Hi PipPio,
Your iron isn't being tested by the blood test, but is measuring your hemoglobin level, which in most people will indicate iron deficiency IDA when low, but in thal minors does not indicate IDA. Thal minors will typically have an anemic Hb level but iron supplements won't help this unless IDA is also coincidentally present. To determine IDA in thal minors, a full iron panel of tests is required. These will include serum ferritin, serum iron and TIBC, total iron binding capacity. Because thal minors are erroneously given iron on a regular basis, it is always recommended that a full iron panel be run on a thal minor before supplementing with iron. So, as far as your son, you are likely right and the iron drops won't help. It is standard practice to give a one month course of iron to see if it helps, but in most thal minors it won't help. If doctors continue to want to try iron with him after one month, ask for an iron panel. His Hb is in range for a thal minor and there may not be much that can be done to raise it. Iron should never be taken long term when not needed. Good nutrition is indeed important.
For yourself, thal minor women most often do experience a drop in Hb during pregnancy, but just above 8 might mean that iron is involved, since the need rises during pregnancy. Iron may help. Folate is extremely important during pregnancy and thal minors need a much higher dose than non-thals during pregnancy. Hopefully, you are already taking folate, but thal minors should take 2-5 mg daily in the form of L-methyfolate while pregnant. I suggest 5. Natural vitamin E is also important in helping to maintain the blood flow between the placenta and uterus, which is sometimes an issue for thal minors. You may be able to have a positive effect on your Hb and reverse the drop with iron and folate. For more information about nutrition in thal minors, see
http://www.thalassemiapatientsandfriends.com/index.php/topic,4890.msg46774.html#msg46774The low Hb does not mean anything significant in terms of the baby and won't affect the baby.
If your Hb continues to drop below 8, a transfusion in the later weeks may be suggested. If it stays in the range it is now, it is usually recommended that preparations for a transfusion are made in case there is any significant blood loss during delivery (this is just standard practice. There is nothing about thal minor pregnancy that would make it anymore likely for complications to occur. It is simply Hb based and when starting with a low Hb, caution is practiced). This is really the only added concern and it usually ends up being just a precaution.
Testing for thal minor is done through a CBC and a hemoglobin electrophoresis. If you've been diagnosed at some point, you've had those done. The Hb is much lower in the other forms of thal. What is extremely important is that all minors understand that they carry thalassemia. If two minors have children together, there is a 25% chance of having a child with thal major. Minors need to know their status so they can make informed decisions on having children when they're adults.To verify that he is minor, have the CBC and electrophoresis done. He may find as you did, that his physical endurance is limited. This is a function of Hb level. Those with lower than normal Hb levels have less oxygen carrying capacity and many minors will have limits no matter how hard they train. Tennis legend, Pete Sampras is a thal minor and hid the fact during his career. His strategy was to dispatch opponents as quickly as possible so he wouldn't get involved in long drawn out matches. He never revealed his thal status until he retired so no opponent would try to stall matches to tire him out.