FOLIC ACID

[Blondeshavemorefun]

when do you start taking it,as you are ttc and possiblt take the pills for a year if you cant conceive or take as soon as you know you are pregnant, so really from about 4weeks into pregnacy?

you hear of people having mc at 7/8 weeks and after 3rd mc to my friend it was according to their doctor after tests, that her body didint have enough folic acid and as 7/8 weeks it when spine of baby is being developed, thats why she lost her babies

I started taking folic acid only once BFP came along but know people who start while TTC.

it is a generally recomended to take while trying to conceive
can't comment on the reasons given for miscarriage but there are so many reasons.

Folic acid is meant to prevent agaist spinal cord defects such as spinabifida, anencephaly,If a defect was severe it could lead to miscarriage but i would suggest that the all/most miscarriages do not have anything to do with folic acid. I took folic acid 2 weeks after I conceived but got pregnant first time of trying so was a bit surprised. Think advice is when you stop using contraception you should start using folic acid.

thats what i thought sfxmum

i stop popping one pill and take another instead

agree there are many reasons of mc but guess i feel (after what happened to my friend) that if i dont take folic acid, and i did have a mc if i am lucky enought to get pregnant, then i would feel the mc was my fault

does that make sense?

assume there is no harm in taking folic acid for as long as it takes to conceive - even if years?

so better to take when tcc then when 1st pregnant iykwim

I was going to start taking folic acid when I came off the pill.

I have always taken folic acid and been very careful with other things while ttc still have had a few miscarriage, there are so many reasons the great majority are nothing to do with you, could be foetal abnormalities,making it not compatible with life

all you can do is get on with it don't worry about what might or might not happen
good luck

right have got LOTS of folic acid - boots have a 3 for 2 on it

will start folic when i finish the pill

My doctor advised 3 months before attempting conception - so as I plan to come off the pill in 6 months, I'll start taking it in three months.

soyou will be taking pill and folic acid?

yes, there will be an overlap of 3 months.

Yes, just take it as soon as you start to try. It may mean you take it for several months at least, but it is sorth it. Not because of any particular miscarriage risk but because it reduces the chance of spina bifida.

The time when it has the biggest effect is in the very early stages o fpregnancy, often before you even know you are pregnant so while it is still worth starting once you get a positive test, you potentially miss out on some of the benefit.

Its dirt cheap, just buy some!

boots have folic acid 3 for 2 so brought 6 - each packet does 8weeks so covered for a while

how long do you take it for once you are pregnant?

til after 3 months or till you give birth?

I'd take it throughout and afterwards too if breastfeeding. You could also think about taking a pregnancy multivitamin and omega capsules too (Pregnacare does both. Also Health Plus do a very good pregnancy supplement pack, available online).

I think advice is for the first three months of pregnancy Blonde. www.nhs.uk/Livewell/pregnancy/Pages/Folicacid.aspx

thank you both