NTD - Acrania

[Bluebell500]

I recently had my 13 week scan and found out the baby had a birth defect - Acrania. I was advised that the baby would not survive and had a termination.
I am now taking a higher dose of folic acid and would like to start trying for another baby soon although I am petrified it will happen again.

Does anyone have any similar stories?

I'm so sorry for your loss.

There's research to suggest that 3 months of 5mg/day of folic acid pre-conception and then continuing at this dose for 2 months of the pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of any reoccurrence, so it might be worth asking your doctor if they could prescribe this?

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your loss. I, too had to terminate my pregnancy at 13 weeks due to acrania three years ago. I was absolutely devastated. I did lots of reading of threads on here and the internet to see what could be done.

There are some studies that show taking inositol could help prevent a reoccurrence. I can’t post links but google NTD, inositol, and GOSH and an article will come up. I found it reassuring and gave it ago. (Obviously I am not doctor) I took this alongside the high dose of folic acid too. There’s some useful threads on here about it too.

I took it for a while before starting my third round of IVF, I’m pleased to say I’m currently cuddling my 6 month daughter. Whether the combination of the folic acid and inositol helped I will not know for certain. It helped me know I was trying something

Take care and best of luck

Suz

Hi Suz,

Thanks so much for that info.

Its so reassuring to hear you have a beautiful healthy baby after going through this!

Were you prescribed inositol or did you buy it?

I am taking the pregnacare conception tablets as well as 5mg folic acid, but worried this isn't enough.

x

Hi,

Happy to help, I was nervous being pregnant again and I never really relaxed.

I bought it online from justvitamins but know you can get it from other vitamin places too. Not sure if doctors would have supported it as there’s not much research yet. Think it’s recommended for PCOS too.. Can’t say for certain if it helped but it gave me peace of mind that I was giving it a go. I had my best round number wise of IVF whilst taking this. I got 11 embryos at nearly 40 and I wonder if inositol helped with that too. I usually only got 3 in previous rounds so was amazed the difference considering my age. Everything else was the same just this new supplement.

Take care, happy to help just let me know

Suz
Xx