Folate tablets

I'm taking Blackmore's folate tablets at the moment, but when I was talking to my GP about it when I first discovered I was pg, I seem to recall that she said I should stop taking them at around 13 weeks. I thought it seemed a bit strange, but you know she's the doctor.. :rolleyes: Is that right though??? Should I stop having them, I only take one tablet once a day, or keep taking them, or just swap to something like Blackmore's pregnancy & breastfeeding tablets or something?

Not long to go until 13 weeks, so just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing!

i was just thinking this same question today, i've taken elivit since before we conceived and well into the 4th month when my doc said i don't need to take them anymore. i'm now 25 weeks and haven't had any vitamin/tablets for a month and was wondering if i should still have been taking something cause i read that you should have the blackmores pregnancy multivitamin right through pregnancy and beyond on their web site, but then the doc said i could stop due to constipation so.. ????

Hmm well I'm 28 weeks and I had been taking all my vitamins & mineral supplements including folate, every day until a few weeks ago (I have been really sick with meningitus so I haven't given them much thought lately). Anyway, yesterday I had a midwife appointment and she said I should get back onto them, my chiro's thoughts also. I don't know why it would be recommended to stop taking them - curious and now a little concerned! Maybe she just meant they weren't crucial or helpful after that stage anymore or something?

I took Blackmores Pre-Conception Gold for months before we conceived and because I have Spina Bifida Oculta I also took extra Folate on top of that. But my Dr said that after the 3rd month the extra folate would not be needed anymore either. Obviously I still took my pregnancy supplement that has folate in it anyway so far everything seems to be alright with bub. I thought your body just expelled what it didn't need anyway, so makes you think what would the harm be?

i'm thinking about getting back on them now. i was suffering from constipation pretty bad and my gp said i could stop taking the elevit tablets cause i don't need them anymore after the 3 month mark and they contain iron and could be causing more probs with constipation. thats why i stopped, but i'm taking more fibre now so i might get back on them.

There's no harm in taking a pregnancy multivitamin throughout pregnancy and it's actually recommended. as long as you take the recommended dose, it's not a problem. I think some doc's say you don't have to take folate past first trimester because this is when the neural tube defect risk diminishes and also some have told me don't bother because it's too expensive! I think you're better off taking them just in case you're not getting enough vit's in your diet. Your bub will take what it needs from you and the multivitamins are for your health too! I sometimes miss one every now and then cos I'm a scatterbrain but I took them all through pregnancy with DD and have been this time too without any problem.

You only need the folate for about 1 month before you get pregnant and for the first 3 months of your pregnancy. After that they will be of little use for most people. However if you feel more comfortable taking them then they will not do you any harm

Thanks everyone. I might just stop taking them and get a pregnancy multivitamin instead, although they seem super expensive! I just don't think I eat enough fruit & veg to get the nutrients both bub & I will need, plus I have already lost weight and wasn't very heavy to start with so want to make sure I'm getting everything I need!

Any preg multi worth it's salt will have folate in it anyway - I took folate in prep for preg with my kids, and then when BFP, switched to multis.