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Conception

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Original poster

Do folic acid tablets work?

16 replies

Emmielu · 01/04/2012 15:42

One of my friends has been TTC for 3 years with her OH. Shes decided to start taking folic acid tablets, She came off the pill 4 years ago & it has definately worn off now as her body was back to normal within a year. However, her OH drinks a lot & occassionally does drugs. Both know this could be the only problem they cant concieve but he wont go to the doctors about it. Shes been & shes in the clear of any problems. Will folic acid tablets help?

OP posts:
supernannyisace · 01/04/2012 15:45

??

Aren't folic acid tablets only useful for helping to prevent spinal defects in the foetus? To be taken before conception and for the first three months of pregnancy.

I haven't heard of them being used to assist in conception?

Although there are some tablets that folk reckon can aid fertility. If the OH cuts down onthe drinking that could make a difference.

IAmBooyhoo · 01/04/2012 15:46

will it help what?

Lulumama · 01/04/2012 15:47

you should take folic acid when ttc and for the first trimester as they do a great job of preventing neural tube defects

i don't believe they help conceive

after 3 years, she could ask for a referral to a specialist. but her oh needs to get involved

laying off the drink and drugs would be a huge help

IAmBooyhoo · 01/04/2012 15:49

actually i think better advice would be stop trying to conceive with a man who clearly doesn't give a shite.

RobinSparkles · 01/04/2012 15:50

Folic acid doesn't help conceive, it helps to reduce the chance of the baby having a neural tube defect such as Spinabifida.

BikeRunSki · 01/04/2012 15:53

What lulu said. Folic acid is not for helping conception, but for developing healthy neural tubes in a very young embryo.

RobinSparkles · 01/04/2012 15:53

I think that alcohol affects sperm motility and the drugs won't help! TBH, the best advice you could give to her is to try to get her H off the booze and drugs and THEN ttc. It doesn't sound like the ideal environment for a child if he is doing drugs!

Original poster
Emmielu · 01/04/2012 18:06

She knows what i think of him & the fact they're ttc. I wasnt sure of folic acid tablets as i havent had to take them when pg with DD.

OP posts:
IAmBooyhoo · 01/04/2012 18:28

folic acid is recommended to be taken by all pg women up to the 12 week stage. it wouldn't have been a case of 'needing' to take them. they dont reverse a condition already in existence. they are a preventative measure.

champagnesupernova · 01/04/2012 18:40

why havent you had to take htem when preg? They are for everyone?

Original poster
Emmielu · 01/04/2012 19:07

i dont know, i didnt know about them till much later in the pregnancy. No one had mentioned them to me cause i was in good health, was eating well etc so i guess they didnt think i needed to because i could get it from other foods.

OP posts:
stressheaderic · 01/04/2012 19:14

Our doctor gives you a prescription for some when you let him know you are pregnant. They have been proven to reduce neural tube defects.

Original poster
Emmielu · 01/04/2012 19:20

is it optional to take them? DD is healthy & has no problems but now im starting to wonder if its important to take them or if its ok to eat foods with folic in them?

OP posts:
IAmBooyhoo · 01/04/2012 19:28

of course it's optional. no-one can make you take something just because you are pregnant. it's your choice. if you were eating alot of foods rich in folic acid then you were probably doing the job the tablets would do anyway.

RobinSparkles · 01/04/2012 19:33

The doctors recommend that you take them, I guess that you don't have to if you don't want to but it is strongly recommended. When you know the benefits then why would you not? It is unlikely that a baby will have a neural tube defect but some are very debilitating and some are incompatible with life so taking a tablet every day doesn't hurt and it's worth it to think that you can prevent it.

If you weren't informed about it there's not much you can do but you DD is healthy so no harm done :). You may well get a lot of folic acid from your diet anyway.

I used to forget to take it sometimes with DD2.

mummytime · 01/04/2012 19:53

I would recommend you do take them if you have another baby. It's just worth it to prevent such a sad disability, one of teacher's had a son with Spina Bifida and he was such a lovely boy, it was sad. It just isn't worth not doing what you can to prevent it. Especially as in the first few months it can be hard to get good nutrition with morning sickness.

As to your friend, I'm afraid her partner doesn't seem to take this seriously, and that is probably the centre of her problem.

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