Hi everyone, I was just wondering if you could help. I got my BFP on Sunday and I went to my doctor today to confirm it. She told me to take folic acid, which I knew I had to take anyway for the first trimester. But she kind of scared me a bit cause she said I should have been taking it for the last few months, but as this pregnancy wasn't planned, I haven't been. Will this do any harm to my baby?

Ash!
I had the same issue. The doctor told me too that I should of been taking it before. I was concerned too until I really thought about it. My mother or grandmother never took it and all there children turned out fine and when you look at all the unplanned pregnancies I have not heard of any problems from not taking folic acid. Folic acid helps decrease the percentage of problems but it is not the end all if you didn't take it. Don't worry, I am sure it will be fine.

Youll find it in alot of what you eat aswell, cereals etc so youve more than likely been getting some without realising it

Is there anything else I should be taking? I'm taking folic acid as of today and I'm only a few weeks, so I suppose thats better than nothing. After those 12 weeks on that, should I take anything else?

Best tip is to eat well, but you can get vitamins especially for use during pregnancy which you can use throughout.

you doc should advise you. but yes, a multi vitamin designed for pregnant ladies is recomended - you should be able to get it on prescription i think? Mine are pricey.

If your pregnancy wasn't planned then you wasn't to know you should be taking folic acid months in advance!

My OH half and i decided we wanted to start a family but we was lucky and i fell pregnant the first month of coming off the pill, i hadn't realised it would happen so quick for us and hadn't been taking folic acid, i have been for scan and baby is fine, As long as you take it every day from now you should be fine!

They only say taking Folic Acid two months before falling pregnant is advised. They don't say "Take it for two months prior or else!!!"

As long as you remember to take it daily from now on it's fine.

All multivitamins for pregnant women contain the right amount of folic acid as well.

If you do take a multivitamin (which IMHO you should!) make sure it is designed for pregnancy as everyday multivatamins contain things you shouldn't take while pregnant- vitamin a I think

my pregnancy was not planned and i didnt atart the folic acid till I was 9 weeks after i went to the Dr. And the prenatal vitamins got me sick so I been taking 2 children chewables a day which my Dr said was fine.