To not take folic acid

[MagnumAddict]

I suspect I probably am but need to vent so please hear me out.

I'm 8 weeks pregnant and sick as a dog. If I'm not feeling/being sick I have an upset stomach after EVERYTHING I eat. I'm exhausted and feel miserable.

2nd pregnancy so know it's all worth it before anyone tells me that...

I could be imagining it but I'm convinced that after I take folic acid I feel even more ill so I couldn't face it yesterday and have just told dh I can't face it today either. He's flounced off muttering about the importance for the baby making me feel like a complete shit on top of how awful I'm already feeling.

So I need a fresh perspective. I know you lot won't hold back.

[AnnoyingKitten]

I think you should really try and take it. I didn't take it as I didn't realise I was pregnant and when I had my 12 week scan I really wished I had.

[MoonriseKingdom]

You know you need to take it (and vitamin D) but I can completely empathise with 1st trimester rubbishness.

How are you taking the folic acid? I took tiny folic acid/ vitamin D tablets in my second pregnancy and found this easier to take when feeling sick than pregnancy multivitamins like pregnacare.

[Weddingbelle123]

It's extremely important to take it to reduce the risk of spina bifida. Maybe you could try taking it just before you go to sleep and see if that helps?

[DementedUnicorn]

Take it. Please take it. If something happens (even though it could be for a thousand reasons other than that) you'll be riddled with guilt.

Speaking from bitter experience.

[SparkleShinyGlitter]

I do think it's quite Important to take it. It's recommended as it can help prevent tube defects. At 12 weeks if you can't face it I believe it's ok to stop.

I did suffer with bad morning sickness until 16 weeks so I honestly can understand your sickness and I feel for you.

Something that use to help me 2 plain biscuits by the bed before I even got up nibble 1 biscuit then take the tablet then nibble other biscuit and just sit there for a while. It didn't always help but 8/10 times I could keep it down.

Hope your sickness passes soon OP 💐

[wonkylegs]

Try taking it just before you go to sleep so that you sleep through feeling rough.

It's really really important to take it, it's one of the few supplements with an actual proven effect.

I would be surprised if it's actually what's making you feel sick. I take a very high dose of it due to another medication and it tends to reduce nausea for most people who take it.

[backtowork2015]

Can you take it before you go to bed so you sleep through any sickness it brings on?

[wonkylegs]

I second the person who says make sure you are taking the tiny folic acid tablets rather than the larger pregnancy multi-vitamins. Maybe try a different brand, they may taste slightly different or maybe try taking them with a bit of food.
Pregnancy sickness can be rubbish and was one of the reasons I make a grumpy pregnant lady, so you have my full sympathy.

[MummyToThree479]

Yes I think it's important to take it, you need to find a way to keep it down.

Try taking it at different times of day?
Is there a time of day your sickness is better?
Try taking it half way in to a meal?
I believe you can get a liquid form of pregnancy vitamin with folic acid in from boots of that would help?

After 3 dc I know what awfulness morning sickness can bring and I do feel for you

[TierAufTier]

I'd take it.

I just started some today and there's only a really tiny tiny chance that I could be (accidentally ) pregnant. It's not worth the risk of not doing it.

I would agree it's unlikely to be that making you feel sick, I would try changing time or what you take it with or try a different brand. I'm sure in my first pregnancy I had some that had ginger or something with it as a nausea remedy?!

The ones I started today were a quid in Tesco, really tiny tablets. Tablets like that are easier for me, I hate any capsule type stuff as they do make me feel yuck when I swallow them

[MLGs]

I agree with everyone else that you need to take it. I also think the suggestion to take it before bed is a good one

However I don't think it's helpful at all of your husband to flounce off.

[CheeseFlavouredDiscs]

I don't want to be unfeeling but if you were to do a little research on neural tube defects and spina bifida (I suggest NHS website, NOT Google images) you may find it helps motivate you to find a way to take the folic acid.

It might give you a better understanding of why it is so important you have the supplement. If anything it is doubly important to take the folic acid supplement as the sickness you are experiencing is probably depriving your body of the folic acid found in various foods.

[AwayAtSea]

Yes, YABU. Bloody take it. There are treatments for hyperemesis.

[FurryLittleTwerp]

The spine develops mostly before your missed period, so stopping now is unlikely to make much difference, but you would feel terrible if something happened that you might have been able to prevent. It also protects against cleft lip & palate.

[allowlsthinkalot]

It's not just spina bifida. It's neural tube defects including anencephaly, which is incompatible with life. My third child had this.

As someone else said, if anything like this happened you would go over and over things trying to find a reason. You definitely don't want to be in that position knowing there was something you could have done to significantly reduce the risk.

[glueandstick]

You're supposed to take vitamin d?! Never knew that!

Try and take it, but if you really can't just ensure you're eating as many folic acid rich foods.

I'll be flamed for this, but I'm fairly sure because it's a guideline (and it caters for all of society) that you're probably ok for it if you're eating a good balanced diet. All cereals and bread is fortified with it.

[CosyCoupe88]

If you are taking it within a multi vitamin like pregnacare ot may be the iron in that making you feel ill. I couldn't keep that down amd felt very ill mornings afyer taking it at night. So took is on its own with some vitamin d. Assuming you are already doing this but just in case . Really hope you feel better soon x

[SuperDuperJezebel]

Have you tried changing brands? I bought a different brand at 10 weeks as the last ones had run out and the nausea was horrendous. I switched back as soon as I could and felt loads better. The ones I ended up being fine with were the waitress ones.

[Diamondsandpears]

Try a food state pregnancy supplement. Not sure what difference is but seems to be easier on the stomach.

[MagnumAddict]

I know you are all right. I am going to take them now- folic acid and vit d. To those who asked/suggested I did move to these from pregnacare as l really do believe the pregnacare ones were making me ill.

On the first day I took the smaller tablets I did think it was better but the last few days within minutes my stomach has been lurching. Of course it could be coincidence. Hoping I'm not back and forth to the toilet all night now.

MLGs thank-you I don't think it was helpful either that he flounced off although now I've calmed down he may have been just removing himself from my increasing annoyance that he wouldn't just accept I wasn't taking them

to all for talking sense into me and for the sympathy. Not much of that comes your way when you can't tell anyone how rotten you feel so it's meant a lot to me tonight

[PussInCoutts]

Annoyingkitten I hope you don't mind me asking but am genuinely curious - was there a reason in the scan you wished you had taken it?

I didn't take it either as similar situation, although I was rather young then, which I believe might have an effect but am not sure. DC turned out fine

[PussInCoutts]

ie If I started TTC now I would def take it as I'm in my 30s now

[littlepeas]

Yes, definitely get the little folic acid pills - I couldn't stomach the pregnancy vitamins (huge aversions to virtually every food in early pregnancy and lots of sickness), but could manage the folic acid only tablets. You do need to take it. Sorry you're feeling crap.