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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

I have been taking folic acid that was out of date!!!!

14 replies

eastendgirl · 08/01/2007 20:47

By 6 months! I am so angry with myself for not checking the stupid date. We were going to try for a baby tonight, should I postpone? I am so pissed off with myself, and I am ovulating!

OP posts:

Nettee · 08/01/2007 20:52

I would suggest go for it and buy some in date folic acid tomorrow

Good luck

lizziemun · 08/01/2007 20:55

I would go a head and just get some more tomorrow, i wouldn't waste this chance i'm sure one day won't matter.

fishie · 08/01/2007 20:57

i hope you are eating vegetables and not relying on the pills?! you should be fine.

Original poster

eastendgirl · 08/01/2007 21:02

I have a very good diet, no worries there. Dh thinks it does not matter either. I always panick without thinking things through first.

OP posts:

Fingerscrossed2007 · 09/01/2007 13:27

Go get some from boots ( 3 for two offer on at moment). 6 months out of date isn't a complete disaster, there is always a decent safety margin on medication, particually if you have been keeping it ina cool dry space. You just can't gurantee what levels will have been taking.

Fishie is right about making sure that you have a good balanced diet but the folic acid acid levels you need to prevent spinal cord defects can only be guaranteed with a 400mg supplement.

Fingerscrossed2007 · 09/01/2007 13:29

Despite what I said - Don't postpone and have fun tonight/later.

fortyplus · 09/01/2007 13:32

It's probably still fine - the dates are so long anyway. For Folic Acid a 'use by' date will just be a date until which the content is guaranteed - at worst you've just been taking a bit less than you meant to.
Folic Acid is added to bread these days and is also contained in green leafy veg - so if you've been eating plenty of those you've nothing to worry about.

eastendgirl · 09/01/2007 20:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

greedyforbabies · 09/01/2007 21:51

oh my god! dont worry at all! think how many people dont take folic acid and have perfectly healthy babies!
i am sure it would have been fine anyway, like someone else said...it is only a best before date, not a use by date.....there is a big difference, its not like it will go off or anything.
enjoy your BDing!

Spidermama · 09/01/2007 21:53

I've never taken folic acid until I discovered I was pregnant and have had four healthy babies.

Believe me the odds are stacked hugely in your favour.

Good luck.

fortyplus · 10/01/2007 08:21

If you're the kind of person who makes your own bread then you definitely have nothing to worry about! Folic Acid is recommended for everyone - only because you can't go round saying 'Right - if you're too thick to eat a balanced diet when you're pregnant then you need some of this!'

janinlondon · 10/01/2007 08:37

At the risk of repeating myself, (which I know I do frequently)a normal healthy diet is not enough. To get sufficient folic acid to have a preventive effect against spina bifida a woman planning a pregnancy would have to actually add approximately ten servings of broccoli or five servings of spinach to her NORMAL diet EACH DAY. Also the bioavailability of folate in food is approximately half that in folic acid supplements, and folate is unstable if cooked - so you would be best to eat your ten servings of broccoli raw. The neural tube is pretty much fully formed by the time you miss your first period so you do need to take it before you know you are pregnant, but even if you conceive tonight, the embryo will not implant for another five-ten days so if you can get some in date FA today you're fine. The odds are, as pointed out below, in your favour, but one in 500 pregnancies will be affected by spina bifida in the UK. Sorry. Galloping off my high horse and into the distance now.

Fingerscrossed2007 · 10/01/2007 11:49

Although Jans point is quite stark she is abolutely right throughout her posting. Folic acid supplements are an essential and not something "for the thick".

Personally I think the important thing in for you to remember EastEnd is that you were doing absolutely the right thing taking the suppplments to get you baby of to the best possible start. It is a best before date not a use by date - so it is unlikely that you would see any significant reduction in the potency of the
And to keep at it whilst yout in your in your fertile time. Hugs.

fortyplus · 11/01/2007 22:12

Yes - I'm sure your right... the advice was given to me by my GP some years ago so it's probably changed by now. ds1 is 13 and when I was pg with him taking Folic Acid supplements was a very new idea and only recommended for those on poor diets. By the time I had ds2 (now 11.5) it was recommended for everyone for 12 weeks prior to conception.
But I think we're all a bit paranoid about these things - it's rather like the thread about cats - throw your cat out on the street as soon as you're pg - I think not!
I remember reading that the incidence of birth defects rises exponentially the lower the socio-economic status of the mother. So although well fed non-smoking mothers do give birth to children with problems, the very fact that you care enough to be following all these pieces of advice indicates that the odds are stacked in your favour. Good luck

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