Is folic acide needed here for pregnant woman?

travelfish · Post by **travelfish** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:02 am

I am pregnant for three weeks. I heard many pregnant women supplement some folic acid for defect prevention. I am not sure it is really needed and I even have no idea about my diet. If you have such experiences, please tell me where I can buy it and what kind of folic acide is the most popular choice for pregnant women?

folic acide (EN) = foolihappo (FIN)

**Sponsor:**

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:28 am

Its a good idea as it can prevent some birth defects. If you pop along to the pharmacy and ask for a pregnancy multivitamin (they have the correct amount) they will sort you out.

Food wise eat healthy and that pretty much covers it. Not too much tinned tuna, avoid raw or undercooked eggs, no liver and if there is a history of family allergies or asthma it would be a good idea to avoid peanuts.

I know its a UK site but www.babycenter.co.uk will give you lots of information.

TERI · Post by **TERI** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:01 pm

Sorry, I don´t agree. There is no need for supplements for a healthy woman who has a balanced diet (eats properly). There is folic acid in the green veggies (salad, spinach, parsley), so if you eat your greens every day, there is no need for any artificial supplements. But, of course, if you feel like you don´t eat properly it´s up to you.
To me (as for a pharmacist) there are 2 kind of people - tablet/pill-people (they bay loads of supplements - for slimming, pregnancy, muscle growth, hair growth etc, different painkillers for each pain separately) and non-pill-people (they come to apteekki once a year if they have a subscribtion and if they get the medicine, they forget to take it).

sandundasa · Post by **sandundasa** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:40 pm

We faced the same problem when my wife was pregnant.

Because in my country doctors recommend to get Folic Acid when you have plans to have a baby.

When we asked about that from our nurse here she told that most of the Finnish dishes are Folic rich and so Finns don't need it.

So we decided to go natural way, by eating lots of lentils, spinach, Marmite & etc, rather than taking pills.

travelfish · Post by **travelfish** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:43 pm

Thanks! Maybe we should ask for advice from the nurse or doctor. But the problem is that, may I go to ask the nurse now or must I go there for the first check-up after 11weeks?

Amandine.K · Post by **Amandine.K** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:05 pm

No point in taking the supplement after 11 weeks. You can go to the pharmacy and buy them directly there. I don't think you need a prescription. I bought mine (that was 2 years ago now that I think of it, where does time go!) in the big pharmacy in the centre. I was advised by the private doctor I went to see after my miscarriage.

Amandine.K · Post by **Amandine.K** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:07 pm

TERI wrote:Sorry, I don´t agree. There is no need for supplements for a healthy woman who has a balanced diet (eats properly). There is folic acid in the green veggies (salad, spinach, parsley), so if you eat your greens every day, there is no need for any artificial supplements. But, of course, if you feel like you don´t eat properly it´s up to you.
To me (as for a pharmacist) there are 2 kind of people - tablet/pill-people (they bay loads of supplements - for slimming, pregnancy, muscle growth, hair growth etc, different painkillers for each pain separately) and non-pill-people (they come to apteekki once a year if they have a subscribtion and if they get the medicine, they forget to take it).

Well maybe you should read more about it then. Here they don't havea lot of neural tube defects which is why it's not automatic (yet!). There is folic acid in green vegetable but very little that will mostly be destroyed when cooked...

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:10 pm

My son is 19months old and born was born in November. Once the summer started to disappear the nurses at Neuvola asked all the pregnant women to take a multivitamin with vitamin D in to (due to lack of sunshine of course!). So there is no harm starting now.

Personally I dont see the problem with taking a multivitamin. Pregnancy can be a strain on your body,and especially if you suffer with bad morning sickness and dont feel upto eating well.

Folic acid is also added to things like bread and cereals so you are likely getting enough through normal eating. Its likely upto you, I took it because it was a small thing and was really no effort. If you dont like taking vitamins then dont, but make sure you eat well.

TERI · Post by **TERI** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:49 pm

Of course it´s up to every woman to decide what to take. My point is that you can´t prevent everything by taking some pill. If it makes you feel better then go for it and take something, but please don´t think that it´s only folic acid in this pill. There is a lot of other components too and you should consider these too before running to the pharmacy.
I understand that if you have some problems getting pregnant or during the pregnancy then you take supplements to help your body but if you are healthy and feel OK then trust your own guts.

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:32 pm

TERI wrote:Of course it´s up to every woman to decide what to take. My point is that you can´t prevent everything by taking some pill. If it makes you feel better then go for it and take something, but please don´t think that it´s only folic acid in this pill. There is a lot of other components too and you should consider these too before running to the pharmacy.

I find you quite condescending.

No one is saying that taking a pill prevents everything. Fact: folic acid helps prevents some defects. Id rather take it and help reduce that risk.

Pregnancy vitamins are completely safe. And if you are ever going to take a vitamin tablet then this is the time to do it!

Pregnancy is stressful enough without someone warning that tablets have "other components". As a mother or mother to be you have enough on your plate without someone trying to add to it.

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:37 pm

TERI's advice is for people who are super conscious of their diet unlike normal people ( and tending to the anorexic )..
She dont need to agree to the majority of people who do think otherwise when it comes to personal health..
Its always better to consult your neuvola and then decide whether you want to take supplements that you can find easily in the pharmacy or not.
Cept that Folic acid is actually more beneficial even if you take a bit more than normal.
especially for pregnant women and the Fetus!! It also helps in postpartum Depression!!

travelfish · Post by **travelfish** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:58 am

Thanks for all! I have bought a multivitemin compound (including flolic acid) from the pharmacy particularly for pregnant women as recommended. I am not sure whether my diet is fine but, it should not do harm to my baby

It is the first time for me to be pregnant. When should I contact the maternity clinic for the first check-up? I am now in the sixth week's pregnancy.

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:14 am

Call them today for an appointment, the sooner they get you in the system the better as you will need to get a scan at 12 weeks. Plus they can help you with regards general lifestyle such as food and exercise. Ask for someone that speaks good English as I have seen a couple of Neuvola nurses, some with better English than others.

TERI · Post by **TERI** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 1:05 pm

TERI's advice is for people who are super conscious of their diet unlike normal people ( and tending to the anorexic )..

Super conscious??? If you have internet access you can easily find info about it (if you didn´t know it before). Also if you go to your first check-up they give you a book or brochure where you can find all you should know about pregnancy and there are a lot of commercials for vitamins and other stuff that you might "need".

I find you quite condescending.

No one is saying that taking a pill prevents everything. Fact: folic acid helps prevents some defects. Id rather take it and help reduce that risk.

Pregnancy vitamins are completely safe. And if you are ever going to take a vitamin tablet then this is the time to do it!

Pregnancy is stressful enough without someone warning that tablets have "other components". As a mother or mother to be you have enough on your plate without someone trying to add to it.

Sorry, I am not condescending. Not intend to be, anyway. And tablets DO have ingredients that you might want to avoid especially during pregnancy. So read the labels before taking anything.

Amandine.K · Post by **Amandine.K** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:36 pm

But everbody knows that what you find on the internet should be taken with a pinch of salt... Internet is not omnipotent!

As for the ingredients in pills, come on! A bit far stretched? I'm sure there are far worse things in people's regular diet...

Finland Forum

Find information about moving to, living in and life in Finland