Medications in Pregnancy - Who to Ask... Pharmacist or GP?

I was told by my hospital after my first antenatal blood test that my iron levels were low and that they'd been in touch with my GP to get me started on an iron substitute. It wasn't really a big surprise to me as I don't eat red meat so I'd anticipated my iron might be an issue. What did surprise me though was that from 8 weeks pre-pregnancy up until the 12 week pregnancy blood test I'd been taking a very well known pregnancy vitamin and mineral supplement!

Well, since my so-called supplements contained iron, I knew I'd have to stop taking them as I didn't want to risk overdoing the iron with my prescription medicine.

However, at my last antenatal visit, I was given my maternity notes to take home with me. Reading through them I discovered that pregnant women are advised to take Vitamin D supplements and to increase their calcium intake. So, at 30 weeks pregnant I decided I'd better get started as apparently the baby's bones are strengthening in the third trimester and require more of both of these compounds.

I called into a local pharmacy to speak to a pharmacist to ask her to recommend a suitable supplement as I don't get a huge amount of calcium in my diet (since I don't eat a lot of dairy food) and the weather in Ireland in Autumn is not really conducive to adequate levels of Vitamin D!

I must admit to feeling a little let down when she appeared to ignore the fact I was taking prescription strength iron and headed straight to the pregnancy supplement I'd been taking before my blood results were given to me!

When I told her I couldn't take the ones she was showing me and reiterated I was taking prescription iron, her advice was to ask my doctor as she couldn't advise anything. Now, I'm glad she was being careful given my pregnancy, but I'd always thought pharmacists were specialists in the area of medication. In fact, the NHS often tells the public to speak to a pharmacist rather than taking up GP time. So, I'm left somewhat confused. I don't really want to see my GP over something so apparently trivial,  but I do want to make sure my baby's bones get a chance to harden before birth...

I'm happy to alter my diet to include more yoghurt, cottage cheese and leafy green vegetables to get the calcium needed, but the Vitamin D is worrying me a little. I can't just turn on the sun when I want it ;)

Maybe I'll try another pharmacist first - but I'd love to know if any of you have faced similar dilemmas and what you've done about it.