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.

[londonrach]

Take it just as a tablet on its own. I never kept the pregnancy ones down as they made me sick. Three days i gave up on the pregnancy tablets and just bought folic acid tablets. Never saw them again!

[Talllara]

Glad you've decided to carry on taking it. Definitely the right thing to do.

I'm sorry you're feeling so sick, it's absolutely awful I really sympathise. Nothing much helped me apart from resting and trying to eat plain food.

Hopefully the sickness will pass and you'll be feeling fabulous. My sickness went at about 14 weeks.

[Famalam13]

Glad you are taking it :) Just for info for everyone it is advised by neurologists that all women of childbearing age whether planning a pregnancy or not take a folic acid supplement as by the time you discover you are pregnant it is largely too late.

[janinlondon]

The MRC Vitamin Study (Lancet 1991) on which the evidence for taking folic acid is based supplemented pregnant women to the 12th week of pregnancy. The UK Advisory Committee recommendations also say take the supplement to the 12th week. After that the neural tube has effectively closed, and supplements are no longer needed. They are essential up to that point. Hope this helps.

[FlissMumsnet]

Just dropping in to remind the OP that we cannot vouch for the medical advice given here. Please do consult a GP in RL to be sure you're doing what's right for you and your baby.
We hope the sickness ends soon

[MagnumAddict]

Thanks fliss yes will of course speak to go/midwife too but just want to reiterate how helpful this thread has been for me

[user1485201252]

Hi OP, your message reminded me of something I came across a couple of years ago when researching other health stuff. Some people have a genetic variation that makes them unable to process folic acid. They need folate instead. Folate is the natural form, and folic acid is apparently synthesised. Maybe you're one of these people? To find out for sure, you'd have to get tested e.g. by spitting into a test tube and sending it off to 23andme.com or there may be some doctors here in the UK who know about this sort of thing. But it's not very well known, so I don't imagine the average GP is well versed in it. The cheaper alternative would be just to switch your supplement to folate rather than folic acid. If you feel better with that, that's probably your answer. Disclaimer: am not a doctor or a scientist or anything like that, and have only the sketchiest info on this. So please do your own research. The specific gene involved is the MTHFR gene and you could start here: mthfr.net or, for example, search 'folic acid vs folate' or 'mthfr folate' or 'mthfr folic acid' etc

[PussInCoutts]

That's brilliant advice user . But also the MoTHerFuckeR gene made me lol

[user1485201252]

Yeah, me too. It's irresistible!