Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Original poster
parentinghelp1 · 09/10/2021 22:14

Thanks all, and sorry for those also have had losses (I've had two now so can empathise how it feels) and also to those dealing with infertility.

I have just had enough of TTC. It's horrible. It's making me not want to embark on this journey to be honest it seems troublesome.

Why out myself through this bullshit?

When I'm actually quite happy with my life as it is. I feel like it's society trying to tell me otherwise.

OP posts:
HeyFloof · 09/10/2021 22:21

@parentinghelp1

Thanks all, and sorry for those also have had losses (I've had two now so can empathise how it feels) and also to those dealing with infertility.

I have just had enough of TTC. It's horrible. It's making me not want to embark on this journey to be honest it seems troublesome.

Why out myself through this bullshit?

When I'm actually quite happy with my life as it is. I feel like it's society trying to tell me otherwise.

It is utterly, utterly shit. I'm 2 years in "officially ttc" with 12 months "not trying, not preventing before that. 3 losses in that last 12 months. It's exhausting, we're at the point where if it doesn't work out this time, then it doesn't work out. We've both had enough of the hope/hurt cycle. Flowers
NaturalStudy · 09/10/2021 22:39

My DC's consultant said he recommended all women of childbearing age take just in case they get pregnant, thats how important it is. I understand how shit it is, but please continue if you can.

INeedNewShoes · 09/10/2021 22:40

I think you could stop taking it as long as you have a reasonably varied diet that will mean you're eating it anyway (leafy greens, some pulses, fortified cereals etc.) and then restart it as a supplement if you get a BFP.

Also to echo a poster above, a certain % of women can't metabolize folate in 'folic acid' form so I would buy a supplement of methylated folate rather than synthetic folic acid when you do want to take it.

Peanutsandchilli · 09/10/2021 22:42

Just be careful if you choose to take a general multivitamin as you'll need to find one that doesn't contain vitamin A. The likelihood is that it'll have to be a pregnancy related one, and I don't think that'll help you from a psychological point of view.

The reality is that many, many women become pregnant without taking any folic acid, and their babies are fine. It's a small risk to take, but a risk nonetheless.

You have to weigh up whether it's worth it or not.

PurpleDaisies · 09/10/2021 22:45

Please don’t stop taking it unless you also start taking contraception. You really don’t want to fall pregnant then have to deal with the consequences of a serious neural tube problem for the baby.

I totally understand why you’re thinking of doing it but you’d be better using condoms for a while instead to give yourself a mental break. It’s hard. Flowers

PurpleDaisies · 09/10/2021 22:46

The reality is that many, many women become pregnant without taking any folic acid, and their babies are fine. It's a small risk to take, but a risk nonetheless.

The problem is, if that risk doesn’t pay off, the consequences can be absolutely awful. It’s not just the size of the risk, it’s how bad it is if things go wrong.

LorenzoVonMatterhorn · 09/10/2021 22:50

With a toddler with spinal bifida in the family, and knowing what the future for that child looks like, id say you need to get over yourself and take it.

And i know thats harsh. But it is absolutely necessary.

Mymapuddlington · 09/10/2021 22:51

Stop taking it, it’s making you unhappy so stop.
I know it’s easier said than done but try to move on with your life and if it happens it happens.

Also, I was diagnosed with pcos, ovarian failure, hormonal issues. Didn’t ovulate for 18 months, need meds to bring a period on which still were really irregular, was told I’d never conceive. My son was little at the time and the fact I had him helped but it was hard to hear where I was only 27.

I’m now pregnant, one off time, completely unexpected. My son will be 12 when baby is born. Sometimes it happens whether you try or not and if it’s something you want I hope it happens for you. Flowers

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 09/10/2021 22:57

I think it would be very hard to live with yourself if you knowingly stopped taking it and had problems in a pregnancy. I agree with a pp that perhaps using condoms for a bit is a better way of having a break.

PurpleDaisies · 09/10/2021 23:00

Stop taking it, it’s making you unhappy so stop.
I know it’s easier said than done but try to move on with your life and if it happens it happens.

How happy do you think the op would be if she finds out she’s pregnant with a baby with a serious condition she could have most likely prevented?

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 09/10/2021 23:05

Just take a multivitamin instead? If not you should be able to get enough from food if not.....things like cereal and flour (in bread) are fortified with it in this country due to the fact that so many pregnancies are unplanned.

Big why not just take it anyway, then you know you are getting enough. And if you don't take it is it really going to change the fact that you are trying but not trying?

CurbsideProphet · 09/10/2021 23:10

TTC without success and with losses is awful. I'm there. It's brutal. 2 miscarriages (1 IVF) and we're still not where we desperately want to be. I have to take folic acid because of medication. The risk is too great for me. I mean this gently, but folic acid isn't the enemy. I'm also very resentful of my vitamins, but try to remember that they're good for my body even without pregnancy.

As an aside, I'm paying £118 next week to have the blood screening for recurrent miscarriage (the NHS will only offer it if I lose another pregnancy and wait months to have it done in the recurrent miscarriage clinic). This feels like the most productive action in this whole hideous nightmare.

💐💕 for you.

HeyFloof · 09/10/2021 23:10

@PurpleDaisies

*Stop taking it, it’s making you unhappy so stop. I know it’s easier said than done but try to move on with your life and if it happens it happens.*

How happy do you think the op would be if she finds out she’s pregnant with a baby with a serious condition she could have most likely prevented?

Echoing this. I have been through it. It is horrific. And I was taking folic acid. It really, really isn't worth the risk.
Mymapuddlington · 09/10/2021 23:10

@PurpleDaisies most people do a test the day they miss their period so taking folic acid when baby is only a couple of weeks after being conceived will be fine.

PurpleDaisies · 09/10/2021 23:13

So sorry for all that you went through @HeyFloof Flowers

HeyFloof · 09/10/2021 23:13

[quote Mymapuddlington]@PurpleDaisies most people do a test the day they miss their period so taking folic acid when baby is only a couple of weeks after being conceived will be fine.[/quote]
By that point it's too late. The neural tube closes at about 28 days post conception, so approximately 6 weeks, if you haven't got adequate levels of folic acid already built up in your system, your chances of having a baby affected by a neural tube defect increases. And that's without potential genetic factors and BMI.

HeyFloof · 09/10/2021 23:15

@PurpleDaisies

So sorry for all that you went through *@HeyFloof* Flowers
Thank you @purpledaisies. Flowers

I feel like the folic acid grim reaper on these types of threads but I honestly don't think people get how important it is.

PurpleDaisies · 09/10/2021 23:18

[quote Mymapuddlington]@PurpleDaisies most people do a test the day they miss their period so taking folic acid when baby is only a couple of weeks after being conceived will be fine.[/quote]
So why does the nhs bother to tell women who want to conceive to take it then? For shits and giggles? You cannot possibly know it will be fine to start taking it later. This is dangerous and irresponsible advice.

PurpleDaisies · 09/10/2021 23:22

I feel like the folic acid grim reaper on these types of threads but I honestly don't think people get how important it is.

Same. It would be lovely to say “yes, don’t worry it will all be fine” but the consequences could be absolutely devastating. It’s one thing having an unexpected pregnancy with neural tube problems. If you had deliberately decided to not take folic acid then had complications, how do you deal with that?

BlanketPiggy · 09/10/2021 23:22

[quote Mymapuddlington]@PurpleDaisies most people do a test the day they miss their period so taking folic acid when baby is only a couple of weeks after being conceived will be fine.[/quote]
It's those first few weeks before people even know they're pregnant that can make the difference. I totally get where OP is coming from. Having to take it everyday is yet another reminder. But it's so important. Maybe if you take a break from TCC like PP suggested but still take it, maybe with vitamin D, something pregnancy safe, it will break the link in your head a bit?

Tomnooktoldmeto · 09/10/2021 23:29

@HeyFloof I applaud you for telling your story, people just do not realise until it happens

I’m a bit of a grim reaper about folic acid, I’m one of the people who can’t absorb it adequately as I carry an altered copy of MTHFR gene

The resultant non absorption of folic acid and B12 put me in a wheelchair until the problem was discovered as part of a coeliac diagnosis

I take methyl folate daily now as part of an B vitamin supplement, you just don’t know if you have a problem so far better to take it in the bio available form

lovescaca · 09/10/2021 23:39

Folic acid isn't only good when ttc, it's good for hair and nails 😉 x

PinkDaffodil2 · 09/10/2021 23:46

I would certainly keep taking it, even if you re-frame it in your mind. There is of course the small but catastrophic risk of a diagnosed NTD, but also if you have a miscarriage you don’t want to always be wondering if it was linked.

Bizawit · 09/10/2021 23:56

OP ignore all the judgemental scaremongering comments. Ttc is so so hard. Women all over the world have babies without taking folic acid pills. I never took folic acid while I was ttc. You Do what you need to do to get through these hard times and block out the noise. Look after your mental health- it’s important too. Just eat a healthy diet as that will help you feel better in lots of ways, and be protective for the feotus if you do get pregnant xxx

Swipe left for the next trending thread