Why you should take Folic Acid

Everyone knows how important it is to take folic acid while pregnant.  I just wanted to show an example to people why it's important.  During my 1st pregnancy I was able to take my prenatal everyday, no problems.  During second pregnancy I couldn't handle the prenatals, and I didn't take them trough out my pregnancy.  May of this year we found out that DS2 was tongue-tied 100%, and his upper lip was attached to his upper jaw lower than it should have been.  This explained why he was such a "lazy eater" when he was breastfeeding, why he choked on solids, and why he is now mildly delayed in his speech.  DS1 is tongue-tied too, but only stage 2 (there are four stages).  It's a genetic disorder, and I strongly feel that if I took my prenatals (especially the folic acid) DS2 would not of had the disorder so bad.  DS2 had his laser surgery on June 3, and he is doing great.  No more choking on food, not drooling as much (except for what's to be expected with 4 teeth coming in) and his speech!  E.I. came and evaluated him, and they feel that us working with him at home should take care of his delay (he was scored an 81 when normal is 85-115).  Can I say that in two weeks he's getting clearer, and he's starting to say more words.

If it wasn't for DS's dentist, we would never have known about the boys.  Dentist felt that DS1 was doing OK, so choose not to do the surgery for him.  That is true DS1 just sounds a little garbled, and he eats and swallows just fine. I have provided a web site that helps explain the condition.  This time around, I am definately making sure I take my folic acid, even if I'm unable to take anything else!

http://www.tonguetie.net/

Thank you for listening to my lecture

Great post!  I wanted to add that folic acid DOES NOT SWAY!  So both those ttc girls and boys need to take it.  Those ttc boys need to take EXTRA as ttc a boy also takes this away.  Dh should take it for ttc a boy to. 

Tamara:

I wanted to add that folic acid DOES NOT SWAY! 

Thank you Tamara, and hopefully everyone understands the importance of folic acid and our developing babies.  This is just a "mild" condition.  Everyone knows there are worse genetic problems that can be prevented by just taking your folic acid/prenatals!

Great post!  I'm a FA nut!  I am taking 1200 mgs a day now....I load up on the stuff!  I think it is so important and it has been shown to actually reverse cell damage....so I'm cool with that!

In regards to Folic Acid can you ever take too much?? 

 Also, I am ttc dd should my husband take it as well?

For ttc girl the Minimum amount for dw is 400mcg, I believe for dh it isn't necessary because the girl diet doesn't deplete the folic acid in our bodies as much as it would if you were ttc boy.  If you choose to have dh take folic acid, I think the recomended amout for ttc boys would help (1200mcg).

For ttc boy the Minimum is 800mcg for dw, and 1200mcg for dh.

Again, folic acid doesn't sway.  The larger doses for  TTC Boy is probably due to it being depleted from your system while you're on the diet.  Am I right or wrong on that?

AngieK:

In regards to Folic Acid can you ever take too much?? 

Some people believe you can't take too much, but all the prenatals have 800mcg of folic acid.  I believe that is the minimum for when you're pregnant.

Thank you - Very Helpful

my dd has a labial frenelum, but dentist and doc aren't concerned, i had m/s with her until i was like 28 wks, couldn't keep anything down, i didn't take my prenatals as much as i did with my first, so maybe iti the folic acid... (((hmmm))

Agreed!  They say any woman of childbearing age should take folic acid.  In fact, I saw a study a while back that showed there has been a decreased incidence of childhood leukemia and they feel it is a secondary affect of moms taking folic acid during pregnancy.

Mbibik, I am sorry to hear of your DS's health problem, and am so glad to hear your doctors have been able to help him.  He's so young, I am sure he'll catch up on the speech in no time (esp. with big brother to imitate!).  I'm no expert mbibik, but I don't believe that taking folic acid regularly would have made a difference in the degree of his condition, and I say this to help eleviate you of your guilt (We moms have enough to feel guilty about!).  Folic acid does not affect genetic disorders, which are locked into the genes.  Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects, such as those found in children with spina bifida. 

Also for those who have difficulty with the prenatals, you can take folic acid separately (often the iron might contribute to m/s) and/or try taking them before bed when you'll be sleep anyway.  Best to all. 

mbibik:

Again, folic acid doesn't sway.  The larger doses for  TTC Boy is probably due to it being depleted from your system while you're on the diet.  Am I right or wrong on that?

You are correct

Kayjay:

I'm no expert mbibik, but I don't believe that taking folic acid regularly would have made a difference in the degree of his condition, and I say this to help eleviate you of your guilt (We moms have enough to feel guilty about!)

That's fine!  Everyone has a right to their own opinion!  The only reason why I thought of folic acid helping the degree of my sons condition was because DS1 has it too, and his is less severe (no surgery needed).  I believe that the reason  there isn't a study on the corolation between tongue-tied and  folic acid is because it is not a severe condition.  A lot of times it is over looked.  DS's dentist has been trying to spread the word on this in Albany, NY.  He's trying to make pediatritions to realize how important this is.  I could not find a study on tongue tied and the benefits of folic acid, but I did find a little snipit that goes a long on how I feel about this.  And yes it is my fault becuase it's from my genes.

"Many researchers and support groups state that birth defects and genetic disorders, especially connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, can't possibly be cured through diet because they are inherited genetic disorders. This conclusion is invalid simply because many birth defects and inherited genetic disorders have been found to be improved, or even cured, through diet. The old school of thinking that a birth defect or inherited disorder had to be caused by a single gene is no longer widely held in medical circles. The breakthrough concept in research is that many birth defects and inherited disorders are influenced by both genes and environmental factors, especially nutrition. Genes may make people susceptible to certain defects and disorders, but they are often only a part of the picture." http://www.ctds.info/genetic_disorders.html 

This is not on my sons disorder, but basically states all genetic disorders.  I don't know if folic acid helped or not with DS1, I'm not even going to take a risk with dc3.  I will be taking my folic acid!  I am also not saying that if I take it, that dc#3 will not have tongue-tied at all, I just believe the severity wouldn't be so great.  Here is a test that I propose.  If I do become pregnant, I will take  folic acid 800mcg for the full nine months.  When DC#3 is born, my pediatrician will look for the condition.  I will ask what stage DC#3 is.  If DC#3 is complete like DS2 was, then I will admit that folic acid had no effect.  If DC#3 is stage 1-3, I can not deny that folic acid didn't help (in my heart it would have proved that folic acid helped).  This might be biased if I hace DD because I think Tongue-tied affects males more?

As for DS2, he has learned to say up, which before it was just aaaaa.  He is exploring and learning every day.  I would say he is saying a new word (or at least trying to) every couple of days.

I have to put my 2 cents in on this one!!

My first two pregnancies were easy...got pregnant that first month I tried both times had healthy babies.  My DS does have speech delays, my daughter has the upper lip attached to her gum line...never thought anything about it.  The only thing that happened while pregnant was getting really fat....so to take it off after my daughter I started Atkins and went to South Beach for the last few pounds.

We started trying 2 years ago for #3.  had two early(6w) MC's then one at 10weeks that required a D&C.  At that point they did the full 10 vials of blood for testing across the board even our Chromosomes.  One thing came back...I'm MTHFR+ .   It's a gene mutation that means my body does not metabolized folic acid properly....the Dr. at the time said there's a lot of disagreement among dr's about how influential this gene is in MC etc.   Well for the first 34 years of my life I ate cereal every morning and bread at lunch.....after Atkins....no cereal or bread (both fortified with folate).  I believe that after 2 pregnancies in 22 months my folate stores had been depleated add Atkins to it and I had NO stores in my body and no incoming execpt for the very minimal amount in a vitamin.

The D&C after the 3rd MC was botched, something was left behind (placenta probably) and had started to grow~ I had very high HCG levels when I shouldn't have.  They re-evacuated my uterus then shot me up with Methotrexate.  I had a severe, very rare allergic reaction.   Google MTHFR and Methotrexate.....studies in Italy have shown that severe reactions to MTX are found in the MTHFR population.  When given the MTX they now offer a Folonic Rescue (some kind of folate cocktail)  to counter the reaction.

I spent months with low levels of hcg in my body...and no dr could tell me why.  The oncologist wanted to shoot me up with more chemo drugs.  NO WAY!  So I did some research....stopped taking all vitamins and supps (except my cal mag's) and poof, with out my 1mg folate prenatal and my RX Folgard 2.2mg folate....It went to zero and stayed there.  The Dr's found it perplexing.....

If you read Dr. Troaffers articles on Fruit of the Womb, you'll find he is a firm believer that taking Folate in high doses before conception and during pregnancy effects much more than Spinal Bifida.  Same with Dr. Beers ( the pioneer in  MTHFR and Immunological issues)  This pregnancy I take 4.8 mg of Folic Acid a day, 81mg aspirin and prenatal.  

Today I read an article online about how Folate during pregnancy is now being linked to lower premature deliveries rates...by 70%!!  There are some that believe eventually we'll link it to chromosomal disorders as well.  There was an article last week about high folate intake and low risk of pancreatic cancer.

When I did my research on the MTHFR and Folate I ran into all kinds of things.  MTHFR is often leads to High homocystiene.....google high homocystiene.....whole lotta things can happen when that gets out of whack.  How do you lower Homocystiene?  Folate and B vitamins..... You really don't have to be a rocket scientist to start drawing logical conclusions.

Last year in Health magazine they asked a team of respected Doctors in all fields of medicine what would be the one supplement they would recommend and they ALL said B Vitamins!

WOW thanks  ellie08.  So what you're saying is that higher doses of folic acid and other b vitamins are more beneficial that we expected?  I was not disagreeing to the fact that more folic acid doesn't help us.  I just haven't tried it myself.  I'm right now only at 800mcg.

One more thing....

As far as RDA of folate: 400mcg for women of childbearing age.  800mcg for women pregnant or TTC (at least 3 months prior to conception)

Because of my MTHFR status:  

My Prescription prenatal has 1mg (1000mcg)   I take Folgard OS twice a day for another 2.2mg.  I also take 2~ 800mcg (1.6mg) of Actifolate a biologically more available form of folate.....it is already in it's metabolized form so my body doesn't have to process it.

As soon as I got my results I called my sister who called her DR.  She did testing for the MTHFR as well as homocystiene and cholesterol etc.  Her doctor called her back and said she was a heart attack and stroke waiting to happen and to start taking as much b vit and folate as she could+ Diet+ exercise.  I had her get an RX for Metanx the biologically active forms of B6, B12 and Folate.....her Dr had never heard of it, but agreed that it was the best way to go.  It costs her $5 a month.

mbibik:

WOW thanks  ellie08.  So what you're saying is that higher doses of folic acid and other b vitamins are more beneficial that we expected?  I was not disagreeing to the fact that more folic acid doesn't help us.  I just haven't tried it myself.  I'm right now only at 800mcg.

Yes!  I would ask your obgyn about the Folgard OS.  It's an RX I take twice a day and has bvits plus cal etc.2.2mg of folate and costs me about $8 a month.

One of the things every Dr. (except my new one) said to me after each MC was....you're almost 40.....you're over 35....you're getting older....  Dr Beers dealt with women who had recurrent, unexplained MC's and failed IVF almost all were over 40.  Once their immune issues were dealt with and they were on the folate therapy, his patients would not only conceive and carry to term (some even w/o IVF) but his patients over 40's Down Syndrome averages was 80% BELOW the average population risk for over 40 yr olds.   If I still have that link some where I'll post it.  It was before he died, and it was the minutes from a meeting he was at..... I'll look later for it.