my girlfriend and I found out 3 days ago
that she is pregnant! We are both very
happy although a little nervous! I have a
question regarding folic acid and general
diet. My girlfriend works nights and has
been feeling very down due to the amount
of hours worked (she's a nurse). I've
read that it is important to take folic
acid before pregnancy and the most
important time to take it is in the first
2 weeks of pregnancy. We think she is
about 5 weeks or thereabouts and she has
started taking pregnacare folic acid
tablets and multivitamin every day. I'm a
bit concerned that working a hard run of
night shift, coupled with a lack of
vitamins may have had a detrimental effect
- or am I just worrying too much?! She
does eat fruit & veg but probably more
convience food whilst doing nights over
the last month or so.
Thanks for any help!
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leeannep4
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 32
Posted: 10-08-06 10:10am
Hi,
i'm not sure how much her doc recommends,
but I do know it is very important now.
This is the most critical stage for brain
and neural tube development. I have a
friend with a 7 month old and they just
found out that he has an encephalocele,
which is where his neural tube didn't
close all the way and his brain tissue
bulges in. This could have been due to
lack of folic acid around the 5-6 week of
pregnancy or a genetic thing. They
just found this out yesterday so they are
still running a wazoo of tests and don't
know much yet. He does also have cleft
pallate and lip as well though, so that
could be a sign that it is genetic, but
the cleft can be a side effect of the
encephalocele as well.
I hope that didn't scare you, as his
condition is extremely rare, I just
wanted to suggest that right now is the
most critical stage for your baby's brain
development. If she has been taking the
vitamins, i'm sure that's enough of a
supplement. However, it probably would
help if she could try to eat natural
sources of folic acid, even though I know
with her schedule it's hard. These
things include fruits, green leafy
veggies, like spinach, etc..., nuts, and
beans. Good luck to you and your
girlfriend, i'm sure your baby will be
healthy.
Last edited by leeannep4 on 10-08-06 14:09pm; edited 1 time in total
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sandyallen
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Feb 2004 Posts: 4580
Posted: 10-08-06 11:37am
Congratulations! I know as a nurse that
some work 12 hous a day and depending
where they work they sometimes have to
lift and push and pull and they sometimes
run short staffed. I hope that she is
able to get assistance. Has she seen the
dr? The dr might want to put her on some
light duty. It is good to know that you
are concerned! Make sure that she keeps
up with her dr appointments. I agree with
the poster above, make sure that she eats
right and help her out as much as you can
at home. We are here for you. Most
females do not even know if they are two
weeks pregnant.
I wish you both the best and the
baby-to-be!
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JUNGLE JUICE
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Posts: 82 Location: Barbados
Folic Posted: 10-08-06 11:37am
It is a sin to not take this little tablet
throughout the first 3 months and 1 monthe
b4 if you can.
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Becky
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 6225 Location: London, England
Thanks: 0
Thanked:7
Re: Folic Posted: 10-08-06 11:55am
jungle juice
wrote:
it is a sin to not take this
little tablet throughout the first 3
months and 1 monthe b4 if you
can.
i would exactly call it a sin but it is
very important.
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Jayb
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 29 Location: UK
Posted: 10-08-06 14:10pm
Hi
thanks for the replies. I was mainly
concerned that she hasn't taken anything
in the first 5 weeks as we did not know
she was pregnant. But from now on she
will be taking supplements and folic acid
and also a good diet (i'll help her with
my cooking!). I keep reading that the
first 2 weeks are citical, yet she's had
no folic acid in those apparently critical
stages.
Thanks for any info!
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leeannep4
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 32
Posted: 10-08-06 20:36pm
Hi,
i wouldn't be concerned if she wasn't
taking it initially. Doctors do suggest
now that if you know you are trying to get
pregnant to begin taking not only folic
acid but prenatal vitamins in general at
least a month before. However, a lot of
women, including myself didn't begin the
folic acid until I found out, at about 5
weeks. This is extremely common and more
than likely everything is fine. I think
it is great that you are so concerned and
willing to help her out. My hubby is
wonderful, but he just assumes I take care
of these things. It's wonderful that you
are so involved with your girlfriend and
your baby. :d
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Jayb
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 29 Location: UK
Posted: 10-09-06 02:17am
Thanks foryour replies!
I am very concerned because I only want
the best for our baby! I don't want to
end up being a control freak but i'm one
of those people who does research into
things if I know nothing about the
subject. I can't understand why dad's are
not interested and/or leave it all to the
woman! Anyway i'm going to buy a book
today so that we can do this properly and
give the little one the best start in life
on a sidenote I think its high time they
put folic acid into bread then it won't be
so much of a problem. I noticed that
cherios have 85% rda folic acid so we'll
be buying some more of them! I might also
write to the pm to get bread manufacturers
to put it in their bread! I'm sounding
like a control freak now!
