Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Folic Acid

23 replies

TheOneWithTheBaby · 21/07/2018 08:46

Hi,

I've repeatedly read on here that you should take more folic Acid if you're over a certain BMI. That's definitely me Blush

When I spoke to the GP when TTC, she had never heard of this. I'm now 4+5 and would like to ask them again as I don't want to risk anything.

I can find lots of people discussing it online, but no actual official guidelines on this. I'd quite like to go with something official when seeing them next. Does anyone know where that guidance comes from?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
RedCorvette · 21/07/2018 09:02

My midwife said I had to take 5mg of folic acid (which is actually 20 x the 4mcg normal recommended dose, not just 20% more like you might think) due to being overweight, so this is definitely a thing.

Like you I went to GP in early stage of pregnancy and they didn't tell me this (despite mentioning folic acid in general). It was only when I saw midwife at 10 weeks that she mentioned it.

Given you're only supposed to take it until end of 12 weeks, this wasn't ideal, but I can't bring myself to stress about things that might never happen. 12 week scan was all good this week.

If I were you I'd phone your midwife team ASAP even if you haven't seen them yet and see what they say.

Merrydoula · 21/07/2018 09:06

Midwife told me to take higher dose due to BMI. I'd say probably best just to take it. I never did and am having to go for repeat scan as they couldn't see bottom of baby's spine on my last scan. I have read that this is quite common and due to baby's position. I have also read that it could be that bottom of spine not developed due to lack of folic acid. Of course if this is the case I will be severely regretting my decision to not take the higher dose. Hopefully will be fine though...

JurassicAdventure · 21/07/2018 09:16

My midwife said I should be taking extra folic acid until 12 weeks, at my appointment at 11 weeks and 6 days...

You can safely take double the dose of one's you get from supermarkets (I think).

Don't bother with pregnacare, it's expensive and will make you constipated!

Original poster
TheOneWithTheBaby · 21/07/2018 13:36

Thank you for your responses everyone. I was a bit confused the GP had never heard of this.

I won't be able to see the midwife for a few weeks. Could there be any negative side effects if I just up my dosage myself? I wouldn't normally but this seems a pretty unnecessary risk somehow.

OP posts:
Wellthisunexpected · 21/07/2018 13:45

No negative side effects as folic acid is excreted in your urine (you piss out any you don't use!).

emalady · 21/07/2018 14:24

Some GPs don't realise, I would ask again, possibly someone else in the practice. Taking 20x over the counter tabs would be a bit too time consuming!

hamandpease · 21/07/2018 14:33

My GP hadn't heard of it, I was v unimpressed. Showed him the nhs website in the end

Pepper123123 · 21/07/2018 14:37

My GP wouldn't take my suggestion that I needed a high dose of Folic Acid. My BMI is 36 and I have Spina Bifida, so I am a prime candidate for extra Folic Acid.

It was frustrating because I KNEW full well I needed it.

I took extra FA that I bought from the supermarket.
Luckily I had a call the next day to say the GP had looked into it and I did in fact need a higher dose.

If I were you I'd ask to speak to a midwife. Taking extra Folic Acid in the meantime won't do you any harm.

Original poster
TheOneWithTheBaby · 21/07/2018 14:40

Thank you everyone! I will call the surgery again next week. I did see you can buy the higher dosage pills on Amazon otherwise, so I wouldn't have to take loads in one go. So I will consider just upping the dose even if they say no.

@hamandpease, where did you find the info on the NHS website? I couldn't see it on there somehow.

Pepper, I will ask whether I can see a midwife. For you it seems especially stupid with spins bifida! Glad they got back to you.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheOneWithTheBaby · 21/07/2018 14:44

Oh I just saw it in the link provided above. I will email that to the GP and see what they say. I do feel better about the higher dose though now that's I've read it officially. Even if GP says no I will go and buy it myself.

Did you then still take the normal pregnancy vitamins? I feel like I need the other vitamins as well as I'm sometimes deficient in certain ones so don't want to stop supplements.

OP posts:
hamandpease · 21/07/2018 14:59

@TheOneWithTheBaby I think it was actually this from rcog www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/pregnancy/pi-why-your-weight-matters-during-pregnancy-and-after-birth.pdf

My gp is a bit crap in lots of ways though tbh, I tend to ask to see someone else when I can

Merrydoula · 21/07/2018 15:47

Please remember GPs are for general practice, midwives specialise in this field so probably best to go on MW advice rather than GP x

Original poster
TheOneWithTheBaby · 21/07/2018 16:06

Good reminder Merry. I do normally prefer to speak to the specialist, which would be the midwife here. However in my region I can't see the midwife for another few weeks, which seems too long to risk it.

OP posts:
hamandpease · 21/07/2018 16:57

Agreed @TheOneWithTheBaby if the system is going to insist that you can't see the specialist until 7-10 weeks to register that you're even pregnant then GPs need to be equipped

Almostthere15 · 21/07/2018 20:49

I had to ring the gp because it had to be prescribed. The receptionist took a msg and then rang back to say it wasn't needed (my bmi was right on 30). I said I'd prefer to speak directly to a doc (they rang me back that day, a different one to the one the receptionist had consulted) and agreed it was needed and wrote me a prescription. I think the knowledge on it is varied. He said it was fine to take alongside a pregnancy vitamin, so I did because of vit d and iron really. You just dispose of extra folic acid.

As others have said you'd need to take so many to get the right dose (and I certainly wouldn't take multiples of a combined vitamin) or buying from Amazon etc makes me nervous. I'd ring back and explain and offer to share the guidance.

Merrydoula · 21/07/2018 22:41

I see, yes as you're still quite early they wouldn't have given you a community midwife number to contact directly yet.

BlueBug45 · 22/07/2018 07:39

@Merrydoula Sorry I wouldn't trust midwives for nutritional advice. I was told complete rubbish about the supplements I have to take by the midwife I had at booking.

Luckily I'm under consultant care plus have GPs in my practice who specialise in women and child health. (I also have family and close friends' who are medical professionals who deal with different aspects of maternity and child health, plus it was actually me who notified them to research on various supplements. )

Original poster
TheOneWithTheBaby · 24/07/2018 09:59

I've be emailed the link o my GP and was told I can expect an answer by tomorrow evening. I hope it's ok to take a lower dosage until it's resolved.

OP posts:
adviceonthepox · 24/07/2018 10:51

In wales we are given folic acid, vit c and vit d supplement by the midwife. It was never suggested to me I needed a larger dose of folic acid. I be had four children my bmi was 37 on all of them. Luckily they have all been ok.

hamandpease · 24/07/2018 13:19

@TheOneWithTheBaby I'd call the surgery and push for a response and ask for a prescription to be waiting for you. I'm sure you and baby will be absolutely fine but it isn't fair making you wait for something the GP should know about

Original poster
TheOneWithTheBaby · 25/07/2018 16:52

@adviceonthepox, it seems very few people get it prescribed. A real mix of some people getting more and others not. Really shouldn't be like that! I have a similar BMI.

@hamandpease, I am not good on the phone but I did what you advised today. I just told myself I have to advocate for the baby!
The GP was super nice and wrote a prescription right away. I can't pick it up till tomorrow when I'll be 5+3, but I hope that's still early enough. Thanks for almost giving me a virtual kick up the bottom.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheOneWithTheBaby · 25/07/2018 16:53

I'm so glad I had the research document linked above by the way. The GP didn't know about it and looked it up right away on the document I provided. So thank you everyone!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page