folic acid

[zeni89]

Hi Girls!
I am new to TTC, as this is our first month we decided to try... I am almost 30 years old and OH 36. It would be my first... Of course wishful thinking I am hoping it will work the first time -,- We did the deed on cd14 and cd16, I am not sure when I ovulate as the OPKs didnt show it (only darker around cd13 but I don't think it was clear positive) but I did have ovulation pains from cs15.
Anyway! My question is about folic acid. I heard it's good to take it even if you are not pregnant yet... Any of you can suggest a dosage? And if there are any other vitamins I should take to speed the process?
Xoxo

 

[IVW]

Hi Zeni,

hopefully your journey is short and sweet.

Yes you should be taking folic acid now, its only one tablet a day. There are pregnacare folic acid tablets, but they can be pricey and when you dont know how long it will take you to conceive, the cost can add up, so i would recommend cheaper brands, as they do exactly the same.

Its not suggested you take any extra vitamins and minerals but it certainly would just be a benefit to your health and possible chances of conceiving, so definitely no harm in taking maybe multi vitamins.

Sending you lots of baby dust

 

[zeni89]

Hi IVW,
Thanks a lot for the info! Do you know the dosage I should take? I read somewhere 400mg?
Also congrats on your BFP!!!

 

[chattychar1990]

Hi Zeni,
I use Superdrug own brand of folic acid that also had vit d with it. Apprantely this is now needed along with the folic acid. I think at the moment they are doing 3 for 2 on their own brand vitamins so good to stock up when there is an offer on.
You will only need to take 1 tablet a day and the dosage is 400mg.
Hope this helps x

 

[zeni89]

Thank you! Very much appreciated ladies )) xoxo

 

[Abi88]

I've been taking the pregnacare conception vitamins. As a veggie I worry that I'll have gaps in my nutrition, particularly b vitamins and calcium so I find it handy to take everything in 1 tablet.

 

[zeni89]

Great insight Abi and again, congrats on your BFP, so exciting!

 

[alwayscoffee]

Hi Girls!
I am new to TTC, as this is our first month we decided to try... I am almost 30 years old and OH 36. It would be my first... Of course wishful thinking I am hoping it will work the first time -,- We did the deed on cd14 and cd16, I am not sure when I ovulate as the OPKs didnt show it (only darker around cd13 but I don't think it was clear positive) but I did have ovulation pains from cs15.
Anyway! My question is about folic acid. I heard it's good to take it even if you are not pregnant yet... Any of you can suggest a dosage? And if there are any other vitamins I should take to speed the process?
Xoxo

I wasn't taking folic acid alone, but I was taking a Prenatal with folic acid in it.

Prenatal with Folate - one a day (Brand: MorninigPep)
Vitamin C - 500 mg
Probiotics for vaginal health
Conception (has Vitex and Inositol along with B complex)

This was from my journal, diet is very important as well:

I am making sure to eat plenty of foods rich in B6, Zinc, L-Arginine and Vitamin E. These are important nutrients for fertility. I also am trying to eat more Organic foods, especially meats and diary because of the hormones that animals are injected with. Fertility Friendly Foods: sunflower seeds, pistachio nuts, fish, turkey, bananas, walnuts, lean meat, salmon, beans, cashews, wheat germ, peanuts, chickpeas, olive oil, eggs. I eat an avocado a day and drink lots of water. I am TRYING to limit alcohol to twice a week and drinking red wine only. I am switching to decaf espresso and trying to be more active physically.

 

[zeni89]

Hi Heather,
Thanks for the reply!
I have few questions with it as I am not pregnant yet (we will see in 2 weeks ) should I be taking all this now? Or only when I get my BFP?
Also, again, I am not pregnant so I don't know any better, but are you actually allowed to drink alcohol at all during pregnancy? (no judgement there, I just really am a newbie to this and have no idea what is ok to do and what is not , it actually makes me happy cause I am a big wine lover haha )

 

[Abi88]

Start on the folic acid as soon as you can. If you already take a vitamin it might already have the recommended amount. Holland and Barrett certainly do as that's what I was taking before the conception ones. It does no harm to take it. Most people here seem to drink in moderation until they get a BFP. If it takes time it seems extreme to give up drinking for months or even years before you get pregnant. Plus even if the egg is fertilised it doesn't share your blood until after implantation and if you're testing you know by then.

 

[IVW]

Hi Heather,
Thanks for the reply!
I have few questions with it as I am not pregnant yet (we will see in 2 weeks ) should I be taking all this now? Or only when I get my BFP?
Also, again, I am not pregnant so I don't know any better, but are you actually allowed to drink alcohol at all during pregnancy? (no judgement there, I just really am a newbie to this and have no idea what is ok to do and what is not , it actually makes me happy cause I am a big wine lover haha )

My oh and i are MASSIVE social drinkers (hes a geordie and i just love a drink ).

In the months leading up to my bfp the alcohol was being consumed quite regularly (we dont drink in the week having said this) at weekends. We have a large network of friends and i just knew i couldn't get away with reducing what i drank, so i didnt and neither did my partner. Of course we had the conversation of 'we should probably reduce the alcohol intake', but thats as far as it went. We had birthdays, the world cup, ascot, an amazing summer - which meant a lot of alcohol and in the end, it didnt effect us

Now, this is just me and how we decided to approach ttc, but on the other hand, i would also say, if you are out partying and caning back 20 shots a night, to maybe knock that on the head but having a few glasses of wine here and there, go for it.

Its also best to try and not change your lifestyle - try and have a relaxed approach to it and just track when ovulation is etc.

I remember asking on here whether i should drink before i was going to test, but i only asked this because at 6dpo i was pretty sure i had caught and the advice the girls will say is 'drink until its pink' so i went to a friends house, went a bit nuts on the cocktails and bam, Monday morning, bfp.

If my journey was longer, i dont doubt at all that i would have maybe introduced a few more things in to my diet and maybe stopped other things, but everyone's journey is different and whatever you decide to do is the right thing for you.

I wish you all the best and hope the journey is a short one - oh and dont feel stupid about what questions you ask, we have all been there and the girls on here are CRAZY knowledgeable, so will give advice and guidance where we can

 

[MoominGirl]

I think the advice is folic acid/vit d from 3 months before you TTC. Of course that's an ideal scenario so don't get hung up on it!! I took various multivitamins etc as we took a long time to catch and I'd have tried anything. At the point where we'd practically given up, I stripped back and just took folic acid/vit d which is so much cheaper than the multivitamins. Midwife said that was absolutely fine and a multivitamin isn't necessary so I just carried on taking that.

As you're just starting out, I wouldn't worry about major lifestyle changes at the moment. Just try and go with the flow and enjoy it. Good general health is a good thing overall so do it for those reasons rather than to get pregnant faster if you're going to change anything.

As for alcohol, I wouldn't cut it until you know you're pregnant. We have never been big drinkers so it was never an issue for us but if you enjoy a drink socially then definitely carry on as you may not catch as quickly as you hope so the drink would probably do you more good than going without!!

 

[zeni89]

Wow thank you all for a great advice!!! I really appreciate it
Was the best choice to join this forum after all
Xoxo

 

[WinterWolf]

You need 500mcg of folic acid daily. Ideally you'll take it for 3 months before conceiving

 

[chattychar1990]

Its actually 400mcg in the UK, must be different in Australia.

 

[Nikkibiscuit]

Docs will usually recommended you start folic acid 3 months before you start TTC so that it is in your system as the early part of pregnancy is the most important time for it. So start as soon as you can and 400mg as stated by others. Good luck x

 

[Hlouisebaby3]

It’s 100% 400mg...

 

[alwayscoffee]

Hi Heather,
Thanks for the reply!
I have few questions with it as I am not pregnant yet (we will see in 2 weeks ) should I be taking all this now? Or only when I get my BFP?
Also, again, I am not pregnant so I don't know any better, but are you actually allowed to drink alcohol at all during pregnancy? (no judgement there, I just really am a newbie to this and have no idea what is ok to do and what is not , it actually makes me happy cause I am a big wine lover haha )

Yes, you should be taken this way ahead. Start it now, ASAP!

I only drank during TTC, not when I got pregnant. I don't recommend drinking when pregnant. Especially during the first trimester. I know some people who had a glass of wine every night in their third trimester; again, I don't recommend it, but some people do. When you get pregnant, that is something you can ask your doctor.

 

[IVW]

Hi Heather,
Thanks for the reply!
I have few questions with it as I am not pregnant yet (we will see in 2 weeks ) should I be taking all this now? Or only when I get my BFP?
Also, again, I am not pregnant so I don't know any better, but are you actually allowed to drink alcohol at all during pregnancy? (no judgement there, I just really am a newbie to this and have no idea what is ok to do and what is not , it actually makes me happy cause I am a big wine lover haha )

Yes, you should be taken this way ahead. Start it now, ASAP!

I only drank during TTC, not when I got pregnant. I don't recommend drinking when pregnant. Especially during the first trimester. I know some people who had a glass of wine every night in their third trimester; again, I don't recommend it, but some people do. When you get pregnant, that is something you can ask your doctor.

Me neither and it actually turns my stomach at having anything alcoholic, which for me, is a good thing

I had a few sips of prosecco at a wedding, but didnt fancy it at all - that was going to be my treat.

A friend of mine was drinking guiness and red wine throughout her pregnancy, more so near the end i might add, and was almost proud to admit it each to their own i suppose, but i am just glad i am totally not bothered by it.

Although the new non alcoholic prosecco that Sainsburys (one of our supermarkets) now do is AMAZING!

 

[zeni89]

No no, I prefer not to drink during pregnancy, not judging anyone who wants though (unless its a lot...)
I would feel too responsible for another life inside of me and to put it at risk just for my own selfish reasons