Folic Acid

[HopefulFor2020]

Currently 9 weeks and just had my booking appointment. My BMI is even higher than I thought which is bloody depressing but of course means I should be taking the higher dose of Folic Acid. I knew I should be taking the higher dose so mentioned it when I saw a GP at 6 weeks for something totally unrelated and he looked at me like I had 3 heads, he had no idea and told me to ask the midwife.

So, I had a 'pre-booking' appointment at 7 weeks and this midwife wasn't sure, didn't weigh me and said to check at my booking appt (whole appt seemed like a waste of time tbh and I'd been under the impression that it was my booking appt).

Midwife at actual booking appt confirms I should be on the higher dose but it's only available on prescription so I need to see the GP. Great!

Called the surgery hoping I wouldn't need to take up an appointment and they could sort it over the phone. Speak to a nurse who I've seen before and is lovely, she agrees I need the higher dose and she'll sort out the script. All fine. EXCEPT she's done the prescription for the standard dose. Argh! So I call back but the nurse has left and now I'm being told that they can't do the prescription because the midwife hasn't told them I need it!

FGS! I feel like I'm being a nuisance and that I'm nagging to get this but if anyone spoke to each other or actually looked at the nhs guidelines (my GP surely could've just looked this up when I asked and sorted it there and then?) it'd be sorted by now?

Just a rant which really isn't a huge deal in the grand scheme of things but I hate feeling like I'm wasting people's time and now it's 5 different people all just for one prescription

Can you not just take more of the lower dose to take it up to the higher dose

Apparently not. It's some magic in between dose that can only be found by handing that elusive green paper into a pharmacy

I'm just bitter that I weigh 3 stone more than I thought and I hadn't realised

What dosage is the other one? Normal ones i think are 400mcg

You could take more of the standard tablets, but it would be 12 tablets a day!

Sorry that this is proving tricky for you OP, could you take a copy of this guideline with you to whoever you get to see? www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/pregnancy/pi-healthy-eating-and-vitamin-supplements-in-pregnancy.pdf

Ah yes, I remember now. It's actually a whooping huge dose not just a bit more. 5g instead of 400mcg

Thank you for the link. Looks like I'll just have to take up a GP appointment (feels so unnecessary) to get it

Hey op,

I had a right problem when I tried to get the higher dose too. Phoned my gp, rececrptionist told me to go to the pharmacy Went to pharmacy and I left in tears. The man was so rude and kept banging on about my weight. Reminds me I need to complain about him! Sent husband to another pharmacy who confirmed I needed to see my gp for a prescription. Don't let the receptionists shut you down, demand that appointment !! Good luck :)

Hello, high dose is 5mg but baby's neural tube is already closed now so just keep doing what you are doing. The advantage of a higher dose is hypothetical anyway.

Happy to have an appointment but just thought I was doing the right thing by not taking up an appointment. Not that they're easy to get at my surgery anyway!

Interesting about it possibly being 'too late' I've seen people told that they should take them up to 16 weeks. Pretty sure I forgot completely in my last pregnancy but I was 7 stone lighter and 10 years younger then.

Aaaannnddd I've just depresses myself all over again! 😂

@HopefulFor2020 if I was you I would get an appointment but while waiting just take more of the lower dose tAblets you can buy them pretty cheap yourself so won't cost the earth , it is a total pain thou!