Question:
Following the recent news annoucement of the possibility of folic acid being related to cancer, I wonder, if there is such a thing as a natural alternative? The reason I ask is that I have been taking folic acid (in the form of pre-natal vitamins) now for over 6 months in the hope that I will become pregnant - negative so far. I have recently found out that I will have to go down the IVF route, therefore should I cease taking folic acid until the IVF treatments commence?
Your thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Regards
Sonia
in terms of minimising risk to baby they say you should be on folic acid for at least three months prior to conception so a lot would depend on the timescale you have been given, also are you going to keep trying in the meantime?
sorry that doesnt sound much help, and good luck with the IVF.....
Tiger
x
not to scare you but just some info for you...
When i found out i was pregnant i started taking folic acid tablets. A few days after starting them i had a bleed which turned out to be a threatened miscarriage. I lost one of the twins i was carrying (i didnt know i was having twins till then). Over a six week period i took folic acid sporadically as i was in and out of hospital with bleeding etc. it seemed everytime i took the folic acid i bled which could have been coincedence but i wasnt going to take that risk. I stopped taking the folic acid. The pregnancy then progressed well and i gave birth to a beautiful baby boy about 6 months ago. My family and friends all say he is one of the happiest babys that they have ever seen.
I have since read up on various things and there is such a thing as too much folic acid. There are a small percentage of woman who have enough folic acid already (from diet etc) and do not need to take supplements as their body cannot cope with anymore.
I cant remember the book it was (i got it from the library and it was 12 months ago and my memory has gone since having a baby :S)
Dont know if you have heard about this. Havent tried it myself but i read about it in a magazine. its mainly about changing your diet and taking vitamins and that.
www.foresight-preconception.org.uk
Good luck. Sending you blessings and hope everything goes ok with you:)
Edited to correct spelling error(s).
Thanks very much for your reply's.
Yes we are still trying, hence still taking the folic acid, just in case. Hence my question on whether I should still be taking it even thought not a lot is happening??? It looks like we will have to go down the fertility treatment route, unfortunately due to the area we live in will have to wait until May 2005 before any treatment can begin (via the NHS)!!
Octavia sorry to hear about the loss of your twin, but pleased to hear that you have a very healthy and happy boy:D Did you ever find out whether or not it was the folic acid that caused the complications in your pregnancy?
Thanks for the informtion will certainly have a look and fingers crossed, something will happen.....
Hi
Didnt find out for sure as sadly miscarriages are so common and as it was my first miscarriage(and only i hope) they arent worried about it and so dont feel like they have to give tests to find out why. Doctors dont seem to realise the grief that people go through when they lose a child as they see it happen everyday(and i believe that its a child from the moment of conception although i know that others have different views but dont get me started on that one!) I dont even know if they were identical or anything as it was early in the pregnancy and they were so small. I do have the scan with the twin sacs on though. And i think the odds are something like 1 in 12 pregnancies are twins but they lose one before they even have the first scan and so most people never know about it.
Your thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Regards
Sonia
Answers:
in terms of minimising risk to baby they say you should be on folic acid for at least three months prior to conception so a lot would depend on the timescale you have been given, also are you going to keep trying in the meantime?
sorry that doesnt sound much help, and good luck with the IVF.....
Tiger
x
Answers:
not to scare you but just some info for you...
When i found out i was pregnant i started taking folic acid tablets. A few days after starting them i had a bleed which turned out to be a threatened miscarriage. I lost one of the twins i was carrying (i didnt know i was having twins till then). Over a six week period i took folic acid sporadically as i was in and out of hospital with bleeding etc. it seemed everytime i took the folic acid i bled which could have been coincedence but i wasnt going to take that risk. I stopped taking the folic acid. The pregnancy then progressed well and i gave birth to a beautiful baby boy about 6 months ago. My family and friends all say he is one of the happiest babys that they have ever seen.
I have since read up on various things and there is such a thing as too much folic acid. There are a small percentage of woman who have enough folic acid already (from diet etc) and do not need to take supplements as their body cannot cope with anymore.
I cant remember the book it was (i got it from the library and it was 12 months ago and my memory has gone since having a baby :S)
Dont know if you have heard about this. Havent tried it myself but i read about it in a magazine. its mainly about changing your diet and taking vitamins and that.
www.foresight-preconception.org.uk
Good luck. Sending you blessings and hope everything goes ok with you:)
Edited to correct spelling error(s).
Answers:
Thanks very much for your reply's.
Yes we are still trying, hence still taking the folic acid, just in case. Hence my question on whether I should still be taking it even thought not a lot is happening??? It looks like we will have to go down the fertility treatment route, unfortunately due to the area we live in will have to wait until May 2005 before any treatment can begin (via the NHS)!!
Octavia sorry to hear about the loss of your twin, but pleased to hear that you have a very healthy and happy boy:D Did you ever find out whether or not it was the folic acid that caused the complications in your pregnancy?
Thanks for the informtion will certainly have a look and fingers crossed, something will happen.....
Answers:
Hi
Didnt find out for sure as sadly miscarriages are so common and as it was my first miscarriage(and only i hope) they arent worried about it and so dont feel like they have to give tests to find out why. Doctors dont seem to realise the grief that people go through when they lose a child as they see it happen everyday(and i believe that its a child from the moment of conception although i know that others have different views but dont get me started on that one!) I dont even know if they were identical or anything as it was early in the pregnancy and they were so small. I do have the scan with the twin sacs on though. And i think the odds are something like 1 in 12 pregnancies are twins but they lose one before they even have the first scan and so most people never know about it.
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