Folic Acid

When is the best time to start taking folic acid? and for how long is it recommended to be taken in the pregnancy for someone who has had severe pre eclampsia before?

I am pretty sure the answer is 3 months before conception [not that you can ever quite guarantee when you might conceive, of course]. I was just advised to take the standard dose for this length of time, no different to advice given to any woman planning pregnancy, whether or not they have had severe PE before. You should probably check with your consultant though, as I have no thrombophilia or anything else which might alter that advice.

Best wishes

Jules

Hi Bell,

Jules is right, ideally 3 months prior to conception...if you can predict when that is going to be! This is because the babys spinal cord is developing at its fastest rate between 0-28 days of conception so for many women they dont even know they are pregnant yet! The development continues until about 12 weeks of pregnancy so continue with the folic acid at least until then.

Best Wishes
Liz

Thanks Liz & Jules. Thats cleared that up for me.