Folic acid after 12 weeks?

Supercell

Our second one is on the way and is a bit of a happy surprise
My wife wasn't taking folic acid as we weren't planning on trying for a while.
Does anyone know if there is there any gain to be had by taking it for a few extra weeks over the recommended first 12 weeks or not?

lmullen

Supercell wrote: »

Our second one is on the way and is a bit of a happy surprise
My wife wasn't taking folic acid as we weren't planning on trying for a while.
Does anyone know if there is there any gain to be had by taking it for a few extra weeks over the recommended first 12 weeks or not?

My doctor gets his patients to take it for the whole of the pregnancy! Can't do any harm. I take the pregnacare vitamins which have iron and other bits and minerals as well as the folic acid.

Das Kitty

There's no harm, but the neural tube is closed at 12 weeks so it's not going to make any difference on that score.

Don't worry though, plenty of folks never take it and neural tube defects are very rare.

Ms2011

Folic acid is added to alot of foods we eat these days like breads & cereals so the incidents of defects have dropped alot, getting women to take folic acid up until 12 weeks is just precautionary really.
Congrats by the way!!

Always number 1

Hi and Congrats.
I was 11 weeks pregnant before I found out. I hadn't been taking folic acid so my doctor prescribed me a 5mg dose.
When I went to the hospital last week for my appointment at almost 14 weeks, the midwife advised me to take Pregnacare - it contains the RDA of Folic acid and all the Vitamins from B to Zinc (pregnant women are meant to avoid Vitamin A)
If your wife decides to take pregnacare, can I suggest she take it with orange juice as it makes it easier on your stomach (a great tip I got from my mam)
Good luck xx

Supercell

Thanks guys, will suggest this Pregnacare stuff to herself as well.

icescreamqueen

I took pregnacare up until I was about 5 months pregnant. Then a midwife said I didn't need to take them anymore but maybe get a few opinions on this. One thing I'd say is get your iron levels checked. I was at the point of sheer exhaustion and the hospital took a blood test and I had low iron levels. I've been taking Galfer ever since and my energy levels have shot up. Apparently 90% of women have low iron levels and if they're really low, you might need a blood transfusion during labour. Sorry, probably complete sensationalism!

lazygal

I'd also recommend getting your iron levels checked post labour with a GP and taking a supplement for six weeks post birth. I stayed on the iron I was on throughout pregnancy and I think it helped my recovery compared to women I know who didn't.