Folic acid deficiency and pregnant, so scared

[Lizzyloox]

Hi ladies,
Back in May this year, I moved cities and my new doctors said they wanted to do a full blood count on me which included folate, turns out I was deficient which suprised me but then I saw the foods you need to eat to not be deficient and it made sense, I don’t tend to eat right as I should, I’m a takeaway fiend and look the junk stuff though I am a slim build I may add.
Anyway, it got to taking the 5mg as they prescribed and it made me vomit and have stomach issues, I didn’t bother getting in touch with doc about it as I knew it would be either get on with it or change diet and I was very non chalant about the whole thing and just carried on as normal, which I now regret badly, Me and partner were not trying for a baby but I’ve just found out I am pregnant and about 5 weeks at that. We weren’t trying but were so happy that this happened and want to keep but then I remembered this… that I was folic acid deficient and didn’t take my tablets, so I probably still am 😫😫 it even got to the point that I said maybe this time isn’t the right time, maybe I should terminate and try properly when I’ve took the correct medicine. I am so so terrified of defects and it will be all my fault 😔 I didn’t expect this would happen as generally we are very careful so I feel like this happened for a reason, I’m so anxious and scared and my partner thinks I’m overreacting about the whole thing and that if worst case scenario happens we’ll cross that bridge then but then the thought of terminating half way through makes me feel even more sick to my core, I’m so scared ladies, has anyone been through something like this before?

@paristotokyo thank you for commenting, generally I’m not an anxious person so I think the fact I want this so bad and know that I had a deficiency has opened some loop hole lol. Hormones don’t help either! But you are right and I definitely will mention it, I want to enjoy my pregnancy and not be panicking every second

Im 15 weeks and haven’t taken any vitamins at all (third baby found out late) I think I will probably be fine. Lots of anxiety is usually for the first baby (was for me)

Our grandmothers wouldn't have given folic acid a second thought. There were higher incidence of spina bifida but it wasn't like every child was born with it. Folic acid deficiency doesn't mean there automatically will be birth defects just an increased risk. My grandfather was born with spina bifida. My great grandmother lived in poverty and was chronically malnourished as a result. Even then it was unusual for a baby to be born with spina bifida. My grandfather was fortunate to have experimental surgery when he was a newborn pro bona (pre NHS) and he lived a normal life once well enough to leave hospital.

You can't change the past you can keep taking the supplements and eating as good a diet as symptoms will permit. I would probably get repeat bloods to be honest. If you found out you were less deficient than previously it would be reassuring and if you aren't the GP can give you more accurate information on the risk factors than we can

Try to remain calm. It's in all probability fine. You need to start getting perspective on the many risks involved in pregnancy, childbirth and then actually raising a child. Your mindset has to adjust to the fact you will always worry about your child. You can't remain in that same sense of terror for the next 18 years, and believe me, once those babies are actually here, it's way more terrifying. Work on how you frame risks, think about probabilities and what they actually mean. It's really hard to be rational about risks, but really important for your wellbeing and the confidence of your child as they grow up. I know one mother who told me she doesn't like her daughter walking a few steps ahead of her on the way to school "in case someone stops their car and kidnaps her"...

I am taking 5mg folic acid plus the usual Pregnacare containing folic acid at the same time. Doctor said it was fine. Hope this helps.

@Switcher thank you, I know, and I think it’s the fear of the horror stories and things you see online tbh, this thread has really rationalised my fears a bit and made me feel a lot more at ease 💕

@AnotherJaffaCakePlease thank you, I’m realising why I stopped folic acid before, the high dose doesn’t make me feel good at all, I have such a bad stomach today and feel nauseous, the nausea could be pregnancy related but the bad stomach oh I remember this all too well and it was the reason why I stopped taking before, I’m wondering whether to switch to pregnacare, but I don’t want to if I’m deficient, I think il ask the doc for a repeat test

@Lizzyloox I know this post is a couple of months old now but I was wondering how you got on with this and if everything is ok, as I’m in a similar situation and also worrying a bit!

Potentially you have the MTHFR gene @Lizzylooxas does 40%+ of the population in which case one doesn’t methylate B vitamins correctly and artificial foliate makes things worse.

I would start the methylated versions and see if that helps, it won’t do any harm.

Hi lovely, how’s your pregnancy going, how’s baby?