Folic acid - when to stop?

[prasessa]

Hi, I'm 12 1/2 weeks pregnant with twins. My GP says I should stop taking folic acid at 13 weeks, but my wife advises to keep taking it
So which one is it??

I'm not a Dr but I don't think Folic acid would do any harm if you keep taking it, and I definitely would.
I was told to stop taking it at 12 weeks by my dr when pregnant with dd and she was born with spinal deformities, I have absolutely no way of knowing of course if carrying on would have made a difference, but if I'm ever pregnany again I'll be taking it right up to birth!

I don't think that there is any harm in continuing to take it. After all, it's one of the ingredients in Pregnacare one a day supplement, which you can take all the way through pregnancy and breastfeeding.

I took a pre-natal vitamin right through my pregnancy, birth and the first 4 months of breastfeeding.

I'm still taking pregnacare, which contains your rec. daily allowance of folic acid + other vits (am now 22 weeks)

No harm in continuing to take it otherless theres a specific medical reason not to AFAIK.

When I took it it only made me sick and I had bad morning sickness as it was and usually ending in it coming back up again, but i had friends of friends who took it and had complications with the child, not to scare you or anything but I wouls take GPS advice and stop at 13 I did at 13 and DD is perfectly healthy. also try doing some research of your own on the net about side effects and pros as well and deside from there. Take care

Are you taking it for yours or your baby's benefit? From the baby's point of view there is no point taking it after 13 weeks because the spine is fully formed by then, it's only in the first 12 weeks that spina bifida and neural tube defects can be prevented. You also don't need it if you are eating a healthy, varied diet including lots of green vegetables such as broccoli. If you are feeling sick and aren't managing to eat much then you might need a general supplement, not just folic acid. I stopped taking folic acid at 13 weeks in both pregnancies because I didn't have any morning sickness and was eating well. I would advise caution and discuss it with your midwife - some supplements can be harmful.

I went to my Docs about something else when I was about 12/13 weeks and she said it was fine to stop. Made me feel sick so I was only too pleased.