Folic Acid - did you take the recommended 3 months BEFORE ttc?

[PedigreeChump]

Just after your experiences - due to a change in circumstances, DH and I have decided to start TTC sooner rather than later. I've only just started the folic acid supplements and the recommendation is to take them for 3 months before falling pregnant. Do you think we should just begin the TTC antics anyway?

It's rather unlikely I'll be pg in the next 3 months anyway as I anticipate it taking longer (coming off the pill after a decade on it - eek!)

Did you all follow the recommendations? Am I doomed to be a terrible mother already by considering risking future baby's health?

Thanks
PC

Yes I did, but really, you're fine. They say that just because folic acid is vital so early on, and it's common to not know you're knocked up until several weeks in.
I take mine at night and have the tiny boots pills - easier to swallow than the massive horse tablet sized ones you get here!

No, I didn't with any of mine. I started taking it the day I found out I was pregnant each time though.

It's a rare diagnosed shortage of B vits that can, in some cases, affect miscarriage probability. Rare. There is no need to worry in relation to miscarriage and if you did have the issue you'd be given a b vital complex not just folic acid. It is likely you'd know anyway due to period issues and infertility. Not taking it before doesn't cause spontaneous loss don't worry.
And that's from someone who did have investigations.

The reason for taking it is to prevent some congenital issues, and as PP have said, 3 months is to cover the time when the embryo is growing but you might not know you're pregnant.

Oh and sanatogen basic pregnacare are much cheaper and easier on the bowel tmi than pregnacare!

I got my mirena out on Monday and started taking folic acid on Wednesday . Althought tbf I'm due my period and I don't really want to get pg next cycle (my dsis is a christmas baby and hates it) so I don't really feel I've started the FA too late .

I didn't with DS1 as he was unplanned.
Didn't for DS2 as was just beginning to think of TTC and discovered no reason to try. I am another who started just after finding out.

If you can build up stores of it beforehand, it's useful, but not essential. If you know you're actively ttc (as in you might get pregnant this month) or are actually pregnant then you should try and take it asap as it's pretty key in combating neural defects in the first trimester, according to the drs; some research I read was 50-70%, not sure how accurate that is tho.

Not everyone can metabolize standard folic acid supplements, or high folic acid natural foods such as Spinach. I'm one of these due to a genetic defect that causes blood clotting as my body just basically won't absorb it, along with vitamin B; I have to take methylfolate which is already metabolized so it can be absorbed. I don't believe this problem is that common tho, and you probably wouldn't know there was an issue unless you'd been put forward for genetic testing or as a result of recurrent miscarriage.

General advice on this is always useful, but this thread was only bumped by a spammer and is very old, so not much point advising the OP directly.