Folic acid - worried :(

[glasha87]

Hi there,

32, mum to an 11 year old girl.

Myself and my partner of 4 years have had unprotected sex twice in all the time we have been together: I conceived on the second occasion - we were stupid, but I really didn’t think this would happen.

I eat healthily enough, but rather than have fortified cereal for breakfast, I’d eat porridge or a croissant if running late for work.

I haven’t been taking a multivitamin, just a tonic that has all the B vitamins aside from B9 (typical)

I had them lying around so have been taking them the last two days.

I’m kicking myself here and very worried.

With my daughter, as I was so young I lived on cereal (fortified) and took multivitamins to compensate for my shoddy diet.

I am shocked and concerned - I do feel lucky, however I feel very foolish.

What are your experiences?

I’m 5 or 6 weeks, will book a GP appointment this week.

Thank you in advance.

Hi, congrats on your pregnancy!

I think you're worrying a bit too much which happens to us all! It's a little while before the placenta takes over and I'm sure NHS advice is that if you hadn't been taking folic acid prior to conception, just start as soon as you can. I was advised by MW that all you really need to take is vitamin D daily and folic acid, but anything else is your preference of course.
Just try and keep in mind how awful the first trimester is for so many and they have to live on all kinds of things just to make sure they're getting fluid and food in so please try not to stress 😊
I'd start taking the folic acid now and whatever you choose vitamin wise but I wouldn't be worrying too much. Wish you a healthy pregnancy

When I was pregnant with DD, I didn’t take folic acid at all. She wasn’t planned so I hadn’t looked up what I should be taking and I lived in denial about it for months so didn’t do any research. My midwife freaked out (she did about everything though) but DD is now 6yo and perfectly happy and healthy.

Start taking folic acid now and you’ll be fine. Congratulations by the way. We have a due September MN chat and we’re all about 4-6 weeks.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/birth_clubs/3789716-Babies-due-September-2020-Just-got-BFP?msgid=93213473#93213473

Thank you both for your replies, you’re very sweet. I wish you the very best too.

Lovely! My daughter is a September baby and judging by the guesstimated day of conception I’m due 09/09 - so 6 weeks

I’ll try and relax a little, thank you for the reassuring words x

I honestly wouldn't worry. Start taking folic acid now x

I agree don’t worry, I didn’t take folic acid until I saw the midwife at 8 weeks. I took a pregnancy supplement from about 5 weeks. My pregnancy was unplanned so I wasn’t on any supplements before x

No no no no and no

I didn’t take any vitamins during pregnancy. The midwife laughed when I voiced concern.

You’ll be fine

@PPopsicle why were you concerned taking vitamins?

I voiced concern over the fact I never took a single vitamin in pregnancy. I thought they were “essential” as that’s how it’s marketed and I worried I had caused my baby harm by not taking them

@PPopsicle I see, I thought you were concerned of the effects of vitamins.

Thank you to each and every one of you! You’ve really helped quieten that worry x

I took folic acid supplements, but by no means every day. I was forgetful, i'd finish a pack and then forget to go to the shop and get some more for a while. Im 31 weeks now and everything seems to be going to plan.

Im sure you'll be ok!

When I had my DS no one took folic acid. He was fine and is a strapping rugby player now.