Folic acid worries

[Phewsers]

Hi all, I feel I'm ready to try for number 2.... Have been taking folic acid for months in prepartion, but missed about 5 consecutive days of tablets due to a sickness bug when I couldn't keep anything down. This was about a month ago. I understand you should ideally have been taking frolic acid for 3 months when falling pregnant... Do you think this means I should put Ttc off for another 2 months? :(

Sorry for silly post but it's on my mind! Thanks

[RockChick1984]

The vast majority of people don't take folic acid at all pre pregnancy, so I'm fairly sure you will be ok! Also, it's unlikely that you will conceive within the first month of TTC so potentially by the time you get pregnant you could easily have been taking it perfectly for a significant amount of time.

[eurochick]

I didn't take it at all pre-ttc. I had never heard the advice that you should back then. "Luckily" a year + on I am still not pg so it didn't matter as I have been on it for ages now!

[PhoenixFromTheFlames]

You build up a certain level so I wouldn't worry too much. Just get back on it now.

[HappyCamel]

It's fine, you are just trying to prevent a deficiency in your diet. If you eat bread or breakfast cereal you'll probably have enough without a supplement anyway. There's no need to delay TTC.

[moggle]

I have never been able to find a proper scientific reference for the "take it 3m beforehand" recommendation. As far as I have read folic acid doesn't persist in the body so it isn't that you are able to build up supplies over that time. So really, don't worry! As the above poster said, most bread and cereals are fortified with it now so you shouldn't worry :-D

[KatAndKit]

You don't build up a certain level actually. Folic acid is nothing but a B vitamin and your body is unable to store it. If you take in more than you need it just comes out. your body can only store fat soluble vitamins for future use.
Assuming you eat a reasonably healthy diet you probably don't have a vitamin deficiency anyway. Don't worry about it. And certainly don't delay ttc because of missing a few of them.

[Phewsers]

Thanks guys :)