Vit b12 deficiency - should I terminate?

[Sleeplessemma]

I really hope someone reads this and can help me.

Before I was pregnant I was taking healthy start vitamins that have folic acid, I was also taking 1000mg of b12 a day as I take metformin for pcos. When I found out I was pregnant week before last I stopped taking the b12 as it was 46000 of rda. I’ve just now found out I’m deficient in b12- my GP won’t call back to say how much. I’m terrified as it’s related to neural tube defects. I was taking it until so recently, I feel so stupid for stopping. I can’t bear the thought of having bonded and then having to have a termination for medical reasons, should I terminate now at 6 weeks?

I have severe anxiety and this has sent me into a spiral.

Someone please read and reply xx

I'm so sorry to hear this. Must be very stressful and worrying. I guess the first thing is to make sure you get straight back on to your supplements.

I understand your fears, I'm not a doctor, but there is probably a greater chance of your child not having a neural tube defect than having one despite the deficiency.

You will probably have more regular scans to make sure if you do decide to continue. Only you can know if it feels right for you to carry on with the pregnancy or not though.

I've fallen pregnant while my husband is on medication that may impact the baby. The risk is theoretical, but it is very stressful. I'm taking each day as it comes and trying to stay positive that all will be ok xx

Hi, I don't have any experience of this but didn't want to read and run. If you have only been off the b12 for a week or 2 I would go back on it. Has GP prescribed the b12 shot? Also googled b12 rich foods and start packing those into your diet.

Both b12 and folate deficiency can lead to neural tube defects, but a lot women don't start folic acid until they are pregnant, due to unexpected pregnancy, and go on to have a healthy baby.

I would also call your local EPU or midwife and ask for their thoughts on likelihood of neural tube defects if you have been taking both until recently, not sure what testing they can offer, but they will likely have a more broad range of knowledge compared to here, so perhaps a more balanced view. I would also mention to them about your anxiety and they may be able to get you a referral to address this too.

I hope everything works out for you

Thanks for replying! I was always taking folic acid I don’t know if that would help. I’ve been off b12 for less than 2 weeks. I don’t know if what I was taking before was enough? My GP won’t return my calls so I have no idea. I’m already high risk as it is. 2 panic attacks today- I really don’t know what to do

Are you still taking folic acid? The chances of a defect are very small, even with a deficiency, and even if there was a defect, that doesn't automatically mean it would be severe/fatal. Start taking your vitamins again - neural tube development starts at about 6 weeks - and try not to research things on the internet! It genuinely will not help with anxiety at all.

I’m not sure if this is helpful but it’s actually folic acid that women are advised to take to reduced the risk of neural tube defects not vitamin b12🙂

If you’ve been taking folic acid then you should be fine. Even then very few women take in pre conceptually so don’t get the full benefits and go on to have healthy babies.

I was taking the healthy start vitamins before pregnancy and kept on taking them as they were free it’s just the vitamin 12 xx

B12 is related to it too unfortunately, hence my panic xx

Folic acid is the one you need to avoid neural tube defects and you’ve been taking that? It’s also naturally occurring in lots of vegetables and added to cereals as well so you are almost certainly getting it from your diet. 6 weeks is so early. To put it bluntly, anything could go wrong for a load of reasons outside your control. Don’t terminate if this is a wanted pregnancy as the likelihood is it will be fine. If it isn’t fine it will be obvious at your 12 week scan and if you choose to terminate it will be straightforward.

I’ve actually never heard of b12 being related so that’s interesting, surely then all women would be tested and treated for low b12 if it had such a detrimental affect on fetal development🤷🏼‍♀️ Try not to worry yourself, you’ve been on folic acid and only had a small break from the b12 x

My doctor won’t return my calls or I don’t even know how deficient I am. This is my second pregnancy and my first was fraught with problems and one medical scare after another, anxiety is through the rough already

Folic acid does help so good you have been taking that. I was deficient in b12 whilst very early pregnant, found out from the blood they took at my 8 week booking in scan. I carried on taking the prenatal vitamins that I believe had b12 in and it evened itself out, I had a repeat blood test at about 10 weeks. Realised at my 12 week scan it was twins and I was deficient because 2 babies were taking it all! My consultant got me to take a folic acid/b12/iron tablet which was on prescription from about 18 weeks. Sorry for the long story but the end of the tale is that they have no negative effects from the b12.

@JellyBellySmith I thought neural tube was at about 3/4 weeks? Xx

Booking in appointment, not scan.

@Toomanykidsandcats thank you, that’s reassuring! I know metformin can rank your b12 hence my panic xx

It's folic acid, B9 not b12 for neural issues and you'll be fine. It's mostly used from weeks 9+ so you'll have no issue to worry about. Some people don't find out they're pregnant until many of months down the line and have a not taken any vitamins and babies are perfectly healthy xx

@LittleAppleFan2021 the nhs website says about NT problems and b12. I’m on metformin for pcos which apparently can tank it xx

@Sleeplessemma at 6 wks the risk of defects is way to small to worry about. Try calling your locally midwife clinic?

I was b12 deficient before and during my second pregnancy and everything was fine.
You sound very anxious but I don't think you need to be.
Keep trying your GP or call your local EPU and ask them for reassurance.

@Sleeplessemma 3-4 weeks after conception. So c. 6 weeks, I believe.

@Mama1980 that really reassuring, thank you!

@JellyBellySmith that’s good to know, as long I get it sorted ASAP it could be ok?

I have pernicious anemia who h was only diagnosed after child #2. I very much doubt there'll be any 'damage'

Both are linked but the effect sizes are small and at population level. What I mean, is that without folic/vitamin b12 then slightly more infants per thousands will have neural tube deficits. Therefore on a population level, we want women not to be deficient in these. But, at an individual level it is still super super super unlikely your infant will have one, deficit or not. Its exponentially more likely they'll be totally fine.

Thank you ladies! You’ve all helped tremendously in calming my anxiety! Thank you

I'm glad we have helped 😊 best of luck with your oregnancy!