To Make a Mother
A podcast by kate holm.
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Your Iron Is "Fine." But Is It Actually Fine?

To Make A Mother Podcast
July 23, 2026•4 min read

Have you ever been told your blood tests are "normal" while simultaneously feeling anything but normal?

In this episode of To Make a Mother, we're talking about one of the most common, and commonly missed causes of fatigue in women: iron deficiency.

More specifically, we're talking about iron deficiency without anaemia, the stage where many women are experiencing very real symptoms despite being told that everything looks fine on paper.

This is the first episode in a three-part series on iron, and if you've ever wondered whether motherhood is the only reason you're exhausted, this conversation is for you.

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In this episode:

  • Why a normal full blood count doesn't rule out iron deficiency.

  • The three stages of iron depletion and why most women aren't diagnosed until stage three.

  • Ferritin, reference ranges, and why "normal" doesn't always mean optimal.

  • The symptoms of iron deficiency (including hair loss, restless legs, brain fog, and cold hands and feet).

  • The fascinating relationship between iron, your menstrual cycle, and a hormone called hepcidin.

  • Which women are most at risk of iron deficiency.

  • The blood tests I recommend requesting from your GP.

  • Why iron deficiency is often only one piece of a much bigger picture.

This week's recco:

This week's recco is Dreaming with Milki a beautiful children's podcast created by the wonderful Mikki Fisher.

Set in the magical Land of Holu, the stories are filled with gentle lessons, imagination, and meditations for children (and adults too!).

My children are completely obsessed, and we've spent so many evenings listening together before bed. If you're looking for something beautiful to add to your bedtime routine, I can't recommend it highly enough.

Check out THIS EPISODE where the kids even got to feature in the story.

Resources mentioned:

If you're speaking with your GP about iron testing, consider asking for:

  • Ferritin

  • Serum Iron

  • Transferrin

  • Transferrin Saturation

  • Full Blood Count

  • C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

Please note: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace individual medical advice.

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References:

  1. Breymann C. (2015). Iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy. Seminars in Hematology, 52(4), 339–347.

  2. Bruinvels G, et al. (2016). The prevalence and effect of heavy menstrual bleeding on athletic and non-athletic populations and its impact on iron stores. PLOS ONE, 11(2), e0149881.

  3. Bruinvels G, et al. (2022). Iron, hormones and the menstrual cycle — the impact on female physiology. British Journal of Sports Medicine.

  4. Camaschella C. (2015). Iron-deficiency anaemia. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(19), 1832–1843.

  5. Davies J, Kadir RA. (2017). Heavy menstrual bleeding: an update on management. Thrombosis Research, 151(Suppl 1), S70–S77.

  6. Dignass A, et al. (2018). How to manage iron deficiency in inflammatory bowel disease. Journal of Crohn's and Colitis, 12(6), 748–755.

  7. Drizze A, et al. (2024). Reference intervals for serum ferritin: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Haematology, 11(5), e352–e360.

  8. Ganz T. (2011). Hepcidin and iron regulation, 10 years later. Blood, 117(17), 4425–4433.

  9. Goetze O, et al. (2013). Increased serum hepcidin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Liver International, 33(10), 1586–1594.

  10. Hallberg L, et al. (1993). Menstrual blood loss and iron stores. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 47(10), 713–722.

  11. Hurrell R, Egli I. (2010). Iron bioavailability and dietary reference values. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 91(5), 1461S–1467S

  12. Lynch SR. (2000). The effect of calcium on iron absorption. Nutrition Research Reviews, 13(2), 141–158.

  13. Moustarah F, Daley SF. (2024). Dietary Iron. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.

  14. Munro MG, et al. (2023). The FIGO classification of causes of abnormal uterine bleeding. International Journal of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, 163(S3), 1–34.

  15. Nemeth E, Ganz T. (2009). The role of hepcidin in iron metabolism. Acta Haematologica, 122(2–3), 78–86.

  16. Pasricha SR, et al. (2021). Iron deficiency. The Lancet, 397(10270), 233–248.

  17. Pathology Tests Explained (Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists). Ferritin. pathologytestsexplained.org.au

  18. Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA). Ferritin — RCPA Manual of Use and Interpretation of Pathology Tests. rcpa.edu.au

  19. Soppi ET. (2018). Iron deficiency without anemia — a clinical challenge. Clinical Case Reports, 6(6), 1082–1086.

  20. Taymor ML, et al. (1964). The aetiological role of chronic iron deficiency in production of menorrhagia. Journal of the American Medical Association, 187(5), 323–327.

  21. Toxqui L, Vaquero MP. (2015). Chronic iron deficiency as an emerging risk factor for osteoporosis: a hypothesis. Nutrients, 7(4), 2324–2344.

  22. World Health Organization. (2016). WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience. Geneva: WHO.

This episode is for educational purposes and does not replace individualised medical or naturopathic advice. Always seek assessment from a qualified health professional for your child's specific situation.

New here? Find me on Instagram (@kate__holm) or at kateholm.com. Thanks for listening!

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