Folic acid 5mg and aspirin 150mg - what to do?

[Lilybow]

I'm feeling really confused, I've been advised to take 5mg folic acid by midwife team due to having rheumatoid arthritis. I'm nearly 13 weeks and midwife team said it's fine to continue to take throughout pregnancy or I can stop if I want.

I've also been advised because of my condition I have to take 150mg aspirin now - I'm feeling really nervous about taking all these pills. Is anyone else taking both and doing okay?

Do I need to continue folic acid or can I stop or maybe take a pregnancy vitamin instead which has 400mg? I think leaving it up to me has made me confused to be honest and I'm a worrier as it is..

If you've been told to take 5mg then no I wouldn't drop to 400ug

If your midwife has advised to keep taking them then I'd keep taking them. Lots of women take aspirin throughout pregnancy and is assume there's a specific reason relating to the RA that you need to continue taking the folic acid.

You can potentially stop the folic acid now as the baby's neural tube is fully developed. The aspirin is to reduce your risk of pre-eclampsia and it's really commonly used in pregnancy with no known harmful effects

No don't stop the folic acid without medical advice as its supposed to help with the RA too.

Stay calm and dont be nervous.

I got the same advice and am taking both...i had folic acid left over so have kept taking it as it's nothing but beneficial.

The aspirin is super low dose and prevents preeclampsia, there is no way I would NOT take it.
I do take it before bed as this suit me better

Good luck

@dementedpixie

No don't stop the folic acid without medical advice as its supposed to help with the RA too.

Her midwife team have advised she can stop if she wants

Oops sorry, missed that bit
If they have said its okay then it's up to you.

I took both of these all the way through pregnancy, plus morning sickness meds and a prenatal. What is your concern about taking them?

@Rtmhwales

I took both of these all the way through pregnancy, plus morning sickness meds and a prenatal. What is your concern about taking them?

The pack of aspirin says don't take in pregnancy in the back and the pharmacist didn't even want to sell me them so I guess it makes me scared. I had a miscarriage in June so I think I'm just very nervous and worried

It's supposed to help prevent miscarriage and help prevent pre eclampsia.

I'm taking aspirin BECAUSE of previous miscarriages! Despite what the packet says it is completely safe to take and is commonly used in pregnancy with women who are higher risk of pre-eclampsia. There's even a hospital in Texas that has started prescribing it as a default to every pregnant woman just to be sure they catch everyone who should be taking it.

I was put on it to prevent miscarriage as well. Same with the folic acid. There's study's that support it, and it's supposed to be safe, though nothing is really conclusive. That being said it hasn't seemed to have made a difference to my miscarriage status (still miscarried three times) nor my child's health, as he was born healthy and is 3.5.

Yes low dose asprin helps prevention pre-eclampsia so if they recommend it then take it. Yes the package insert may say not suitable in pregnancy, but that doesn't apply when a medical professional recommends it.

They've said you can stop the folic acid if you want, so that's your choice!

I took both of these in my last pregnancy and had aspirin in the first pregnancy also. It’s incredibly common and all women with a couple of risk factors for pre eclampsia are advised to take it - that’s a very large amount of women.

I'm on high dose folic acid and have been since 10 weeks and been on 75mg aspirin for PE risk since conception (I had previous MCs) baby is 33 weeks and happy and healthy

Hey congrats on your pregnancy.

I'm also pregnant and have RA. Currently 36 weeks.

I've taken 5mg of folic acid all the way through, my RA consultant wanted me to have it throughout because I remained on sulfasalazine and apparently it can impact the folic acid in your body.

I was also told to take the aaprin from 12 weeks until the end, so have been doing that too. I took the pregnancy vitamins initially but in the end just settled for D as was so sick I was starting to struggle to keep them down. My maternity and RA support teams were fine with this. :)

Good luck with your pregnancy xx

@Taenia

Hey congrats on your pregnancy.

I'm also pregnant and have RA. Currently 36 weeks.

I've taken 5mg of folic acid all the way through, my RA consultant wanted me to have it throughout because I remained on sulfasalazine and apparently it can impact the folic acid in your body.

I was also told to take the aaprin from 12 weeks until the end, so have been doing that too. I took the pregnancy vitamins initially but in the end just settled for D as was so sick I was starting to struggle to keep them down. My maternity and RA support teams were fine with this. :)

Good luck with your pregnancy xx

Thank you, congrats too! I'm on sulphasalazine as well so that's really useful to know, thank you xx

I've been taking 150mg since about 10 weeks as was initially having twins. I have continued taking it despite losing one (I checked with my midwife) as my blood pressure was at the higher end. it's stayed low now. I also took 5mg of folic acid as i have a high BMI but stopped at 13 weeks (my GP seemed to refuse to put it on repeat for me and only gave me two weeks at a time).

It's been fine. don't need folic acid after 13 weeks as the neural tubes are already formed.

I am 29 weeks now and doing fine.

Good luck with your pregnancy

I was on high dose folic acid until about 20 weeks, I was on aspirin all the way through pregnancy.