5mg of Folic Acid for first 20 weeks pregnancy!!

[LadyGooGoo]

Hi,
Went to docs today to announce pregnancy and saw locum, he ended appointment saying

"Dr X (usual doc) disagrees, but I think you need 5mg Folic Acid a day, not 400ug to help embryo implant properly. And to take until week 20!?!!"

Has anyone else been told this? Thought high levels of Folic Acid had been linked to breast cancer. Seems a significantly higher dose and my usual doc not agreeing makes me fell like there must be disadvantages....MNetters please advise.

TIA

[June2009]

The nhs recommends 0.4 mg (aka 400ug)here which is what is in the standard preg. vitamines (sanatogen for exmpl).
Did this doc tell you what he based his opinion on? I'd start thinking maybe he has shares in folic acid or something ;)

I've been following the nhs advice myself.

[Tee2072]

Diabetic women are told to take that much, but not non-diabetic women!

[mrsboogie]

thought you were only supposed to really need to take it until around week 12 as the nervous systemis all in place then?

[flowerybeanbag]

I have to take that much to counteract the extra risks that come with my epilepsy medication, but AFAIK it's only usual to take that much with some medical reason like I have. Go back again and see usual doctor?

[weepootle]

I took 5mg until wk 20 of my pg as with my previous pg, ds was born with a non-surviveable neural tube defect, do you have any history of this in your family?

[ladylush]

I take 5mg on advice from endocrinologist whom I see for an underactive thyroid.

[LadyGooGoo]

Bloody Hell!!

No no history or family probs to suggest the need The bit that really surprised me tho was about implantation. I thought at 6 weeks (what i am) that implantation had been and gone....surely not still implanting at 20 weeks!

This is what I love about Mumsnet, no matter what the question...always someone to chuck in their tuppence worth.

[Hawkmoth]

I was on 5mg, history of anaemia and low folate.

[joyfuleyes]

I take 5mg for a clotting problem.

[ladylush]

The only thing I can think of is that there is some suggestion that a large number of women have lower folate levels than is necessary for a successful pregnancy and there is no way of knowing who these women are (well, blood tests I suppose - but the logistics.....)so maybe that's why he suggested 5mg.

[Belgianchocolates]

If you're normally healthy the advice is 400mcg, but if you've got certain medical conditions or a f/h of neural tube defects as some posters above showed you need 5mg.

[MrsHappy]

AFAIK folic acid is water soluble and you pee out what you don't need so taking more shouldn't be dangerous (although disclaimer: I am not an expert).
I would want to understand why he's suggested it though - esp if usual doctor thinks it is not necessary. The only time I have had more recommended was after I had taken methotrexate which depletes the body's folate levels.

[susiey]

Due to a clotting problem resulting in a funny factor in my blood I have to take double the reccomended dose of folic acid during my pregnancy.
Shouldn't need to take it unless there is a medical reason though