Folic acid for pregnancy

[Rachaellindseywalker]

My husband and I are going to start trying for a baby, I was told to continue with contraception for a while and take folic acid before I get pregnant to decrease birth defects so I've got some vitamin tablets which i will take everyday. However, I always eat a breakfast cereal fortified with folic acid every morning. Does this count as me taking folic acid or should I still use contraception until the vitamins kick in so to speak? Thanks in advance for any responses.

[Lesse80]

Hi, you need special pregnancy vitamins as the normal ones are too high in vitamin a. You just need folic acid 4mcg, it helps to take it pre conception but its not something that needs building up. You can start as soon as you take it. Don't worry about it being in the cearal. It won't mean you'll take too much. Happy trying!

[Rachaellindseywalker in reply to Lesse80]

Thanks for answering. The vitamins I got were the special pregnancy ones with multi vitamins and minerals for pregnancy. But the impression I got was that I was supposed to build up folic acid in my system so that's why I thought the cereal might count towards it. Thanks for clearing that up though. Really excited now that I won't have to wait months to try for my baby!