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Original poster

To stop taking folic acid when TTC ?

60 replies

parentinghelp1 · 09/10/2021 21:08

TTC is becoming a bit of a sour part of my life.

I just want it to go away. People say stop focusing on it but I'm finish taking daily folic acid is a constant reminder.

Part of me does want to continue having unprotected sexual but forget about TTC but having to take folic acid every day is making it impossible. It's the one thing that reminds me every morning of what I'm trying to do.

Would it be bad to stop taking it and get on with my life, if I fall pregnant start taking it from then?

OP posts:
dmudbur · 09/10/2021 21:13

I would say that's absolutely fine to do.

HippeePrincess · 09/10/2021 21:14

I wouldn’t, can’t you just find a women’s health vitamin which contains it

Shelddd · 09/10/2021 21:15

It's your life, do what's best for you. I don't know the numbers but I bet less than 20% maybe even less than 10% of children are conceived while their mother is taking folic acid. It's a recommendation and a good one but not everyone follows it and like half of children are not planned.

Bizawit · 09/10/2021 21:15

Totally fine to stop and then restart if you do get pregnant xx

Yummymummy2020 · 09/10/2021 21:16

Or use the enriched milk? I think a glass normally has half the requirement so could drink extra or get it in other enriched food even?

Pantaloony · 09/10/2021 21:16

I did exactly that, bought pregnacare in preparation for TTC but by the second year gave up as it was so expensive. Fell pregnant miraculously in the third year and started taking folic acid then. It’s added in things like breakfast cereals and bread so you will be getting some of it in your diet anyway. I fell pregnant after giving up entirely TTC (we only DTD once the month I fell pregnant) and had planned to hand in my notice and move abroad! Good luck 💕

AdriannaP · 09/10/2021 21:17

Seriously don’t. Read about why the government is considering adding folic acid to flour.
I think you are kidding yourself if you think folic acid js the enemy here. I get it - I tried to conceive DC2 for over 3 years and it was a painful and stressful journey that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. But don’t risk your future child’s health, focus on something else and just think of folic acid as a vitamin. All the best

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 09/10/2021 21:18

Literally fine. Most women arent even taking it when they fall pregnant and vitamins have a cumulative effect. If youve taken it for a long time up to now youll be fine

gogohm · 09/10/2021 21:18

Take a normal multi vitamin supplement that contains it, i take one for women, contain folic acid (I'm definitely not ttc)

Oneborneverydecade · 09/10/2021 21:19

I wouldn't risk but then I had to terminate a pregnancy at around 13 weeks due to anencephaly. Like you we had been trying but it was taking a while and I was taking folic acid sporadically.

Sarah2384 · 09/10/2021 21:19

Plenty of people who aren't trying to conceive take a multi vitamin every day (including me). If you buy some kind of A-Z complete vitamin / mineral supplement it will have folic acid in it. You don't need a special pregnancy one

HeyFloof · 09/10/2021 21:20

No, keep taking folic acid. It needs to build up in your system. Just take a multivitamin that contains it or if your BMI is 30 or higher then you need 5mg a day

It prevents neural tube defects and from experience, you do not want that experience.

Oneborneverydecade · 09/10/2021 21:21

@LivingLaVidaBabyShower

Literally fine. Most women arent even taking it when they fall pregnant and vitamins have a cumulative effect. If youve taken it for a long time up to now youll be fine
I'm no expert but I'm fairly sure this isn't true of all vitamins and minerals
pizzaobsessed · 09/10/2021 21:29

We've been TTC for 9 months and I sacked off the folic acid around the 5 month mark, around the time I started to get really disenchanted by the whole TTC thing. If it eventually happens for us, I'll start taking it but for now, I can't deal with the daily reminder

CharlotteRose90 · 09/10/2021 21:33

If you don’t wanna take it then don’t. Im not ttc and I’ve taken folic acid for 4 years now. If that’s the biggest of your worries then stop taking it.

Learnthroughplay3 · 09/10/2021 21:38

Not everyone can absorb Folic acid, this is the cause for lots of miscarriages the bio available form of folic acid is L methylfolate, everyone can absorb this form I know its not what you asked but might help some people

buckingmad · 09/10/2021 21:41

I only started taking it when I fell pregnant. I didn’t know you were supposed to take it whilst TTC until after.

BlanketPiggy · 09/10/2021 21:41

Can you get a multivitamin with it in?

Patriciathestripper1 · 09/10/2021 21:45

I doubt half the mums on here took it before conceiving… I know I didn’t. Do what is best for you, and anything that takes away the stress will only do you good x best of luck x x

HeyFloof · 09/10/2021 21:45

@Learnthroughplay3

Not everyone can absorb Folic acid, this is the cause for lots of miscarriages the bio available form of folic acid is L methylfolate, everyone can absorb this form I know its not what you asked but might help some people
This also bears repeating.

I lost my baby at 21+4 with spina bifida, and I was taking folic acid. I was the unlucky one but I can guarantee that if it happened to you then you would blame yourself forever. I do.

For the sake of not taking a pill, the devastation isn't worth the risk.

The neural tube closes at 28 days post conception, you need to have enough folic acid built up in your system to prevent NTDs.

samwitwicky · 09/10/2021 21:46

Would taking it before you sleep make any difference?

skodadoda · 09/10/2021 21:49

Just eat a decent diet.

Ohpulltheotherone · 09/10/2021 22:05

agreeing with a lot of other PPs and recommend taking daily multi vitamin which includes it, not specifically for ttc.
Reframe this in your mind OP - youre taking a multivitamin because it is good for your health.
You don’t have to associate it with ttc. Lots of people take them who aren’t and have no plans to ttc.
It’s really hard, I’ve been there like lots of other women. Protecting your mental health is paramount.
Ditching the folic acid and switching to a decent multi vitamin seems like a good compromise

October2020 · 09/10/2021 22:08

The folic acid isn't the issue here. Infertility is. It's brutal. Sending you lots of supportive hugs. x

ThirdElephant · 09/10/2021 22:11

Folic acid is needed most in the first six weeks of pregnancy. By the time you cotton on that you're pregnant, you've already passed most of the window you need it the most for.