Hi,
i'm not sure how much her doc recommends, but I do know it is very important now. This is the most critical stage for brain and neural tube development. I have a friend with a 7 month old and they just found out that he has an encephalocele, which is where his neural tube didn't close all the way and his brain tissue bulges in. This could have been due to lack of folic acid around the 5-6 week of pregnancy or a genetic thing. They just found this out yesterday so they are still running a wazoo of tests and don't know much yet. He does also have cleft pallate and lip as well though, so that could be a sign that it is genetic, but the cleft can be a side effect of the encephalocele as well.

I hope that didn't scare you, as his condition is extremely rare, I just wanted to suggest that right now is the most critical stage for your baby's brain development. If she has been taking the vitamins, i'm sure that's enough of a supplement. However, it probably would help if she could try to eat natural sources of folic acid, even though I know with her schedule it's hard. These things include fruits, green leafy veggies, like spinach, etc..., nuts, and beans. Good luck to you and your girlfriend, i'm sure your baby will be healthy.

Congratulations! I know as a nurse that some work 12 hous a day and depending where they work they sometimes have to lift and push and pull and they sometimes run short staffed. I hope that she is able to get assistance. Has she seen the dr? The dr might want to put her on some light duty. It is good to know that you are concerned! Make sure that she keeps up with her dr appointments. I agree with the poster above, make sure that she eats right and help her out as much as you can at home. We are here for you. Most females do not even know if they are two weeks pregnant.
I wish you both the best and the baby-to-be!

It is a sin to not take this little tablet throughout the first 3 months and 1 monthe b4 if you can.

i would exactly call it a sin but it is very important.

Hi

thanks for the replies. I was mainly concerned that she hasn't taken anything in the first 5 weeks as we did not know she was pregnant. But from now on she will be taking supplements and folic acid and also a good diet (i'll help her with my cooking!). I keep reading that the first 2 weeks are citical, yet she's had no folic acid in those apparently critical stages.

Thanks for any info!

Hi,
i wouldn't be concerned if she wasn't taking it initially. Doctors do suggest now that if you know you are trying to get pregnant to begin taking not only folic acid but prenatal vitamins in general at least a month before. However, a lot of women, including myself didn't begin the folic acid until I found out, at about 5 weeks. This is extremely common and more than likely everything is fine. I think it is great that you are so concerned and willing to help her out. My hubby is wonderful, but he just assumes I take care of these things. It's wonderful that you are so involved with your girlfriend and your baby. :d

Thanks foryour replies!

I am very concerned because I only want the best for our baby! I don't want to end up being a control freak but i'm one of those people who does research into things if I know nothing about the subject. I can't understand why dad's are not interested and/or leave it all to the woman! Anyway i'm going to buy a book today so that we can do this properly and give the little one the best start in life

on a sidenote I think its high time they put folic acid into bread then it won't be so much of a problem. I noticed that cherios have 85% rda folic acid so we'll be buying some more of them! I might also write to the pm to get bread manufacturers to put it in their bread! I'm sounding like a control freak now!