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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not take folic acid during first 12 weeks pregnancy

70 replies

Louise8888 · 11/07/2018 18:49

Just found out that I’m pregnant and according to clear blue I’m 3+ weeks since conceiving which would be classed as 5+ weeks by a doctor.

I haven’t been taking folic acid; should I be worried? I’ve also got drunk on a handful of occasions, been to theme parks and smoked a few cigarettes! Obviously I wouldn’t have done any of this had I know I was pregnant. We’ve not been TTC and I only took a test to rule out why I’d been sick a few days this week.

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 11/07/2018 19:13

So many panic pants on here...you haven't mentioned your diet, so maybe you eat plenty of folic acid anyway.

Obviously start taking it now you know....theme parks won't have done any harm!

Original poster
Louise8888 · 11/07/2018 19:17

The test said 3+ weeks (it doesn’t give a longer duration than that) I don’t have regular periods and my last one was in April so could have conceived any time since then.

OP posts:
BolleauxtoBankers · 11/07/2018 19:18

Congratulations! Don't worry, as someone said above, billions of women have done the same as you and have had healthy pregnancies and babies as a result! I have a gorgeous daughter who I found out about when I went to a doctor about feeling rubbish for months and had been out the night before and had a hangover - the doc gave me arnica and said might you be pregnant. I said no, of course not, but then realised I might be, all good, and the baby's a scatter-brained 23 year old graduate now!

Ellisandra · 11/07/2018 19:19

Why on earth do you say that 5 weeks is near the end of 12? Confused
Google “folic acid pregnancy” and the first hit is NHS telling you to start taking it as soon as you find out.

Amanduh · 11/07/2018 19:20

I found out at 17 weeks. Had been drinking every weekend. No folic acid. Theme parks, school trips, trampolining! Just take it noe you know :)

ginandnappies · 11/07/2018 19:20

I found out at 4 weeks. I was absolutely steaming drunk every weekend up till then, smoked a few times and wasn't taking FA. I felt awful but started taking it and now I have a strapping, lively 1 year old so don't worry :)

MagicFajita · 11/07/2018 19:21

Congratulations op. As pps have said, just take it daily from now on.

Takfujimoto · 11/07/2018 19:21

DC3 was a surprise and discovered at 6 weeks, straight away went on folic acid but DC3 still ended up with a tethered cord and malformation of the spine/vertebrae.

Please take your folic acid every day from now on, women should ideally take it before conceiving if possible to decrease the risk of Neural Tube defects, this does happen everyday to babies and a lot of the consequences are life long for all the family not just the child affected.

Soubriquet · 11/07/2018 19:21

My sister didn't find out she was pregnant until she was 4 months.

She had had the implant put in, but wasn't offered a pregnancy test before the implant.

So when she starting getting symptoms, she blamed the implant.

This meant my niece missed out of the first 12 weeks of FA. She started taking it as soon as she found out, and niece had been born healthy.

Some foods are fortified with folic acid now days anyway. Especially things like bread and cereals

Soubriquet · 11/07/2018 19:23

She was also a big drinker, smoker and had visited Thorpe park and Alton towers during that 4 months too

twiglet · 11/07/2018 19:25

@ellisandra The Op didn't say that she simply stated what the clear blue test instructions says which is if it says 3+ weeks a Dr will say your 5+ weeks and the test doesn't go past 3 weeks.

Call your gp/midwife team to explain and see if they can get you an appointment.
Typically sickness starts around 6-8 weeks unless you have HP so you maybe between the two if it's just started this week. I'm also jealous that you've had no symptoms I'm also first trimester and have felt like crap for over a month now!

keyboardkate · 11/07/2018 19:26

Men should have to give up alcohol and smoking (if they do smoke) during a pregnancy of their partners/wives.And take supplements, and all the rest of it. Being lighthearted here (to an extent!)

Can you ever see that happening? I know it is not necessary for them, but women get all the flak don't they. I do realise it is for the good of their unborn child, soon to be born.

OP don't worry, this has happened since the dawn of time. There is a lot of pressure on mums to be absolutely perfect in every way.

TaleasoldasTimee · 11/07/2018 19:30

I never took folic acid. DD and I were both fine Grin Don't worry.

Loonoon · 11/07/2018 19:31

Millions, if not billions of women all over the world, for many thousands of years have raised healthy, strong children without having even heard of folic acid. Start it now if you want to and try not to worry.

Biologifemini · 11/07/2018 19:33

If you eat healthily enough you should be ok.
The first 12 weeks are critical.
Getting drunk isn’t great as alcohol is toxic to the feotus.

Clairetree1 · 11/07/2018 19:34

Millions, if not billions of women all over the world, for many thousands of years have raised healthy, strong children without having even heard of folic acid.

nobody has ever in the history of the world given birth to a healthy baby without folic acid.

We just get it in a different form these days, as it is too low in our day to day modern diets

Etymology23 · 11/07/2018 19:35

Millions have, but it reduces the chances of spinal cord deformities so you’d be pretty silly not to take it once you knew! No point worrying in retrospect as the chances are still extremely low, but I would definitely start taking it now.

Crunchymum · 11/07/2018 19:35

I think you need to book yourself a private dating scan

Crunchymum · 11/07/2018 19:35

Oh and congrats too.

QuantumPixies · 11/07/2018 19:35

So many panic pants on here...you haven't mentioned your diet, so maybe you eat plenty of folic acid anyway.

It’s very hard to get enough folic acid from dietary sources. That’s why supplements are so important during early pregnancy.

honeyishrunkthekid · 11/07/2018 19:37

I was too sick to take folic acid. Don't worry.
I also smoked and drank before I found out. It happens. Just make the right choices from now :)

BitchQueen90 · 11/07/2018 19:41

Don't worry, my DS was unplanned and I fell pregnant just after my 22nd birthday - at that age I wasn't taking care of myself at all, crap diet and loads of alcohol. I did start taking folic acid upon realising I was pregnant (about 5 weeks along) and I have a healthy 5 year old.

FASH84 · 11/07/2018 19:44

Happened to me too OP midwife just said start straight away and don't worry about the drinking (I'd been to two birthday bashes and had a fair few 🙈) , I think it's pretty common! I get the Asda dual pregnancy vitamins they have the exact same ingredients as pregnacare in the same doses but much cheaper and often in three for two. Congrats!

CharlieCoCo · 11/07/2018 19:47

My friend found out she was 39 weeks pregnant. We had been drinking a lot the week before and she’s been on roller coasters, not taken folic acid and doing everything else none pregnant people do. Whilst I’m not recommending it, her baby was perfectly fine so no need to panic and assume the worst.

speakout · 11/07/2018 20:08

If you have a good diet you don't have too much to worry about.
I was 14 weeks pregnant before I found out- so no folic acid.
But I have a healthy diet- with a particular love of cabbage, sprouts, in fact all fruit and veg.
So I wasn't too worried.