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.

[littlepeas]

Cross post with your update.

[TierAufTier]

I'm glad you will take it OP.

So very sorry that some here have experienced NTDs, I had no idea what exactly it was until I looked it up just now. I am grateful you have shared your experiences

I am going to take vitamin D as well, I have some extremely high dose capsules already (prescribed a while ago) but not sure if that is too high and an over the counter one would be better

[Sparrowlegs248]

You definitely need to take it! I've seen the effects not taking it can have, it's not something you'd wish on any mother or baby.

[INeedNewShoes]

Magnum - Folic Acid does the same to me, but I can take Folate (the natural form) no problem at all.

Perhaps worth giving folate a go? Some women can't metabolise Folic Acid. If you're one of them it'll be better for you and for the baby if you take Folate.

[Crumbs1]

To be honest, the risk of folic acid deficiency is minimal. Lots of cereal and bread is fortified. The incidence of neural tube defects is very low. Missing the odd tablet is not likely to do any harm. I never took any vitamin supplements.

[TathitiPete]

Sorry you're so sick

Do try to persevere with the folic acid though and yy to the small tabs. I found them so easy to take I could dry swallow.

I wasn't taking folic acid in early pregnancy with DD (because I didn't know I was pregnant) and they were worried about Spina Bifida when she was born. An MRI at eight months showed she was okay though. Her spine is a bit different to what it should be but it shouldn't impact her life.

[seafoodeatit]

As others have said try taking it just before you go to sleep, it's what I do with prenatals/folic acid. If you feel awful constantly go to the gp and get a prescription, there are plenty of safe things to take that will help you cope, it's what I did and got given prochlorperazine even though I only vomit every couple of days, the nausea was flooring me and making it very hard to eat anything. Nausea is horrible and can really make your whole day feel like it's falling apart, don't feel you need to endure it if it gets bad.

[BlueOnMondayNight]

To those people who said lots of bread and cereals fortified with it.... I didn't think they were in the UK?

And the matter was reconsidered recently (ie. whether to make it legal obligation to fortify those foods), and it was decided not to....

or have I got it wrong?

[MagnumAddict]

ineednewshoes thank-you I am going to ask about that at my midwife appointment. I'm generally a sensible person so to even consider not taking it is only because I'm desperate. I just thought what's the point when I bring it up 5 minutes later.

You have given me a bit of hope as well as some validation that it might not be all in my head!

[Sweets101]

Pregnacare made me vom with a abandon, try the others. If they make you hurl too ( i wasn't getting anything from the pregnacare it all ended up in the toilet) could you have the fortified cereal instead or would you need to eat a truck load daily to get enough?

[LonelyImSoLonely]

Try taking a folate supplement, the more natural form found in foods rather than folic acid, the synthetic version. Bread etc has folic acid added, the synthetic version of natural folate.

[LonelyImSoLonely]

Blue, most bread/cereals/anything made with flour is fortified with a few things.

[Andsoandsoandsowhat]

The other day I saw some sort of nutrition bars designed for pregnancy, think they have all the vitamins you need! They were a bit pricey but might be worth a look? Think I saw them on Tesco groceries.

[MrsJayy]

I have Spina Bifida occulta do try and take it even if you get the single supplement your husband should not be making you feel guilty though it isn't him feeling so sick.

[TremoloGreen]

I have had hyperemesis twice and also have a medical background. I found that taking a vit D and folic acid on its own was the best compromise between benefit/risk. There is also some (equivocal) evidence that a vit B complex is protective against morning sickness. I also only took the folic acid for the first 12 weeks. I don't know what the current advice is, but I felt there was sound reasoning for this... I could probably dig it out if you wanted. DO tell your midwife about your morning sickness and the extent to which it is affecting daily life... you may qualify for some anti emetics, which make it all a bit more bearable.

[MrsJayy]

Im glad your going to try and sort something out.

[helenfagain]

Pregnacare made me feel really ill, the seven seas ones were much better and much cheaper!

[MrsJayy]

I took pharmacy own for my last pregnancy they were tiny and easy to swallow i wretched (sorry) at the pregnancy vitamins they were huge

[INeedNewShoes]

Magnum - it really is not just you. I wouldn't have been able to continue taking folic acid either. The effect on my stomach was too much to deal with.

Your midwife will probably be not be very interested in you talking about folate just because all they're interested in is 'folic acid' (which has the same active ingredient). I did my own research on it before coming to the conclusion that I'd be much better off taking it. It stands to reason really that its much better for us to take the natural form of folate (same as found in food) than a synthesised version. Don't be put off if your midwife doesn't have much to say about it.

You can buy folate online or at a good pharmacy or health food shop. I take the Solgar brand which is pricey but I have various food allergies which mean it is worth me taking the purest brand to avoid things like soya.

[satsoooma]

Are you now taking 2 separate pills for folic acid and vitamin D? Boots do absolutely tiny pills that combine both (just those, in the amount.ts recommended by nhs), so you would only have to swallow the one pill.

[TheDowagerDuchessofDenver]

There's some evidence that vitamin d deficiency in pregnancy is a contributing factor in the baby developing autism. And in January in Britain, pretty much everyone is likely to be deficient in vitamin d.
It's definitely a good thing to take. Good on you, OP.
There's also something called the nocebo affect - it's like placebo effect but for bad things. I hope that's what you have and things get easier soon.

[AgathaMystery]

Erm. Your your midwife should be pretty well versed in folate... it's a requirement of the job!!

However.

They can't prescribe robust anti emetics and there is sound research to suggest the GP's routine under prescribe anti metics to pregnant women. So I would suggest you try your very best to take folic acid/ folate , avoid multi vitamins at all costs and make a GP appt.

Don't be fobbed off by chat of ginger/mints/biscuits/teas/sea sickness bands etc. Get to the GP and get some anti emetics and keep going back until you find the ones that work for you

Xxx

[PamBalam]

My midwife gave me folic acid and vitamin d tablets to take. She said "don't bother with Pregnacare and the like. This is all you need". It's a tiny wee pill I can swallow it without water.

[PamBalam]

No one else given the NHS tablets?

[TheDowagerDuchessofDenver]

I was, Pam, but that's because I had a pre-existing medical condition that meant I needed a higher dose.