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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Folate defiency.. Worried !

6 replies

ICantThinkOfAUsernameH · 26/10/2015 15:41

I've had a whole host of health problems during this pregnancy - hyperemisis, lupus flare, kidney infections etc.
Drs rang me saying my folate is dangerously low even though I've been taking folic acid throughout.
Any ideas what's causing this?
(I'm 11+4)

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Junosmum · 26/10/2015 16:20

Folate is actually to do with iron levels not folic acid. They'll put you on iron tablets and if it's genuinely worryingly low you may end up with a blood transfusion. Try not to worry.

ICantThinkOfAUsernameH · 26/10/2015 16:25

Ah thank you, I've already had 2 infusions for other reasons in this pregnancy so I'm a bit baffled.
GP just upped my folic acid again Hmm.

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ffauxlivia · 26/10/2015 18:59

Low folate can be linked to anaemia, so I'm sure they will be keeping an eye on that. Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, which is only stored in our body temporarily, so that's why we need to keep taking vitamins or eating folate-rich foods. Deficiency can happen if you are low on your intake even for a few weeks - so perhaps HG has contributed to it if you were unable to keep down foods and vitamins recently? Are you feeling better with it now or still suffering?

If you are able to keep any food down you could try foods naturally high in folate as well as the supplements - broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts, peas, kale, asparagus, any green leafy veg, romaine lettuce, lentils, fortified cereals etc (or the easiest one for me when I couldn't stand any veg was cantaloupe melon!) Easier said than done when you have HG though, I know!

Also I think vitamin B12 is supposed to help - either supplements or it is found in meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, marmite, cereals etc.

Hope you are feeling better soon Flowers

ICantThinkOfAUsernameH · 26/10/2015 19:53

Still suffering awful now :( I've b12 defiency and regular jabs so that was "normal" and take thiamine 3x daily for b deficiency because of the vomiting.
Could be true it's the HG as some days I tolerate nothing!
Thank you for the Flowers

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ffauxlivia · 26/10/2015 20:10

Oh you poor thing . I don't have experience of it myself but there is a HG support thread on this page which always seems very active: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/2484460-Hyperemesis-Support

Maybe ladies there have some experience of these deficiencies and can help, I'm sure you're not the first and won't be the last!

ICantThinkOfAUsernameH · 26/10/2015 20:22

That's a good idea! I'm on that thread and didn't think to ask - baby brain already Grin.
Thank you for your help :)

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