re: Folic Acid & TTC

I take an extra 400 mcg of Folic Acid in addition to the 800 mcg my prenatals have. I started taking both in January, got pregnant for the first time in March and am continuing to take them for this baby.

Quoting AOcutiePI:“ I was on 400 and my Dr said to take a prenatal with 800 in it hope this helps.”

I was told that I should take a prenatal with 800 AND a folic acid supplement with 800 in them. I've been taking 1600 a day since January.

Quoting einahpetS:“ I was told that I should take a prenatal with 800 AND a folic acid supplement with 800 in them. I've been taking 1600 a day since January.”

Yeah so I guess its just different with each Dr....The health department is the ones that started me on the 400 ones, then my regular Dr changed it to 800 so I don't know I have read I think that 800 is enough, but like I said its all what your Dr wants...

Quoting AOcutiePI:“ Yeah so I guess its just different with each Dr....The health department is the ones that started me ... [snip!] ... Dr changed it to 800 so I don't know I have read I think that 800 is enough, but like I said its all what your Dr wants...”

800mcg is the reccomended amount for women who are TTC and who are pregnant. However if you have a history of a NTD then you are placed on a much higher amount.

aww OK well that makes sense.  

Quoting AOcutiePI:“ aww OK well that makes sense.  ”

Sorry if I came off as being a little confusing at first. My fingers type faster than i think.  

Quoting ~Terra~ Lipstick Mafia :}:“ Sorry if I came off as being a little confusing at first. My fingers type faster than i think.  ”

oh no I figured that some Dr would suggest higher for higher risk pregnancies....

I've been taking 800 mcg's since Janurary, we've been TTC off and on during the months since then. WeWERE planning on TTC full force next month in june, but just found out that DH is going to be deployed for 6mths. He leaves in Oct-ish and will be back in april-ish of 2009. My question is, do you think i should stop them and then go back on them a few months before he comes home, or just continue to take them? I didn't think taking them would really do any harm, just wondered what your ladies take on it would be. Thanks  

Quoting *Miss*:“ I've been taking 800 mcg's since Janurary, we've been TTC off and on during the months since then. WeWERE ... [snip!] ... take them? I didn't think taking them would really do any harm, just wondered what your ladies take on it would be. Thanks  ”

I've been taking mine since January and even if we're not TTC, I still take them (mostly out of habit), but I don't think there's anything wrong with it. Prenatals have replaced my normal daily vitamins.

im just taking the amount of folic acid thats in my multi viteman. My doc said i dont need extra folic cause thers enough in the vit' im taking

Quoting sugarmommyof_2:“ im just taking the amount of folic acid thats in my multi viteman. My doc said i dont need extra folic cause thers enough in the vit' im taking”

Thats good. But for some women it's not enough.   If you dont have enough folic acid in your diet/vitamins during the first 4 weeks of gestation, you run a high risk of having a baby with a NTD.

Both of my kids were a suprise, and werent really planned soI wasent taking folic acid until 9 - 10 weeks into the pregnaancy, and my kids are 100% healthy

From what I have learned, if you are able to get pregnant you should take 400 mg of folic acid every day. If you are pregnant, take 600 mg of folic acid every day. Then if you are breastfeeding you should take 500 mg of folic acid every day. Usually, women should be taking at least 300 mg of folic acid everyday cause it can help with more things then just getting pregnant.

Quoting ~Terra~ Lipstick Mafia :}:“ Sorry if I came off as being a little confusing at first. My fingers type faster than i think.  ”

Hi, i also had a severe ntd with my last pregnancy and ended the pregnancy at 22 weeks, this time they had me on 5MG for a minimum of 3 months before we started trying, then I needed to take for at the first 3 months of the pregnancy, they then reduced me to 2MG after my 20 week scan, which gave us the all clear of NTD at.

I have to take it every pregnancy after this as well because of the risk.

Congratulation and good luck.

Ooh, I forgot to add that my OB says that the difference between presciption prenatals and over-the-counter prenatals is that you should supplement OTC ones with extra folic acid. He says it saves money on prescription costs...