Have any of you increased your intake of folic acid since your MC?

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Hey girls.. posted something of this nature on TTC, but wanted to know if anyone had upped their intake of folic acid since their sad loss. I'm a bit angry cause my doc told me to just keep taking my normal prenatal.. but looking online, that should be increased once pregnancy is confirmed ANYWAY!!

Anyway.. have you increased yours? I'm thinking of taking my prenatal which has 400mcg, as well as 400mcg on its own... Also.. who takes baby aspirin and was it prescribed or not? I have clots (during my period) and wondered if I take them throughout my cycle it will help?? Sorry for all the Q's!

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

bump

 

[kanga]

I've upped my folic by 4 times, I figure it can't hurt

If I get pg again, I will take baby aspirin too (not prescribed)

I'm going to the mc specialist tomorrow so maybe they will tell me if I actually need any of these things!

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Thanks... Let me know what they say.. Hope its doing some good!!

 

[bluesky]

Before I started ttc I went to docs as we have history of neural tube defects in the family and I started taking 5mg which docs prescribed. I had my mmc at 12 weeks and looking at the baby there was no sign of spina bifida or anecaphly.

I would go to the docs and speak to them about upping your intake rather than taking more tablets.

 

[Amygdala]

I'm doing the same thing, taking prenatal plus extra folic acid which comes to 800mcg. That's the prescribed dose for the first trimester in Germany and I'd rather take too much than too little. I can't help you with aspirin though. What does it do?

 

[SugarFairy]

I have. I'm now taking a 400mcg in the morning and another at night. Here in the UK standard is 400mcg but its higher elsewhere so i figure its not going to hurt. I'm also purposely eating breakfast cereal fortified with folic acid and am trying to eat other things high in it too

 

[thumbshoes]

My DR never said anything about higher dose of folic acid either. Just to keep taking my PN. This is the first I've heard of it actually. I think I'll up the dose starting today.

My DR did however prescribe 81mg aspirin (baby) a day- everday. She said the blood tests the determine if I have a blood clotting factor are expensive and some can only be done once pregnancy is confirmed. Most of the time she just prescribes the aspirin anyway and it wouldn't hurt me so just do it. She also prescribe progesterone to be taken 2 days after ovulation until 12 week pregant (or AF starts).

I've had two early miscarraiges (approx 6 weeks)... and this is how we are being proactive for the next pregnancy. My DR feels confident my next one will be my keeper... which makes me all the more anxious to get my BFP!

Just started a new cycle so I'll get it started with the extra FA. Thanks for the info ladies!

 

[bbhopes]

After my first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage I was just told to keep taking what i had before, the prenatal vitamins, My second pregnancy resulted in son who was born with a birth defect, the genetic heart doctor put me on a high level of folic acid. Which I am currently on that now, as well as every other day I take two prenatal (they are designed to be taken 12 hours apart and are probably the same as other one dosed ones)

 

[Whitbit22]

I have been taking a B-complex, which has extra folic acid in it, on top of my prenatal. I hadnt put much thought into the baby aspirin though.. I will definitely look into that, thanks ladies!

 

[Tulip]

IMHO the UK recommended level of Folic Acid is too low for TTC women - especially those who have miscarried. We will never know how many early losses are a result of a defective neural tube - I could myself so lucky that Ruby survived long enough to be diagnosed and as a result has saved her little brother. I believe that the RDA in New Zealand for pregnant women is 800mcg for the first trimester and for 4 weeks prior to conception. And as Amygdala has said, it's the same in Germany.

You could easily supplement to 800mcg-1mg without ill-effects depending on any other health issues. I found this today: https://www.acu-cell.com/bx2.html.

Vitamin B9 - Folic Acid / Folate (Folate is the natural form, Folic Acid is the synthetic form).

RDA:
18yrs+ = 400mcg.
Pregnant/Lactating = 1mg.
High-risk women of childbearing age = 5mg. (High risk being those with a familial or pregnancy history of neural tube defects, those who will be unable to absorb Folic well eg digestive problems such as Crohns Disease and those on anti-epilepsy medication which also blocks folic absorption).

Low Levels / Deficiency - Symptoms and/or Risk Factors:
Hemolytic and megaloblastic anemia, low energy,
abnormal fetal development (neural tube defect),
high homocysteine levels / vascular degeneration,
mental disorders, confusion, forgetfulness, insomnia,
irritability, depression, cervical dysplasia, higher risk
to develop some cancers, high blood pressure.

High levels / Overdose / Toxicity / Negative Side Effects - Symptoms and/or Risk Factors:
Kidney damage, abdominal bloating / distention,
nausea, loss of appetite, increased cholesterol
LDL / HDL ratio, increased zinc and potassium
requirements, may mask pernicious anemia from
Vitamin B12 deficiency, worsens some types of
childhood leukemia, higher risk to develop some
cancers when higher amounts of folic acid and
Vitamin B12 are supplemented.

It is very difficult to overdose on FA (I think the figure is 15mg/day which would involve popping pills all day long). I was on 5mg for this baby which is twelve times the 400mcg UK dose.

Also if there's anyone TTC in the UK who has had a pregnancy affected by NTD, the clinical trial I am on is looking for new patients: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ich/research-ich/neural-development/ponti_study

Lots of luck and healthy baby dust to you all xxxxx

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

Thanks hun. My mom has epilepsy (my birth mom) but I'm adpoted, so I dont know much about her other than that. She's had 7 children and 3 MC's, I wonder if her epilepsy could affect me as well.. gosh. Thanks for the info. xx

 

[Starry Night]

Hmmm, my prenatals have 1mg in them already. But I'm in Canada so maybe things are different here? I'm starting to look to find ways to get folate in my diet as well. I don't like fully relying on supplements to get the nutrients I need.

 

[Tulip]

Quite right hon - folate in food is more easily utilised by your body so any that you get is great

Unfortunately we all need supplements on top of that as with our modern diets it's near-impossible to get the required amount through food xx

 

[thumbshoes]

Hey ladies- I thought it would be nice to eat some folate rich foods and see what I can to encorporate them into my diet to help out after reading this post. I just wanted to share:

Item, amount, mcg folate

Brewer’s yeast, 1 tablespoon 313
Lentils, 1/2 cup, cooked 180
Edamame, frozen, 1/2 cup 179
Romaine lettuce, 2 cups 152
Pinto beans, 1/2 cup, cooked 147
Okra, 1/2 cup, cooked fr. frozen 134
Black beans, 1/2 cup, cooked 128
Black-eyed peas, 1/2 cup, cooked 120
Spinach, 2 cups, fresh 218
Kidney beans, 1/2 cup, cooked 115
Broccoli, chopped, 1 cup, cooked 104
Brussels sprouts, 1 cup, cooked 94
Collard greens, 1/2 cup, cooked 88
Garbanzo beans, 1/2 cup, canned 80
Asparagus, 1 cup, fresh 79
Orange Juice, 1 cup, fresh 74
Beets, 1/2 cup, cooked 68
Whole wheat bread, 2 slices 60
Orange, 1 large 55
Papaya cubes, 1 cup 53
Tofu, 3/4 cup 53

 

[Hopeful 4 #1]

The only thing on that list I can hack, is oranges, orange juice, and brocolli. I actually hate the taste of everything else lolol!

 

[Starry Night]

I already get lots of broccoli and whole wheat bread. I do enjoy romaine lettuce and can easily work that in more along with orange juice. I feel so intimidated by all the stuff we're supposed to get for a healthy pregnancy so it's nice to get easy, practical steps to get the more essential ones in.

thanks for the list!