levels quickly and avoid neurological damage, but now your levels have gone up I would have thought it's unlikely you'll be allowed this treatment unless you can find/afford a private doctor who understands your situation.
If you had no history or symptoms of B12 deficiency before pregnancy it's perhaps unlikely to be a permanent condition, which suggests diet and oral supplements will slowly help, but I would have thought a course of injections would be needed quite urgently in the first instance.
I would keep an eye on the children as well and perhaps think of vitamin drops if they are exhibiting signs of a deficiency.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on what I have read and experienced.
Hi Frodo. Thank you for your response!
I am so shocked about the gas and air. Had no idea until I read your post! So thank you! I used it in all of my labours and absolutely loved it! 🙈
I may take injections but, they gave me terrible insomnia. And I had a reaction to the methycobalamin for some reason. I'm wondering if this could possibly be due to taking too much. If I'm feeling brave I may try again. At a lower doseage.
My concern is some of the symptoms I feel I'm having. Plus having a missed miscarriage in march after 4 healthy pregnancies is making me suspect b12. But I could be digging here.
Thanks again for your reply!
Hi one plus three, nitrate oxide is in anesthetic, gas and air, and causes major problems in the absorption of B12, if you get a chance to read my story, and the bit about my daughter read it, (she had 3 babies in 4 years) More importantly read the links that sleepybunny and Clive alive have sent me, they are medical information and protocols about B12 deficiency, it will open your eyes and give you some knowledge especially about miscarriage and B12.
Hi just read further down your story and realised sleepy bunny has given you the links. I also feel as if I’ve overdosed at times, but trying to overcome that side effect and improve these symptoms. Keep healthy and happy mummy bear.
Hi OnePlusThree I think the short answer is poor diet may cause a Vitamin B12 deficiency and as Frodo says having nitrous oxide administered during childbirth (if that was indeed the case with you) will adversely affect B12 levels.
However, on the plus side it appears that your levels are rising with the few tablets you are taking which suggests that you don't have an absorption problem with your digestion.
To boost your B12 levels naturally you need to eat red meats, fish, seafoods, (caviar is very good 
) eggs, and dairy produce - milk, cheese, yoghurt etc. Marmite is good (if you like it) and there is even B12 fortified into All-Bran.
Needless to say for the sake of your children you really have to look after yourself and improving your diet is the way to go. Should you decide to continue with the supplements they will do you no harm as you cannot "overdose" on B12 - any excess to requirement is excreted via your urine.
I am not a medically trained person but I've had P.A. (a form of B12 deficiency) for 46 years.
I wish you and your family well
.
Thank you clivealive!
I did in fact have gas and air in all of my labours. Can't believe this could be a factor! I'm feeling so terribly run down and exhausted at the moment but am trying to power on and keep healthy for my children. So many regrets I have about not taking care of myself enough before, but we can only live and learn I suppose.
With regards supplementation, I may attempt it again, but at a much lower dose. Maybe I didn't ease my system into it and shocked it a bit.
If I were to take say one vit b complex 1000mcg a week
And one vit b12 1000mcg a week. Would this do any benefit for me?
Also I bled a lot in my miscarriage and had to have an emergency D&C. I didn't feel too bad before that tbh, or after in fact. Then about 4 weeks after I started to feel terrible. Wondering if the blood loss could be part of this or just Maybe I'm run down in general. I don't know. I didn't get my iron tested but in November my ferritin came back as 22.
Yes, I'm sure it would.
While there are obvious benefits restoring levels ASAP I can't help but think that if your absorption is effective then just improving your diet and taking a good broad spectrum supplement might be better so your system continues to work in the way it should and doesn't become unbalanced by a sudden large dose.
Denise I really really hope that this is an option. Taking b vitamins, particularly complex and b12 seems to stimulate me way too much. When I took the b complex over a few days, I ended up having panic attacks. Stopped them then tried b12 alone and found I was weepy, emotional and terribly anxious. If I can do it through diet this would be the best thing for me. Although not impossible that I may just need a lower doseage.
I tried one injection and this kept me awake for hours on end, and I really can't do that in my situation. Thanks for your help!
diagnosing B12 deficiency during pregnancy is quite difficult as levels tend to drop anyway during pregnancy - its similar to ferritin levels tending to be lower in menstuating women.
Your levels now look quite good.
You store good levels of B12 in your liver which tends to be the main mechanism for regulating blood levels if you aren't getting enough in your diet - though the amount you need from your diet, so it could be that your stores have been filled up again, the demand in your body for B12 have gone back to normal so the levels in your blood have gone back up.
However, if I remember and understood your previous posts you had been supplementing in the previous 6 months with some very high doses of B12 which could also explain why your levels have risen
The thing is I'm so confused. I have tried to inform myself and research a lot since feeling ill since having my son. The trouble is now I feel so overwhelmed with information I'm paranoid I have everything. My anxiety isn't great at the moment so I don't know how to distinguish between anxiety symptoms and symptoms of b12 deficiency.
I have random spasms in different parts of my body, tingling in two of my toes on my right foot, and I've been very very tired lately. I don't know if these things are attributed to a deficiency. When my results came back that my levels weren't too low I burst into tears. I just want to know why I feel the way I do. I really am at a low point.
I also had a missed miscarriage in march, and I think it could be to do with a b12 deficiency but then again could be many other reasons.
What you say about the b2 not being in my cells makes me think that's what's happening with me but how will I know? The continuous back and forth to the doctors, reading information and it opening up a can of worms for the many possibilities of illnesses is mentally draining. I've thought I've had so many different diseases and illnesses of late I think the stress could probably give me one of them.
I had a bad reaction to b12 methylcobalamin unfortunately. Made me very emotional. I could take it any way and up my levels but having a feeling of despair is horrendous. Plus feeling wiped out afterwards like I'd overdosed. I tried an injection and it wasn't a nice experience for me but I suspect that was more to do with my anxiety.
One option I haven't tried is to lower the doseage and maybe this will help? But what will be an affective doseage ?
Part of me thinks to suffer the emotional side affects to the supplements until my symptoms are gone, but it's really awful when it's happening. sorry to rant! Thank you for taking the time out to respond and educate others. It's truly priceless
I have heard that some people, like you, don't react well to methylcobalamin as a supplement or injection. You could look for a hydroxoycobalamin supplement if you can't get hydroxo injections/loading doses from your GP. I think there's a company that does a nasal spray or drops which works for some as well.
You could possibly try a very gentle safe iron supplement (I'm not sure we're allowed to name products here) such as Spatone but check with your GP that's ok.
Or maybe try a good quality multi vit to keep everything balanced - the chewable ones are good for absorption, if it's mainly food-based even better.
in a functional B12 deficiency B12 doesn't get into the cells or the cells aren't able to use it efficiently. If I used the word 'you' in a previous post it was as a general pronoun. I am not in a position to say anything about you as an individual because each individual responds differently.
with Frodo on trying a different type of B12 if all you have tried so far is methyl,
Hi,
Some B12 info you may find useful.
Risk Factors for PA and B12 Deficiency
pernicious-anaemia-society....
b12deficiency.info/what-are...
b12deficiency.info/who-is-a...
Nitrous Oxide
gov.uk/drug-safety-update/n...
B12 Deficiency Symptoms
pernicious-anaemia-society....
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
b12d.org/admin/healthcheck/... (may need to be B12d.org member)
B12 books I found useful
Think pregnancy is mentioned in all three books.
"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper
Martyn Hooper is the chair of PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society). Book is up to date with UK b12 guidelines. Pregnancy is mentioned.
"Living with Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper
Has several case studies.
"Could it Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" by Sally Pacholok and JJ. Stuart (USA authors)
Very comprehensive with lots of case studies.
"my levels in november 2017 were 150. MMA was high"
What treatment did GP give you? See BNF and BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines links for info on UK recommended B12 treatment.
Were you tested for PA (Pernicious Anaemia)?
UK B12 documents
BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines
b-s-h.org.uk/guidelines/gui...
Flowchart from BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines
stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...
Flowchart outlines when PA and Antibody Negative PA can be diagnosed in UK.
BMJ B12 article
BNF
bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/hydrox...
NICE CKS
cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-b12...
PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)
Based in Wales, UK.
pernicious-anaemia-society....
PAS tel no +44 (0)1656 769717 answerphone
PAS support groups in UK
pernicious-anaemia-society....
B12 Deficiency Info website
UK B12 Blogs
Martyn Hooper's blog about PA
B12 Deficiency Info blog
I am not medically trained.
Thank you for your reply sleepybunny. And all of the info!
My doctor prescribed me to take 2000mcg of b12 supplements two times a week back in November. I didn't stick to this though but stopped breastfeeding shortly after. I asked If I needed injections and she said no. I suspect because my deficiency was dietary related.
No I've never been tested for pernicious anaemia.
I'm interested in the gas and air aspect of this as it's brand new to me. I had gas and air in all 4 of my labours!
A wiser contributor on here than I has posted in the past :
"nitrous oxide (gas and air) is the only anaesthetic I am aware of that interacts badly with B12
nitrous oxide is a super-oxidiser when it comes to B12 and converts it to a form that the body cannot use, so if you had an absorption problem and couldn't replace your the oxidised B12 with new B12 then it would be a permanent problem".
Hopefully you you don't have an absorption problem and a good "meat and two veg" diet will bring your B12 and Folate levels up naturally.
I am so sorry to read about your miscarriage and my heart goes out to you.
Hi,
I am sorry to read about your loss. I had similar experiences and suffered post natal depression and now with the benefit of hindsight suspect I probably had B12 levels at low end of normal and that I suffered effects from Nitrous Oxide exposure.
If I had known about potential effects of nitrous oxide I would not have used gas and air during labour.
"I'm interested in the gas and air aspect of this"
The B12 books listed in my post above all mention effects of nitrous oxide.
An internet search for "pregnancy nitrous oxide " may produce some interesting links.
I was shocked a couple of years ago when I found that this NHS article about pain relief in labour does not mention potential effects of nitrous oxide on B12.
nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy...
A link about B12 and Pregnancy
Some of the info in link below may be upsetting.
b12deficiency.info/b12-and-...
"No I've never been tested for pernicious anaemia."
Flowchart from BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines outlines when PA or Antibody Negative PA can be diagnosed. Suggests people who are symptomatic for B12 deficiency should have an Intrinsic Factor Antibody test even if B12 levels are normal range.
Hi all
just wanted to return and update. As i said before I haven't been feeling good since my sons birth. I've had numerous blood tests and in November a blood test came back for a ferritin level of 22ng/ml. doctor said nothing about it. As mentioned before i have had 4 children and my iron and ferritin i've never been told is an issue.
decided to do a ferritin blood test again last week, and results came back as
ferritin 9.7 ng/ml
haeomoglobin 10.9 g/dl
so i'm assuming this is why I've been feeling so run down, especially explains the shortness of breath and heart palpitations which has been absolutely horrendous. My missed miscarriage in March ended with me losing ALOT of blood, and having a D&C to be sent on my way with no follow up whatsoever. I feel so foolish that i didn't do more research into this ferritin issue and have been suffering for so long. I am hoping it won't take too long to get my stores back up. I started today taking ferrous sulphate, and will definitely be changing my diet.
Thank you to you wonderful people for your support and advice.
best wishes
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