More folic acid for the overweight

[FoofFighter]

I know that overweight mums usually get told to take an increased dose of Folic Acid, 5mg is it? Anyone know how many normal dose folic acid tablets it's equivalent to please?

I took multiples of the normal dose till I could get my prescription filled.

I just read it online and started doing it, after all the key time to take fa is around 6 or 7 weeks when the spinal cord or whatever is closing up, and the doctor doesn't even want to see you until you're about 8 or 9 weeks to arrange booking in/scan. Plus a lot of doctors don't know about it, and would only recommend you taking the normal amount. My bmi is very high so I have to make sure I'm covered. My first baby was a surprise so I didn't take any folic acid, and he was born with a sacral dimple (a deepish dimple above his bum crack which if it was much more severe could have been a hole, basically spina bifida) thankfully he was fine and it appears to have gone as he grew up but I'm taking that as a sign to be extra careful with the folic acid.

Thanks all. I just bought loads.

From patient.co.uk, to clarify.

Pregnant women in particular need a good supply of folic acid because it is used by the developing baby. It has been shown that taking folic acid supplements decreases the chance of spina bifida and other neural tube defects in the baby. The very early stages of pregnancy are crucial in the need for folic acid and this is why folic acid supplements are recommended for women planning a pregnancy.

For most women, a supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid a day from before conception until the twelfth week of pregnancy is recommended. If you have had a previous pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect or if there is a family history of such, a supplement of 5 mg (milligrams) folic acid each day until the twelfth week is recommended. A supplement of 5 mg daily in pregnancy is also recommended if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, and in certain medical conditions and with some medical treatments such as coeliac disease, diabetes, sickle cell anaemia, and if you are taking medicines to treat epilepsy.