11wk +3 and I haven't been taking anywhere near enough folic acid :(

[Kikiroo]

I'm feeling absolutely worried that I have not been taking enough folic acid till today through misreading labels.

I had been taking boots prenatal vitamins which say on the box folic acid, vitamin D & B but I've realised the small print on the back says 400micrograms which equates to only 0.4mg :( and in my head I thought I had read 4mg. I've now started taking 5mg of folic acid but I feel it is all too late.. I'm so worried..

I had a 10 week reassurance scan last week and the sonographer said everything looked as it should be with the baby (though at this point I had no idea about my low intake of folic acid) and I still have my dating and nuchal scan in two weeks time at 13 weeks. Is there anyone out there that can give me some reassurance.. :(

If you eat shop bought bread it's fortified with folic acid, I believe it's also found in green leafy vegetables.

NHS says 400mcg unless you have family history of neural tube defect or a previous pregnancy affected, which is when 5mg is recommended.

Oh moggle thank you for that enlightening bit of information. I feel so much better already ❤️ (collapses in a heap from relief). I have no family history of neural tube defect but have had a previous mc. Thanks again, I really should have looked at the NHS site first!

User246810 I was hoping that I had been getting enough of it through what I've been eating and trying to remember if I had been eating enough Kale the past few months.

Hi op, is that why the gp prescribed it? Due to previous mc? I think if that's the only reason and you don't have any other medical conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy I think you should be fine. Try not to worry. I've been prescribed it too as apparently if you have a bmi over 30 you should be taking it (mine is 31) never knew this last time and mine was 29 last time

I didn't take any for the first 10 weeks

As PP have pointed out 40mcg is standard and you'll get extra from your diet. Cereal and orange juice has plenty of folic acid.

400 even

Lots of people don't even know they're pregnant for the first couple of months and don't take any at all! Try not to worry. sonographer said things look good. Congratulations on your pregnancy :)

It is only 400mcg unless you are obese or have a family history of neural tube defects

some studies link folic acid intake with autism.
www.webmd.com/baby/news/20160511/too-much-folic-acid-in-pregnancy-tied-to-raised-autism-risk-in-study#1
try not to worry

Congratulations on your baby x

I had to stop taking it as it made my nausea so much worse and I thought if I feel so shit surely it can't be good for the baby.
And guess what it's all ok. I am 30 weeks today and everything is as it's should be with the baby.

Also remember that folic acid is fortified. You can get the real thing from green leafy veg particularly spinach.

Hi OP,

I had severe sickness and nausea from weeks 6-18 and could rarely keep tablets or food down (so I wasn't even getting vitamins/folic acid from food source!). Baby is still fine and scans were perfect, all normal measurements.

It sounds like you have been taking the right amount but even if you hadn't, doesn't mean baby is going to have problems.

I was 17 weeks before I even found out I was pregnant. Don't worry :)

Hi, just to reassure you I didn't know I was pregnant until I was 1 day before 12 weeks! So I didn't take any folic acid at all for my first trimester. I'm now 23 weeks and my baby is perfectly healthy and strong. My sonographer at my 12 week scan said my baby even has a really strong spine!! So don't sweat it x

The folic acid tablets used to make me feel sick so I hardly took any, my scans have all been fine. Don't worry.

some studies link folic acid intake with autism.
http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20160511/too-much-folic-acid-in-pregnancy-tied-to-raised-autism-risk-in-study#1
try not to worry

One study, that has yet to be published in a peer reviewed medical journal, indicated that there was an increased risk of autism in children whose mothers had high levels of B12 and folate in their blood up to three days after having the baby. It also appears to state that taking the vitamins in pregnancy can help prevent autism... so I would probably strike this article from our worries.

I didn't know I was pregnant till 11 weeks so I didn't take any until then. Don't yourself up mama you have been taking some folic acid so it's all been helping.

Oh ladies, thank you all so much for your reassuring messages ❤️ You're all such a lovely caring bunch.

I think I've been prescribed this for my previous MC which happened at 12 weeks and also because I'm a bit of a tubby one! I totally agree that this extra supplement is SEVERELY NAUSEATING (I only started taking it yesterday). I'm only a few days away from 12 weeks so might actually not take them anymore.. :S especially reading up about the autism link.. (paranoia alert).

Thank you again though I am zen once again :) (till the next worrying thing arises..) x

If it's any consolation I didn't find out I was pregnant with my first until 18 weeks and didn't have my first MW appointment until 21 weeks so I did not take a single tablet!
He's absolutely fine