AIBU to not take folic acid during first 12 weeks pregnancy

[Louise8888]

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.

Our diets have changed massively from 20-30 years ago that is why the advise is to take multivitamins-- folic acid in the 1st 12 weeks. So unless you are absolutely sure your diet is top notch just take the tablets instead of risking neural tube defects.

Our diets have changed massively from 20-30 years ago t

Have they?

No. I think the awareness is just better. I don't think everyone had so much folic acid they didnt need more thirty years ago

It’s all very well people saying “don’t worry, it’ll be fine, I was”, but there’s really good evidence that diets which aren’t high enough in folic acid to meet the pregnancy requirement (as most peoples are) significantly increase the risk of neural tube defects like spinal bifida.

Op I hope you’ll be ok, most people are but I don’t like the way that many posters are minimising the importance of taking folic acid on this thread.

If you can afford it definitely get a dating scan.

Do note that if you are obese the recommended dosage is 5mg rather than 400mcg. Doctors can prescribe or you can take 12/13 normal ones in they interim - they are tiny tablets so not as bad as it seems.

I am surprised everyone is worried about the folic acid.....but the drinking is fine?
Effects of drinking aren’t obvious in a baby anyway, unless the drinking is extreme.
It is when the child reaches school age these things may start to become apparent.

It wasn't taken in the 70s because the connection wasn't known.
Until then, some people didn't get to take a live baby home. Like my aunt and uncle, who lost two newborns to spina bifida in the 70s. We forget how lucky we are.
(Obviously OP is aware of the importance, it's other posters coming out with the 1970s rubbish)

Don't worry, just start taking it now. Some foods such as bread, cereal are fortified with folic acid for exactly this reason (though this is not mandatory in the UK) - as many as 50% of pregnancies are unplanned. Alcohol won't have done any harm either. No point looking back any way! Congratulations!!

There are some dramatic people on here! I found out at 6 weeks and was worried as I’d been drinking on holiday and wasn’t taking folic acid. The doctor reassured me that it was fine. The umbilical cord attaches around week 7 and that’s when what you eat/drink really affects the baby. Obv start now, but don’t panic!

I think I stopped taking the folic acid at around 7 or 8 weeks as I couldn't keep it down. Or much else.

All any of us can do is the best we can - now you know you're pregnant just start taking it.

I did find it made me pretty nauseous at first. Then I realised that I was taking it with breakfast just by habit because that is when I’d always taken vitamin pills pre pregnancy and that was peak sickness time for me. I started taking with dinner and found it much easier. Appreciate some people are sick around the clock of course.

You're supposed to take it before bed as you absorb it more efficiently without eating food with it.

I really am quite disappointed and surprised that a lot of people are so flippant about the importance of folic acid.
People who didn't take it and had healthy babies are lucky, just really bloody lucky, which I'm glad for btw, but honestly you were very fortunate.

Ignorance is bliss they say.

Your pregnancy is 5 weeks but baby is 3 weeks because of how it’s taken from LMP. Now is perfect time to start taking it.

If you can afford it definitely get a dating scan

Your doctor should refer you to the early pregnancy unit for a dating scan as you don't know when you got pregnant. You shouldn't have to be paying for it.

@Takfujimoto I took it for as long as I could, then I couldn't take it without being instantly sick. And to be honest a number of things made me instantly sick, it wasn't just the folic acid. Water was particularly bad.

Just thought I’d come back with a quick update...

I’m now 22 weeks pregnant and everything looked well on the 20 week scan. I’ve been taking folic acid/vitamins since finding out I was pregnant and will continue to do so.

I was 13 weeks with my daughter when I found out.. she’s mostly made up of contraceptive pills, alcohol, nicotine & marijuana.

She’s 3 now and perfect!

Obviously not recommending this lifestyle when you actually know you are pregnant but I’m done beating myself up about it!

Oh just seen it’s an old post! Glad all is well!

Hi how accurate are 12 week dating scan??

@Soph167, you might be better on the pregnancy board.

The dating scans are accurate in terms of a 40 week pregnancy. But any pregnancy can naturally be two weeks either way. For some women 38 or 42, pregnancies are their norm.