Folic Acid prior to getting pregnant
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Category: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Name: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Description: Trying to get pregnant? Going through fertility treatment? Just planning your first or second child? There are many people out there in the same boat to help and listen and share with
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8326
Printed Date: 17 August 2025 at 11:28am
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Topic: Folic Acid prior to getting pregnant
Posted By: linda
Subject: Folic Acid prior to getting pregnant
Date Posted: 16 June 2007 at 8:14pm
| I've nearly convinced DH for baby no3 but haven't been taking Folic Acid. I'm going to start now but does anyone know how much this increases my chance of having a baby with spinabifita(spel). I'm thinking it will take a while to get pregnant but then you just never know. Also, if there a brand that is better than another, maybe higher in Folic? |
Replies:
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 16 June 2007 at 8:21pm
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That is apparently the case but also genes have a part to play. I didn't even know about folic acid until I found a mw at 6 weeks pg (with my 1st child) and I just started taking it then. With my 3rd child, I didn't know I was pg until 9 weeks (it was later corrected to 7 1/2 weeks pg), and since it is of no benefit after 10-12 weeks I didn't bother.
If I were you I'd start TTC now and just get FA on your next trip into town. -------------  |
Posted By: Peace
Date Posted: 16 June 2007 at 9:18pm
If you have a family history of neural tube defects then a Dr can prescribe a higher dosage of you which is 3 and a bit times more potent. Otherwise just stick with the .8  I got the cheap brand and they were fine. ------------- DD1 May 2006 DD2 March 2011 DD3 August 2012 |
Posted By: mamanee
Date Posted: 16 June 2007 at 9:46pm
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I wasn't trying to conceive so I never took folic acid prior to being pregnant, although once I found out at four weeks I just got the el-cheapo brand from the supermarket and took that till 12 weeks. I was naughty though and always forgot!
I had been taking Centrum for a couple of months before getting pregnant also and that has folic acid in it, albeit a small amount. 
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 16 June 2007 at 9:50pm
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Um I only took it for a week with Josh (i forgot about it and when I finally remembered I was way past 12 weeks), and he turned out fine. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: mamanee
Date Posted: 16 June 2007 at 9:53pm
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Oh yeah, Sam turned out fine too! Forgot to add that bit.
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Posted By: bumblefoot
Date Posted: 17 June 2007 at 12:54pm
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I have a neural tube defect which is a very rare form of Spina Bifida. So Im on like a chemical warfare ammount of FA. Now as to the "how much would it lessen my chances" question, lets just say that if every pg mummy took it in the three months prior and first 12wks of pg, then we would have a drop of 87% of the babies born with NTD's (neural tube defects) Pretty staggering numbers, I know. Now Im going to be totally un-pc, and say this. Pay no heed if it isnt what you want to hear, but do take it on board of you can. I for one do not feel that having a disability/disabled child is the end of the world. I have had my battles since day one, and it has been hard yes, but I still would not change it for anything. Now this may sound odd, but its true. How could I garuntee I would be the same person I am now if I hadnt of had my disability to shape me when each new experience was had? I would hate to be any different than the person I am now, and it has taken me a long time to see this. Sure I have to use a wheelchair, and I have many issues to face each day, but I enjoy a challenge. And I guess wanting to be a mother is just the natural progression of facing new challenges. Now having said this, I am on a huge dose of Folic Acid as previously mentioned. I would love as much as the next person to have a healthy child that wont have to face what I have in life, but if that is not to be, then I/we will nurture and care for our child no matter the instance. Im not saying I want a disabled child, but I know that if they are anything like me then they can face anything. I hope this hasnt offended anyone, it really is just my personal opinion of how I feel about the situation. So as someone else has said, if there is no family history of NTD's, then the standard 0.8 will do just nicely. All the best for TTC #3 ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 17 June 2007 at 12:58pm
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bumblefoot - not in the least bit offensive, quite lovely and brave actually!!
And just wanted to say that foods have folic acid in them too... so despite not taking the pills you still will have a certain amount of folic acid in your system - spinach I think... brocolli etc. (That right??) so don't fear too much! |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 17 June 2007 at 1:04pm
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Yep brocoli, but that's the only one I remember
Bf - what a very mature perspective, I congratulate you on your POV! ------------- |
Posted By: bumblefoot
Date Posted: 17 June 2007 at 1:09pm
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Thank you busymum, its the only perspective I can afford to have! Yep you are right about the broccoli. In fact any green leafy veges are good. In the USA they have FA fortified breads and cereals, which we tried to have enforced here, but apparantly our staggering rate of Spina Bifida babies wasnt enough to justify it. Strange if you ask me... And you can bet that the nunbers are way lower in the US... ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 17 June 2007 at 8:26pm
I tought cereals were enriched too - I'm pretty sure I have seen folic acid on the label. Mush check it out though. 
I was taking a multi vitamin with 0.2 folic acid pre falling pregnant and for the first month too. Took folic acid tablets after that until the 3rd month. I'd recommend you take it if you plan TTC - might as well and it's quite cheap from memmory. Good luck TTC ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: emachan
Date Posted: 17 June 2007 at 8:54pm
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Nice words there bumblefoot - very well written and so true! I work with disabled children and although with some of the more severe ones its sometimes heartbreaking to work with,the less severely disabled ones are fine - they are human beings, like the rest of us and trying to get on with an 'as normal' life as possible!
Anyways - I have just started taking Elevit, which, although on the pricey side (we paid 79.90 for 100 tablets), its great as it has Folic Acid plus a whole heap of vitamins and minerals - including Iron, so it's helped me with my energy levels in the past 3 weeks since I started taking it. Would definately recommend it. Prior to that, I just had some 400 mcg(?) supermarket stuff that I started taking 3 months prior to my other pregnancy then moved up to 800 (pharmacy stuff that was even cheaper!) when I found out I was pg. Hope this helps someone out there!  ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD#1 Sept 08 DD#2 Oct 09 |
Posted By: linda
Date Posted: 17 June 2007 at 9:01pm
| Thanks everyone.....really appreciated all your thoughts. DH is looking for any excuse to hold off so will start taking it now and work on him for my next cycle. I could so have been taking it for months now but didn't want to pressure DH into #3. My biological clock is definitly ticking so it has to sooner rather than later. |
Posted By: Peace
Date Posted: 23 June 2007 at 11:44am
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I was so inspired that I posted your post on EBB bumblefoot when someone questioned why we might be starting to put Folate in bread here.
Maybe you might want to have a look? http://www2.everybody.co.nz/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=555141&page=1#Post555141 - Ick. Folate going into bread ------------- DD1 May 2006 DD2 March 2011 DD3 August 2012 |
Posted By: bumblefoot
Date Posted: 23 June 2007 at 3:07pm
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Wow! Thanks! Nice to have an influence on someone! I know, you could have knocked me over with a feather when they finally said they would put the bill in place. Its not like it is going to cost anymore to do, and you cant taste it. It just seems weird that after 22yrs of fighting, and practically giving up, they have caved and gone ahead with it. Absolutely fab news too. Well done government, FINALLY a change worth making! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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