When to stop taking Folic Acid?

[NoTeaForMe]

Hi all,

I'm currently 14 weeks (due October 14th) I have been taking Folic acid for about the 3 months before I fell pregnant. I have quite a few tablets left - about 6 weeks worth!! I know people say that you should take them for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy but is there any benefit of taking them for longer? Or in fact is there any harm? Should I just throw the remainig tablets out or just keep taking them as I have them?!

Thanks in advance for you help.

Last time round I stopped taking them after the first trimester as my MW said they can make morning sickness worse. I got the impression from her there was no real benefit from continuing to take them after the first 3 mths. I have done the same this time round.

(Also due on 14th Oct btw! - in fact have seen you around on the Oct babies thread ).

Ooh - 14th October too!! How exciting! I have seen the October thread, I said hello on it but to be honest it's SO long that I don't often go on and have a look!!

How have you been feeling? I have been off work for the last 3 weeks as its the Easter Holidays (I work in a school!) so I haven't done a great deal and have taken my opportunity to rest!! I'm back at work tomorrow though so that will all change then!

I haven't suffered too badly with morning sickness but still have lingering nausea so may stop the Folic Acid and see if that helps then! Are you taking any other vitamins?

Actually am feeling pretty rubbish - been to GP this morning and have been given anti-nausea drugs for the MS but also have kidney infection so am on ABs too!! . Off work for a week so trying to rest (have a 3yo DS though so limited opportunities to rest!). Have not been taking other vits as all the pg ones have folic acid in them and I'm not sure if should be taking ones that aren't specifically pg-recommended.
Good luck back at work tomorrow! (Am also a teacher but post-graduate not school.)

I took them the whole way through but I had bought millions and I've recently bought millions more as well . Part of a multivit though, not on their own, that's really why I kept on with them.

Oh no - poor you! I had to take anti-biotics a couple of weeks ago for an infection in the cervix, not sure what it was but the doctor told me it wouldn't cause any problem in pregnancy but could be transferred to the baby during birth, so I waited until after the scan at 12 weeks to take the anti-biotics. I really felt that they messed me around. They gave me horrible thrush (sorry if thats too much information!) which I have never had before, but it is clearing up now!

I haven't been taking any other vitamins, I have never taken any so feel that as long as I am eating healthily I should be OK!

I have read that there has been research which has found strong links to folic acid taken after the first trimester and asthma in children.... I have loads left too (I am now 17 weeks) but just stopped when the MW said (at 13/14 weeks)!

I don't know how to do links, but see this:

www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/nov/04/asthma-folic-acid-pregnancy-research

There is loads more if you google it....

well mine are in multivitimin form and say "all through pregnancy" but most midwives will tell you that its only necessary to take them for first 12 weeks. i got lured in by all the other vitimins in pregnacare, so i take them everyday