Folic acid question - when to TTC?

by **Madame bijoux** » Sun Apr 29, 2022 4:41 am

Hi ladies,
how long are you meant to be on FA before TTC? I've read a few different reccommendations. Thanks :xxx

by **lilytiger** » Sun Apr 29, 2022 11:06 am

I think they say to take the folic acid from about 3 months before you get pregnant but I wouldn't let the fact that you haven't been taking it religiously put you off TTC. A lot of women only start taking it once they find out they are pregnant especially if it wasn't planned! Also a lot of cereal, bread and milk are fortified with folic acid and other B vitamins so you'll probably be taking some in in your diet anyway. Also, you may not get pregnant on the first month and you can just start taking it from now and at least have some built up in your system by the time you get your BFP. :babydust:

Mustang Sally · by **Mustang Sally** » Sun Apr 29, 2022 11:55 am

It's recommended to take it three months before getting pregnant. Just because "lots of people take it and have no problems" doesn't make it safe to go without. There will always be one person caught out and it's a risk I wouldn't be willing to take! I'd take it religiously for at least a month or two before trying. Better to be safe than sorry and all that. Lots of people get pregnant on the first try too! :o)ll

The amount that's in breakfast cereals and breads isn't enough to cover you.

Silini2 · by **Silini2** » Sun Apr 29, 2022 2:39 pm

I agree with mustang Sally. I have read up the research on this and it's recommended you take it fourteen weeks prior to conception to help prevent neural tube defects. In fact all women of child bearing age are meant to take it regardless of whether u are ttc. The amount in fortified foods is not enough. Personally I wouldn't take a chance. If something went wrong I'd blame myself for not taking it.

septbride12 · by **septbride12** » Thu May 10, 2022 2:15 pm

this is probably a silly question, but do you have to go to doctor to get folic acid or can you just get in chemist self?

by **Madame bijoux** » Thu May 10, 2022 2:19 pm

septbride12 wrote:this is probably a silly question, but do you have to go to doctor to get folic acid or can you just get in chemist self?

Hi Septbride12 - you can pick it up in the chemist or in some large supermarkets. I take Clonfolic but there is folic acid in lots of supplements and multivitamins. Just make sure that whatever you are taking has 400 mcg (0.4 mg) of folic acid in it.

Best of luck

by **jiggyjiggy** » Thu May 10, 2022 2:45 pm

I've been taking it since after xmas knowing that we wouldn't be TTC until next month. Doesn't do any harm so decided to start taking then so that I wouldn't worry about it if I missed a day here or there.

I got mine in Holland and Barrett.

septbride12 · by **septbride12** » Thu May 10, 2022 2:47 pm

Madame bijoux wrote:
septbride12 wrote:this is probably a silly question, but do you have to go to doctor to get folic acid or can you just get in chemist self?

Hi Septbride12 - you can pick it up in the chemist or in some large supermarkets. I take Clonfolic but there is folic acid in lots of supplements and multivitamins. Just make sure that whatever you are taking has 400 mcg (0.4 mg) of folic acid in it.

Best of luck

Thanks for info. dont want to start trying until after the wedding. still on the pill and not going to come off it until after wedding, no point coming off it now, dont want any side effects coming up to wedding. hopefully everything will go to plan :babydust:

by **Madame bijoux** » Thu May 10, 2022 3:03 pm

Septbride - you should start taking it now anyway. As jiggyjiggy said, there is no harm in taking it even if you are on the pill.

It's recommended that all women of childbearing age take folic acid. Best of luck with the wedding!!! September will be here before you know it!

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