Folic Acid question! 6 Weeks pregnant!?

Question

I just found out I'm pregnant and according to these calculator things I'm about 6 weeks pregnant. The moment I found out I was pregnant I called my doctor and schedualed an appt. for December 9th. The thing is, I'm scared because since the pregnancy wasn't planned, I didn't take the prenatal vitamins. I just found out I am and I don't know which ones I have to get. I went to the store to get some but there was so many to choose from and it was so confusing to choose. The appt. is only 9 days away so should i wait to get prescription ones or buy some NOW? Will it hurt the baby if i don't take them till i go to the doctor so they could choose them for me? I'm scared because i read this online...
"Remember the Folic Acid you should be taking? Well, since the Neural tube (later known as spinal cord) begins to fuse, folic acid is important in preventing neural tube defects."
And I haven't taken ANY folic acid! I feel like a bad person and i certainly don't want any thing bad to happen to my baby! What should i do? Do i wait? Or buy some? If you recommend i buy some which ones would you recommend me?

Answer 1

Prenatal vitamins aren't intended to be taken before pregnancy. If you regularly eat flour products, you actually likely have enough folic acid anyway since it's added to everything. 400 micrograms, the amount in regular OTC vitamins is sufficient for most women. It's actually double the amount to reduce neural tube defects.



Contrary to another poster, you can take too much folic acid. Recent studies are showing that people who take large doses of folic acid over a long period may be developing health problems, not previously seen including heart damage. I am at risk of having a child with neural tube defects and was taking 4 mg and my doctor told me to drop back down to what is in my regular vitamin tablet. Folic acid is a synthetic vitamin and may have limitations. Folate, found in food, has no issue when eaten in excess.

Answer 2

You should definitely be taking Folic Acid! I mean, women had babies for a long time without it, but now that we know it helps during pregnancy, why wouldn't your doctor want you to take it? Living in Australia has nothing to do with it! I don't know how it works in Australia, but where I live (Canada) you can just get a prenatal vitamin with Folic Acid in it. So if your doctor won't prescribe it, is that an option? If not, is he the kind of Doctor that would listen to you if you explained that you were more comfortable taking Folic Aid? Good luck and congrats on your pregnancy!

Answer 3

First of all Congrats! Secondly, remember there are so many unplanned pregnancies that turn out just fine:) Take a breath and try to relax. Yes, in ideal conditions you would have been taking the follate prior to conception but start taking it now. AS women we need 400mcg (micrograms) each day pregnant or not. Most prenatals have 400-800 and a few even have 1000! Thats fine because the B vitamin absorbs. My doc said it would be very difficult to over dose. As for which ones, it really doesn't matter. My first pregnancy I just took the generic ones then later switched to only prenatals. You can also get some of the Folic acid from foods you probably have been eating. Some fortified breads and breakfast cereals to name a few:)



You are not a bad person.. . Not knowing you can't help it:) My mom didnt know she was pregnant with me until she was well into her 4th month lol.



I take the Melaleuca prenatals along with the omega 3 fish oil but really they are pretty much the same. You can get the liquid ones which usually absorbs better. The Melaleuca ones I take actually are patented to absorb with the Oligo compound... anyway I like em cause they are supposedly the best of science and nature and I've had 2 healthy girls with them:)



Keep in mind, whatever ones you take it does take some time to get use to them. You may feel sick with the combo of pregnancy hormones and the vitamins themselves. The best thing is to take them at night right before bed with a small protein snack. It takes longer to break down protein so it sticks with you longer. The empty stomach is what contributes to morning sickness. This is one of the tips the doc gave me.



Anyway best of luck and blessings :)

Answer 4

A lot of women do not know they are pregnant so they don't get the vitamins they need for the first few weeks. You dont have to go get a prenatal vitamin sense your close to your doctors apt but you should be taking a multivitamin so you can both stay healthy. As for the folic acid I say buy a bottle and even after you are taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid in it take it. You can nit harm yourself or your baby from taking too much folic acid but you can by not taking enough. I am 25 weeks pregnant and I took an additional 400mcg of folic acid all throughout my first trimester. Good luck and congratulations!!!

Answer 5

Don't get so worried about it. It is not too late. There are lots of vitamins with folic acid but they have a special one for pregnant women. Ask your pharmacist which one he thinks is best. Congratulations on your new coming baby.