06/10/2009 by admin.

A recent rise in rates of spina bifida in Scotland has highlighted the importance of folic acid to women of childbearing age. The problem is that many women do not start taking folic acid until they are pregnant, and by then it may be too late.

Spina bifida is a defect in the development of the spinal cord. The spinal cord develops in the first 4 weeks of pregnancy. It has been shown that taking folic acid supplements  pre-conceptually greatly reduces the risk of the foetus developing spina bifida. Ideally the folic acid supplement should be taken for at least 3 months pre-conceptually to build up your reserves, and then for the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy.

Many pregnancies are unplanned, and so some experts are calling for all women of childbearing age to take folic acid supplements. The supplement can be taken on its own, or as part of a mutivitamin supplement, such as Wellwomen

If you find that you are pregnant unexpectedly, then start taking folic acid immediately

Reccomended daily dose is 0.4 mg (400 microgram)

If you have had a previous baby with spina bifida the dose is much higher (see your doctor for prescription & to discuss before you start trying to conceive)

Click here for folic acid

Click here to see range of pre-conceptual & pregnancy supplements containing folic acid

Click here for more info about folic acid for Food Standards Agency  http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/vitaminsandminerals/folicacid/

Click here to read BBC news coverage http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8232089.stm

Posted in Folic acid supplements, Folic Acid | No Comments »

18/03/2009 by admin.

How long do I take Pregnacare for ?

My currently pregnant friend (lucky girl) who is 11 weeks pregnant with her first child is taking Pregnacare vitamins and she has recently seen in 2 magazines to stop stop taking folic acid at 12 weeks

 She asked me ‘is this right or can I keep on taking pregnacare right up to the birth ?’

 Knowing that I spend a lot of time reading up on these things online she thought I would be able to advise.

Simple answer to the question is yes, Pregnacare has been designed to be taken by pregnant women throughout their pregnancy and not just for the first 12 weeks. In fact some women continue to take it after the pregnancy and while breast feeding.

For more detailed answer see below

There are now 4 pregnacare products for different stages of your pregnancy journey

• Pregnacare Conception
• pregnacare Original
• Pregnacre Plus
• Pregnacare Breastfeeding

Here is what I find out about Pregnacare from the manufacturers website:

Pregnacare^® is the UK’s most trusted range of supplements, specially formulated for before conception, throughout pregnancy and whilst breast-feeding. Each product has been carefully developed based on the latest scientific research, and provides key nutrients to safeguard the health of mum and baby.

Click here for more information on Pregnacare or to buy Pregnacare

Posted in Pegnacare, Pregnacare Plus, Folic Acid | No Comments »

11/11/2008 by admin.

Ideal for preconception, pregnancy & breastfeeding.

Newly formulated high quality one-a-day multi-stage multivitamin from fertility guru Zita West.

Contains 24 important vitamins and minerals, including anti-oxidants for healthy cellular growth, B vitamins for hormonal health, plus Folic Acid, Beta-carotene, Iron, Magnesium and Zinc.

Suitable for vegetarians

Eack pack contains 30 tablets

Click here for more info or to buy Zita West Pregnancy Plan Fertility and Pregnancy Supplement

Posted in Fertility Supplements, Vitamin & Mineral Supplements, Zita West, Pregnancy, Folic Acid | 1 Comment »

23/09/2008 by admin.

This weekend I went out to dinner with a friend who is newly pregnant. It is a much longed for pregnancy after many years of TTC.

I was talking to her about which foods she has to avoid and realised how much more complicated the whole issue had become since I was last pregnant. I decided to do a little research on the subject and found this great webpage that I wanted to share with you all

 It is a very comprehensive and imformative guide to which foods to avoid during pregnancy & breast feeding from the Food Standards Agency, and is presented in an easy to follow question and answer format. You also have the option to e-mail questions in and have them answered if you can not find the answer to your question there.

Click here to visit Food Standards Agency Pregnancy Page

Posted in Pregnancy, Folic Acid | No Comments »

23/09/2008 by admin.

Folic acid supplementation is very important in early pregnancy & when trying to conceive
Folic acid( a B vitamin) is the only vitamin supplement that is recommended to be taken before pregnancy for women who are otherwise eating a balanced diet.

Folic acid is needed for the development of healthy red blood cells. An adequate intake of folic acid in the mother also decreases the chance of her baby being born with a defect of the neural tube, where the baby’s brain and spinal cord are formed. One well known example of a neural tube defect is spina bifida, where an area of spinal cord is not properly enclosed. This can cause problems such as paralysis of the legs and lack of control of bladder and bowels. The baby’s neural tube is completely formed by the fourth week of pregnancy - when many women have not even realised they are pregnant.

It is therefore important to start taking folic acid supplements while preparing for pregnancy or as soon as you realise that you are pregnant. 400 micrograms (mcg) is the recommended daily dose, which is over and above the usual recommended dietary intake of 200 micrograms. Folic acid occurs naturally in fresh dark green vegetables such as broccoli, peas, green beans and spinach. Many breakfast cereals are fortified with folic acid and it is also found in wholemeal bread. You should continue to take folic acid tablets for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy even if you eat a good diet.

A higher dose of folic acid is recommended for some women. It is very important that women who have previously had a baby with a neural tube defect, or who have epilepsy or diabetes, consult a GP about folic acid supplementation before trying to conceive.

Click here for more information from the Medical Research Council on Folic Acid

Click here to see a range of leading brands supplements all containing the recomended dose of folic acid and ideal when trying to conceive

Posted in Folic Acid, Trying to Conceive | No Comments »