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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Folic acid.....

14 replies

peanutfoldover · 19/12/2019 08:08

Hiya!

Couple of questions...

I started taking folic acid as soon as I discovered I was pregnant (via pregnacare). Then saw GP at 5 weeks who weighed me but didn’t tell me to alter my dose. Just said to make sure I take it.

Had my first appointment with the midwife yesterday (at 9w) who said that due to my weight (BMI 33) I should be taking 5mg of folic acid, not the standard dose of 400mg and she was quite annoyed that the GP didn’t pick up on that. It’s going to take minimum 3 days to get that prescription.

So.... I have just ran out of pregnacare. I’m going to buy some folic acid to tide me over, but because of my nausea my diet is terrible and I’d like to continue taking the pregnacare. So can I still take pregnacare alongside the high dose of folic acid? Can you take too much folic acid?

Also, I know it’s too late now, but I fear I’m very high risk for having a baby with Spina Bifida now and it’s playing on my mind!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MsChatterbox · 19/12/2019 08:22

Do you have your midwifes number? She would be the best person to send a text to and ask. Or even the maternity helpline at your hospital.

Boymummy3 · 19/12/2019 08:23

I wlgot out in 5mg too and still took pregnancy vitamins too. Double check with your midwife but mine said because its such a low dose in the vitamins then it was fine. But just double check x

Boymummy3 · 19/12/2019 08:24

That was suppose to say I got put on

LittleMissNaice · 19/12/2019 08:29

It's fine to take both, my midwife said any excess folic acid will leave the body in urine.

thatwasMauijustmessingaround · 19/12/2019 08:36

I have BMI of 30 and was told to stop Pregnacare with my additional folic acid. As you'd be taking 9g instead of 5g if you continued taking both. I had to buy an additional tub of vitamin D though.

Do NOT switch to a standard multivitamin tablet tho, as vitamin A is bad for baby.

The best thing to do is eat lots of leafy green veg until your new prescription arrives. Broccoli etc. Has lots of folic acid in. Plus baby will draw from your body/reserves and get what it needs from you for a while. Three days won't hurt. Some people don't know they're pregnant for weeks and don't take anything!

You might find stopping the pregnacare actually eases your nausea too. I found the iron in them made me a bit constipated which had a knock on effect and gave me awful indigestion and nausea.

Good luck with your pregnancy

Newmumma83 · 19/12/2019 08:39

I had The same him and no one upped my folic acid ( thankfully he is here a year old and no adverse effects ) hope you get it Though sorted op

Original poster

peanutfoldover · 19/12/2019 12:11

@thatwasMauijustmessingaround

I’m struggling to eat anything at all with my morning (all day) sickness. Even just seeing the words ‘green, leafy veg” is making me urge a bit.

OP posts:

Tini17 · 19/12/2019 12:46

It’s not a 9g dose @thatwasMauijustmessingaround.
High dose is 5 milligrams. Standard Pregnacare is 400 micrograms so less than half a milligram.
Ring your MW @peanutfoldover. I was advised to take both and have done but advice obviously varies.

PixieDustt · 19/12/2019 12:56

I think it'll be fine OP.
Try not to worry too much. I didn't start taking it until about 10 weeks and like you I panicked and luckily enough everything was okay

Original poster

peanutfoldover · 19/12/2019 17:09

Ok thank you everyone. Have just texted her!

OP posts:

Halloweenbabyy · 19/12/2019 18:17

Midwife and consultant both recommended 5mg and pregnancare x

Hayley94 · 19/12/2019 21:31

I take the Seven Seas pregnancy tablets with 5mg of folic acid. Both the consultant and midwife said it was fine as the 400mg is such a low dose anyway x

lostandconfused2 · 19/12/2019 22:02

You can buy pregnacare in pharmacies. I do.

Yoohoo16 · 19/12/2019 22:06

I wouldn’t worry. My last pregnancy I had a higher bmi than this pregnancy, and higher dose folic acid was never mentioned. This time the mw arranged for me to have a higher dose at booking in.

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