Folic Acid

Updated on September 21, 2009
S.T. asks from Liberty, MO
14 answers

Hello all you beautiful momma's out there!! My husband and I plan to start trying for baby #2 in just a few months. I really want to be on prenatals and folic acid for at least a month or so before actually trying. Our son was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palatte. We have no family history and his surgeon has given us enough statistics for us to know that sometimes it just happens, but we know that the folic acid helps. I cant start taking the prenatals for at least 3 more weeks. I had a blood clot after having C-section with our son 6 months ago and cant come off the blood thinner until the 26th of this month and then will have the blood tests to check for clotting disorders mid october. My question is this, does anyone know if it is better to take an actual folic acid supplement or is the folic acid in the prenatals enough? thanks for your help!!

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K.G.

answers from St. Louis on

My Ob had me take a prenatal and a folic acid. He said the research showed beter outcomes with the additinal folic acid. Hope this helps.

More Answers

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

Please be sure to check with your doctor and be sure it's safe to try so soon after having the blood clot. I would wait to start trying until you've been off the blood thinner and are sure the clot is gone,etc. That concerns me.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.R.

answers from St. Louis on

Dear Susan,

I'm not sure about the prenatal vitamins - but do know that Shaklee's makes an awesome product that includes a Multi-Vitamin, Omegas, Carotonoids, probiotics, Vit. C and extra B-Complex and much much more. Vitalizer is the very BEST Prenatal anyone could use.
If nothing else just look at the videos, go online and do your own research.

To learn more about Vitalizer go to http://freedomproject.sharepointsite.com/pages/video/vita... USER NAME – freedom PASSWORD - project

To order:
http://ser-opportunity.myshaklee.com/us/en/category.php?m...

You see there really is a difference between Natural (Shaklee)and Synthetic (perscription Prenatals)vitamins
Below you will find a comparison:

SHAKLEE VITA-LEA VS PRENATALS
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1999 20:46:11 -0500

SHAKLEE VITA-LEA CONTAINS:
All essential 12 vitamins and 7 minerals in proper balance;
27 whole vegetable sources which are readily absorbed by the body;
No chemicals,
No herbicides;
No pesticides;
No sugar;
No artificial colors, flavors or additives of any kind;
--CONTAINS phytonutrients and the live enzymes found in whole foods, and not found in
synthetic vitamins. Processed by no-heat method keeping enzymes alive
Contains 100% of the RDA of Biotin and Folic Acid

THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE PRENATAL VITAMINS ON THE MARKET TODAY AND WHAT THEY CONTAIN:

ZENATE (SOLVAY PHARMACEUT1CALS) CONTAINS:
CARNAUBA WAX WHEN HEATED TO DECOMPOSITION AND EMITS ACRID SMOKE AND IRRITATING FUMES.
MAGNESIUM STEARATE (WHEN HEATED, CAUSES TOXIC FUMES)
CONTAINS POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL. WHICH MAY PRODUCE BRAIN AND KIDNEY DAMAGE.
CONTAINS STEARIC ACID WHICH MAY CAUSE INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION.
SKIN SENSITIZATION IS USUAL.
TITANIUM DIOXIDE WHICH MAY CAUSE PULMONARY IRRITATION.
NO BIOTIN
NO PANTOTHENIC ACID
LOW MAGNESIUM
NO COPPER
NO PHOSPHORUS

PRECARE CAPLETS (NORTHAMPTON MEDICAL) CONTAINS:
NO VITAMIN A
NO VITAMIN B1
NO VITAMIN B12
NO BIOTIN
DUE TO IMPROPER BALANCE OF B VITAMINS THIS CAUSES A DUMPING THUS NOT
UTILIZING THE PROPER ABSORPTION OF VITAMINS B6 AND FOLIC ACID.
NO PHOSPHORUS
NO IODINE
NO PANTOTHENIC ACID

NATALINS TABLETS (MEAD JOHNSON) CONTAIN:
NO BIOTIN
LOW CALCIUM
L0W MAGNESIUM
NO PHOSPHORUS
NO PANTOTHENIC ACID
-- CONTAINS POLYETHLLENE GLYCOL WHICH MAY PRODUCE BRAIN AND KIDNEY DAMAGE

NIFEREX PN (CENTRAL PHARMACEUTICALS) CONTAINS:
NO VITAMIN E
NO MAGNESIUM
VERY LOW CALCIUM LEVELS
NO PHOSPHORUS
NO BIOTIN
CONTAINS METHYLCELLULOSE WHICH MAY CAUSE INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION IF INSUFFICIENT WATER IS TAKEN

PRENATE 90 (BOCK) CONTAINS:
NO BIOTIN
NO PANTOTHENIC ACID
NO MAGNESIUM
VERY LOW CALCIUM LEVELS

MATERNA TABLETS (LEDERLE)
CONTAI NS ONLY 19% CALCIUM
ONLY 6% MAGNESIUM
ONLY 10% BIOTIN
NO PHOSPHORUS
CONTAINS METHYLCELLULOSE WHICH MAY CAUSE INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION, IF INSUFFICIENT WATER IS TAKEN
CONTAINS METHYLPARABEN WHICH MAY CAUSE GASTRIC UPSET.
CONTAINS SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, A TYPICAL COMPOUND FOUND IN ANIONIC DETERGENTS.

NATALINS RX (MEAD JOHNSON) CONTAINS:
NO PHOSPHORUS
NO IODINE
CONTAINS HYDROCHLORIDE WHICH MAY BE A DIRECT PULMONARY IRRITANT AND
INFLAME CONJUNCTIVE OF EYES.
CONTAINS CYANOCOBALAMIN WHICH MAY CAUSE SENSITIVITY REACTIONS,
GASTROINTESTINAL DISTRESS, THROMBOSIS AND ITCHING RASH.

STUART PRENATAL (STUART) CONTAINS:
NO BIOTIN
LOW CALCIUM
NO MAGNESIUM
NO PHOSPHORUS
NO IODINE
CONTAINS HYDDROXPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE WHICH MAY CAUSE INTESTINAL
OBSTRUCTION, IF INSUFFICIENT WATER IS TAKEN

-------o-------

REFERENCES:
UNIVERSITY OF MISSlSSIPPI LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER CLINICAL

TOXICOLOGY OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS 5TH EDITION GOSSELIN- SMITHODGE

CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AND HUMAN HEALTH CYNTHIA WILSON

HANDBOOK OF POISONING - 12TH EDITION ROBERT H. DREISBACH - WILLIAM
ROBERISON

POISONlNG: TOXICOLOGY: SYMPTOMS: TREATMEMTS JAY ARENA - RICHARD H.DREW
HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL. DESK REFERENCE - 2ND EDITION RICHARD J. LEWIS, SR

A Midwife in PA writes about Shaklee and Pregnancy

After delivering 76 babies in the home - without anesthesia, fancy equipment, and a staff of doctors, nurses, aides and orderlies, I'm convinced that maternal nutrition is the single most important factor in the production of healthy offspring and a well mother. Shaklee mothers experience significantly less blood loss (2-3 teaspoons compared to 1 to 2 pints). Their placentas are smaller, firmer, and healthier. There is less vaginal tearing. Newborn babies are more alert, more contented and less prone to birth-related injury.

Specific points:
1. There was no colic noted in the Shaklee babies.

2. One patient ate Vita-Cal all through her labor and had almost a pain free experience. Apparently the needs of the muscles are so intense that by supplying the calcium, she greatly reduced the sensation of contraction.

3. Childbearing years are very hard on a woman's body. Yet the women taking Shaklee food supplements had fewer complaints of constipation and vomiting. In running blood tests on these women, it was found Shaklee vitamin products were absorbed and utilized by the body. Synthetic vitamins were not.

I can't imagine anything that is more valuable to you as a parent than a healthy child. The time to invest in that child's health is while that child is developing. The cost is well worth it to have the healthiest baby you can have, because once that baby is born, there's not much you can do. You can do so much while that baby is growing inside you.

Supplements suggested:
3 Tbsp. Instant Protein daily
2 Vita-Lea daily,
1 Vita-E 400IU per meal
1 B-Complex per meal
4 Alfalfa per meal
2 Lecithin per meal
1 Zinc per day
1 Iron per meal
4 Calcium Magnesium per meal
1 Herb Lax at night for 3 weeks, 2 at night until 7th month, and 4 at 8 months, 5 at 9 months. Fairly high levels of Herb Lax are recommended because half of all toxemia is caused by poor elimination. As a woman's body starts to soften for delivery, joints are actually softened up, so when delivery starts, the baby's head can pass more easily. All organs are pushed out. Hormones soften the intestinal tract too. It becomes jammed up and pressured and has more difficulty eliminating toxins.

Nursing: Extremely important to continue with your Shaklee Supplements.

This is a video on what makes Shaklee products so special.
http://ser-opportunity.myshaklee.com/us/en/whyshaklee.htm...

And another video is password protected, here's the user name and password:

USER NAME - freedom
PASSWORD - project

Here is the link http://freedomproject.sharepointsite.com/school/pages/vid...

Enjoy the movie!
Don't take my word for - check it out for yourself.
The best part is that IF you buy Shaklee and you are NOT satisfied for ANT reason - You get your money back!

A little about me: I am a Health & Wellness Advisor for 16 years and I have used the Shaklee Porducts for more than 25 years. they truly have made a huge difference in my life and in my family's life.

S. Riemann

www.ser-opportunity.myshaklee.com
###-###-####

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T.C.

answers from Kansas City on

I'd take the prenatals with folic acid then be sure you to eat foods that are known to have good levels of folate. Food sources are always best!

Here's a link for more info on folate and folate-rich foods: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbi...

All the best,

T.

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K.S.

answers from Kansas City on

definately take an extra folic acid pill. I take 800 mg a day. It's a tiny pill that's so much easier to take than the prenatals that get stuck in your throat. The earlier you start to take them, the better it is for you and your baby. I would think you would be able to start taking the folic acid now.
Also wanted to add, that both my previous doc and my current doc said to take an extra folic acid pill. Why take a chance when it comes to your babies health? Yes prenatals and lots of food have folic acid in it, but you may not be getting enough still. Better to be safe than sorry! Good luck w/ the baby.

A.S.

answers from Kansas City on

The prenatal vitamins have enough in them, you shouldn't need to supplement with anything else. You can always ask your doc to be sure though. Folic acid is also in lots of foods that we eat - it's added to everything!

Good luck!!!

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G.T.

answers from Kansas City on

The folic acid is in addition to the vitamins and should be taken at different times a day to have the most benefits. Please check with the doctor, who has you on blood thinners, before taking this to make sure it is safe. The recomended time is three months for folic. thanks and good luck G.

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J.O.

answers from Kansas City on

I took prenatals and a folic acid supplement before I was pregnant and during my first trimester. You should have about 400 micrograms a day and my prenatal didn't have that much, so that's why I took a supplement as well. Since your first child was born with a birth defect you might ask your doctor how much folic acid they would recommend. They might suggest you taking a much larger dose. Good Luck!!

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K.S.

answers from Kansas City on

My doctor has me take 1200 mg (or whatever the measurement is??) per day. He says that is best!

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A.D.

answers from Kansas City on

The standard recommended dosage for a woman who is planning to (or has already) conceived is 800mg-1g of Folic Acid daily.
Basically, the OTC prenatals will have 800mg, the prescription prenatals have 1g. Or you can get OTC Folic acid alone in the 800mg dose. Either should be fine.
That being said...folic acid absorption can be blocked by certain medications...so please talk with your doctor to see if you are on anything that could block your absorption (such as certain medications used in rheumatology) of Folic Acid and in that case they might recommend a higher prescription dose.
Best to you in your upcoming endeavors!

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J.H.

answers from St. Louis on

My son was born with an incomplete bilateral cleft lip (2 clefts, one side was almost complete to his nose) 3 years ago (in March no less!). My husband's sister was born with a cleft lip and palatte 37 years ago and it hadn't shown up in the family since then, there was some talk of it having shown up with some distant cousins years ago, etc. and all of my Dr.s were aware of this. I took regular prenatal vits. that contained 1,000 mcgs of folic acid beginning about 3 months before we tried for him. When we tried for our second son we had spoken with a genetics counselor who suggested that folic acid may work the same way with clefting that it does for spina bifida type issues. She had me start on 4,000 mcgs of folic acid daily SIX months before we started trying for the baby, plus a regular prenatal. My OB gave me a prescription for 1,000 mcg folic acid tablets so I didn't have to take a million little 400 mcd tablets a day. (I took 3 of the 1,000 tablets and 1 prenatal vitamen throughout the day everyday) My second son was born without any issues, but like you said, it sometimes just happens and who knows if the folic acid truely did anything at all. My husbands sister (with her own clefting issues) has two children that did not have any issues, so who knows how it all works. I do know that the longer you are on prenatals and folic acid the better it is for the pregnancy, so start everything soon. Folic acid is water soluable so anything your body doesn't need is flushed out anyway. We met with my first sons surgeon for his 3 year check up recently and he stated that it's his personal opinion that no amount of folic acid will make any difference, if the child will have a cleft it will have one no matter what, but he still encouraged the use of it b/c it does make an actual difference for other issues. So, good luck. I know the roller coaster of emotion I went through during all of this. I'd be happy to chat more with you if you would like to message me. --Jen

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K.H.

answers from St. Louis on

Since my sister in law was born with Spina Bifida, my doctor gave me an additional prescription for folic acid. He said it was more just for my peace of mind than anything else since that disorder is not genetic (but is from a folic acid deficincy at conception). He also said that folic acid is water soluble so if you take more than you need you will pass it through your urine. I would definately check with your doctor first though because of your blood clotting issue.

Good luck!

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T.C.

answers from Kansas City on

Hey Susan,

When I decided to get pregnant with both of my pregnancies I always took a multi-vitamin and extra folic acid. We are now pregnant with twins and they are both doing very good. I take a WONDERFUL pre-natal vitamin that I believe is one reason these babies are doing so good at this point if you would like more information on them please let me know. I'm 35 weeks along and the doctors weren't sure I would even carry these babies in the beginning and I'm sure it's because of the vitamins. They are non-toxic and you can get them on line from a wellness store I shop from. Please let me know if you would like more information about them!!! Good luck to you!

T. Cogan
Work At Home United
Your Life, Your Dreams, Your Business!
Website: www.allgood4life.com
E-mail: ____@____.com
Phone: ###-###-####

"Nothing is difficult to those who have the will." --Dutch Poet's Society

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H.H.

answers from Kansas City on

wow my suggestion is to wait longer to try for another baby after a c-section. Your body needs time to heal and even though you probably feel great right now you still need some time. You don't want that incision opening up because you didn't let it heal completely from the inside out. I have had 3 c-sec with a miscarriage between #2 and #3 and they were 3 years apart and still have a lot of adhesions which can be painful.

My sis-in-law had a c-section with #1 and #2 was born v-bac 15 months later. #2 had a lot of complications and almost lost him as he was born with heart problems. She had a hard time during that pregnancy as well and think it was just too soon. Let your first one be a baby for a few years before having another one. My niece didn't understand at 15 months old why she wasn't getting the attention she needed as the baby had so many needs and took up a lot of the parents time because he had to have feeding tubes and a lot of medical stuff going on most of his life. She started resenting him when he was 4-5 months old. They were at the hospital for the first 3 months of his life so that was really hard for a 15 month old to understand. Maybe try when your baby is a year old at least then they would be about 2 years apart.

My oldest 2 are 3 years apart and that seemed like the perfect space between them. They have always got along great and the oldest helped out a lot with entertaining the baby and keeping her occupied and also was old enough to be more independent so didn't always need attention and would go to his room and play quietly and could entertain himself so you have more time with the babies needs. They are teenagers now and still get along great.

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