Prescribed 5mg folic acid, save to take pregnancy vitamins too that contain folic acid?

[Newby2021]

Hi, I’ve been prescribed 5mg folic acid by my midwife (I’m 4 weeks and 4 days pregnant, early appointment.)
I’ve been prescribed 5mg because of my BMI is higher, my diet isn’t the best as I’m a really fussy eater (not something I can help.) I’ve started to add fruit smoothies to my diet, I’m eating spinach, kale and broccoli now too so added veg too which is a great turning point for me. I eat the recommended meat and carbs and also dairy products I’m just afraid that I’m not getting enough vitamins though for the baby and I was wondering did anyone ever take 5mg folic acid and a pregnancy vit that had 400mcg folic acid in too? My midwife said it was okay but my doctor said it wasn’t so I’m not too sure.
Don’t judge me I just want some advice on what other people did thanks.

[Newby2021]

Also did anyone take all different kinds of supplements instead of taking extra folic acid that are in all pregnancy vits or can anyone recommend one that doesn’t have folic acid in? Thanks.

[AliceinBunniland]

I took 5mg FA during the first trimester so I didn't also take a vitamin with it in. I was advised to take the FA and vitamin D. Some days I took a pregnancy multivitamin instead of the higher dose FA.

I'm now in second trimester and just taking pregnancare.

I wouldn't worry about a fussy diet because many pregnant women can't stomach many healthy foods in the first 12 weeks or so.

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

You can take both doses, it isn't an issue.

[Newby2021]

Brilliant thank you, yeah that’s true that some people have food aversions and as you said can’t stomach it during early pregnancy.
I take 5mg FA and 10ug Vit D but I feel like I’m not getting any extra vits in like I’ve read also that you need DHA now too and one thing I know I can’t stomach is any kind of fish.
This is my first pregnancy so everything is worrying and a bit scary at the moment haha, just want to get in everything I can to make sure my baby is healthy of course.
Thanks again!

[FallenSky]

I take 5mg folic acid 6 days a week due to being on a medication that can deplete it and my consultant says it's absolutely safe to continue taking my multivitamin that contains a small amount of FA as well. However, I don't know anything about taking those doses during pregnancy and whether that changes the situation but thought I'd share my experience.

[swiftt]

I was told to take the 5mg prescribed dose but the normal pregnancy vitamin with 400mcg in. I stopped the 5mg at 12 weeks.

[Newby2021]

@FallenSky

I take 5mg folic acid 6 days a week due to being on a medication that can deplete it and my consultant says it's absolutely safe to continue taking my multivitamin that contains a small amount of FA as well. However, I don't know anything about taking those doses during pregnancy and whether that changes the situation but thought I'd share my experience.

Thank you for sharing! Yeah I’m not sure about during pregnancy either as the midwife has told me one thing and the doctor other so I have conflicting answers from healthcare providers and can’t seem to get a clean answer when I searched online too so thought I would ask, thank you again.

[Newby2021]

@swiftt

I was told to take the 5mg prescribed dose but the normal pregnancy vitamin with 400mcg in. I stopped the 5mg at 12 weeks.

You took the vitamin too or was told to stop it while taking the 5mg?

[Alr91]

I was prescribed 5mg of FA and pregnacare vitimin by my GP until 12 weeks

[Newby2021]

How did you find taking the both?

[Opticabbage]

High folate can be linked to tongue tie. Although not sure 400mcg would make the world of difference. Folate and vit d is the basic recommendation and should be enough.

[PlantingGreen]

I took pregnacare and 5mg folic acid. Stopped the folic acid around 14 weeks as i wanted to use up the box o was on.

[Newby2021]

@PlantingGreen

I took pregnacare and 5mg folic acid. Stopped the folic acid around 14 weeks as i wanted to use up the box o was on.

How did you find taking the both?

[Inkpaperstars]

I’m taking the pregnacare and the 5mg, and I have been told to stay on the 5mg throughout. As far as I know, you just wee out any folic acid dose your body doesn’t need, it doesn’t build up.

[MaryShelley1818]

You don't accumulate Folic Acid. As another poster said your body just uses what it needs and discards the rest.
I've been on 5mg FA and a Pregnacare Multi Vit throughout my first pregnancy with DS and throughout my current pregnancy (almost 35wks). Absolutely fine to take both and no issues.

[Newby2021]

@MaryShelley1818

You don't accumulate Folic Acid. As another poster said your body just uses what it needs and discards the rest.
I've been on 5mg FA and a Pregnacare Multi Vit throughout my first pregnancy with DS and throughout my current pregnancy (almost 35wks). Absolutely fine to take both and no issues.

Ahh amazing thank you for commenting!
So it’s okay to take that extra vitamin too! I’ll buy some today, thanks again!

[PlantingGreen]

@Newby2021 i didn't notice any difference and it didn't make me feel unwell. I now have a healthy 6week old baby

[Newby2021]

[quote PlantingGreen]@Newby2021 i didn't notice any difference and it didn't make me feel unwell. I now have a healthy 6week old baby [/quote]
That’s amazing! Thank you, congrats on your healthy little one! X

[PutOnAHappyFace]

I took 5mg and a multi vit with folic acid all through trying to conceive and now I'm pregnancy. I think compared to the 5mg, the extra bit in multi vits is tiny so it's not a big deal.

[Lottie917]

I took the 5mg folic acid and pregnacare multivitamin from about 5 weeks pregnant. For some reason my midwife kept me on the 5mg FA until I was 16 weeks, I never really asked why, I just assumed it was standard until I'd spoken to other mums to be but I don't think it makes much of a difference once your baby hits 12 weeks.

I really struggled in my first trimester to keep much of anything down, including the multi vitamin some days. So I found taking the smaller 5mg FA tablet easier and felt better that I was still getting some sort of supplement that I could keep down.

[Inkpaperstars]

I don’t know why I have been told to keep taking the 5mg folic, I am 27 weeks and they said just keep taking it. I should have asked really but it was a bit of a rush.

[autumneve]

I was just about to come on here and ask MN exactly your question!
I'm 4 weeks too

I was prescribed larger folic acid dose in my previous pregnancy due to high bmi, (which sadly ended before I took any of the tablets), so now I have a packet in my drawer as well as a pregnancy multivit. I've been taking the larger dose every second day and multivit every day 🤷‍♀️

Haven't spoken to midwife yet but will call soon.

Does anyone else have any more info on the connection between high folate and tongue tie as mentioned up thread? It's these passing worrying comments that stick in my head

Congrats on your pregnancy!

[Newby2021]

@autumneve

I was just about to come on here and ask MN exactly your question!
I'm 4 weeks too

I was prescribed larger folic acid dose in my previous pregnancy due to high bmi, (which sadly ended before I took any of the tablets), so now I have a packet in my drawer as well as a pregnancy multivit. I've been taking the larger dose every second day and multivit every day 🤷‍♀️

Haven't spoken to midwife yet but will call soon.

Does anyone else have any more info on the connection between high folate and tongue tie as mentioned up thread? It's these passing worrying comments that stick in my head

Congrats on your pregnancy!

Congrats on your pregnancy lovely!

From what I’ve seen and read people do take the high FA dose and multi vits too and don’t seem to have any problems!
I need to speak to my midwife again today too haha she’s probably sick of me already and I haven’t even had my first appointment yet haha!
I can’t give any info on the tongue tie and FA as I haven’t heard about it before either!
Ahh that’s a good idea to take it every other day, I’ve been taking the higher dose every day so far, I’ve bought vitamin D too and DHA (as I hate fish haha) but I’m tracking what I eat to get my iron and calcium in a day!
The only vits NHS recommend is FA and vitamin D, my midwife said the first time round that you don’t need all the other vitamins as long as your diet is okay and taking FA and vit D, I also need to ring to get my vit D levels checked before I take a higher dose haha!