Probably a stupid qu. and as I already have a DD I should really know. But.....

[HelloBear]

At what point do you need to start taking those horrendous getting pregnant/pregnant vitamin tablets things?

We are going to start ttc in June (if I can last out that long [broodyemotion]) and really can not remember when I started to take them last time. Not that I was any bloody good at remembering to take them :) Though my DD does not seem to be any worse for it!

Thanks

Do you mean folic acid?? Didn't take them at all until I found out I was pregnant??

Current recommendations are, i believe, to take folic acid for 3 months prior to TTC.

Up to you whether you take a multi-vit or a special conception vit.

Take them as soon as you start ttc.

When you start trying to conceive.

Cheers, will not waist my money on them this early on then:)

3 months before you start to ttc is the current advice I think.

I've never seen the 3m recommendation accompanied by a "proper" medical explanation for it. None of the vitamins in pregnancy vitamins build up in the body (only vit A does, which is why it isnt in preg vitamins) so as long as you take it once you are TTC it should be fine. If you start taking it 3m before you're probably just giving yourself very expensive wee...

If your eating a healthy diet prob not much point but they won't do you any harm to take them now just in case you get the urge before June

You can get cheap folic acid in Asda which does the job - repeats the 3m guidelines on the side. I agree, I'm not sure of the medical explanation for that time frame. I would imagine taking them from the first day of your cycle when you plan to start TTC would cover you/the embryo for the weeks before you know you're pregnant. I would imagine dependant on your age/family history of spina bifida, you might want to take them earlier...

I say this as someone who was at least 5wks preg when I started taking them with DD and she's fine. Now been on the old FA for 3mths today whilst TTC #2!!!

The 3 months prior is a safety net to ensure that as soon as conception takes place you are up to full quota on your FA and are therefore as fully protected as you're ever going to be. It also allows you to get into the habit of taking a pill everyday.