Folic Acid

[glitterandcrimson16]

I was put on 5mg folic acid at 5 weeks due to high BMI - it’s 35, I only had enough to last until I was 13 weeks maybe just past that and I wasn’t given anymore. I asked my midwife and she said people usually stop taking it at 12 weeks and not given anymore but said I can have more if I like so I said yes but she said it’s not really needed plus I was taking - I still am - pregnancare at the same time and I haven’t stopped that at all. I was given more folic acid but due to baby brain I’ve lost the packet so it’s been about 2 weeks since I’ve taken it again - I’m 17 weeks now - and I’ve read online that most people who are overweight or have a high BMI take it all the way through but I haven’t, is it too late to start taking it again? Any other mothers or pregnant women with high BMIs only taken folic acid up until the 12-13 week mark?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

My BMI was 39 on booking and my folic acid box said to only take up to 13 weeks. I took them up to 16 weeks and then stopped. The neural tube should close at around 12 weeks and therefore we shouldn't need the folic acid for longer. I only take vitamin D and omegas now :)

If you are taking pregncare as well you'll be fine.

@glitterandcrimson16 I took Seven Seas pregnancy vitamins and 5mg folic acid until 13 weeks then just continued with the pregnancy vitamins 😊 Sitting with a healthy 5month old just now 😊 I believe Folic Acid is most important for neural tube formation which closes at 12 weeks 😊 there will be lower dose FA in your pregnacare which will be fine for the rest of your pregnancy 😊

Yep, PP are right, folicacid helps prevent neural tube defects, that all formed by around week 12 so there's no point taking it beyond that

Thanks everyone! Worried myself when I saw ladies with high BMIs take it their whole pregnancy and I’ve only taken it until 13 weeks.
I didn’t know that the tube closes at 12 weeks so that’s good to know, I thought it was forming all the way until the end of pregnancy - you can tell this is my first pregnancy lol and I’m no good at anything biology! - thank you everyone again, I had a private scan at 16 weeks to tell the gender and she checked the spine then along with other body parts, but the lady would have said then if something didn’t look right? Sorry this is my first time for everything and I should have asked then but I didn’t think!

I was only given the extra folic acid at 16+4 by my consultant. GP have messed up a repeat prescription for it twice so I'm not going to bother asking them again. I take a pregnancy multivitamin too so just going to continue with that and if the consultant wants me on extra again they'll give me some next time I see them.

@glitterandcrimson16 Yeah they would have said 😊 do you have your appointment for your 20 week scan yet? That’s when they do a big long scan and check all the anatomy 😊 pregnancy is a learning curve for everyone lol. Are you having a boy or girl? 😊

Your pregnacare has folic acid in it anyway so you’re covered x

Brill thanks guys, fell much better about only taking it up to my 13 weeks!
@MM321 yeah the date for my 20 weeks is at the end of April! Feels like forever away! Lol
I’m glad they would have said I’m terrible remembering to ask questions when I’m there. Ain’t it just!! I’m having a little girl 😁💗