Folic Acid

Do most of you girls have the folic acid in your prenatals or are you taking it in a separate pill? I go to my first appt. on Tuesday but want to be prepared. While I really like my gynocologist, he tends to be rushed (however will take the time if needed) due to all the patients in the practice so I like to go in with a list of things to discuss.

What foods are you eating to get the additional folic acid? I've read about spinach and leafy greens. They only list "fruits" well which ones? Are you eating cereal fortified with it?

I haven't been pregnant in 10 years.... I'm going to have lots of questions!

I'm not pregnant but I take a prenatal vitamin just for general health purposes.  The amount of folic acid in my vitamin is the recommended daily dose for pregnant women (I can't remember the exact dose now but that is what the bottle claims).  I would imagine if you get the right prenatal pill you wouldn't need a second folic acid supplement. 

With both my pg's I took a separate folic acid pill to be 100% sure I had all I needed. 

My pre-natal vitamin has the folic acid in it.  I never took a separate pill-  only when I wasn't pregnant and was gearing up for getting my body ready for pregnancy.  I eat a lot of baby spinach and salads which has tons of folic acid in it as well.

oh-  and by the way-  congrats!!!!!  how exciting for you!!!!!!!

Thanks ladies... I'll be sure to ask when I get my RX for the prenatals if it will have enough folic acid in them!

I love love love spinach so now might be a good time to go overboard with it!

Vanessa1031, is the picture you have as public on here prepregnancy or during? Either way, you're so beautiful and have that healthy glow!

xoxo

no....wasn't pregnant then-  about a month before though!   I think I was glowing b/c i hit the 30 pound loss mark.... I just posted one at my shower-  this was when I was 8 months; def have the glow!!!

Also-  fiberOne has lots of folic acid and can really help with the good ol' first trimester intestinal "challenges"

My OB was fine with me just taking a pre-natal vitamin and eating a well-balanced diet when pregnant.  I think a lot of cereals are fortified with folic acid though.  But since you asked about fruits with folic acid, strawberries are a good source.  One serving (8 medium sized strawberries) has 20% RDA of folic acid.

http://www.bouquetoffruits.com/fruit-facts/st rawberry-facts.html

Good luck with your pregnancy!

First off congratulations!

And I went back through my nutrition textbooks to give you some more info on folate....

good sources listed:

beef liver 3oz=221mcg

pinto beans 1/2c=146 mcg

asparagus 1/2c=131 mcg

avocado 1/2c=45mcg

lentils 1/2c=179mcg

spinach(raw) 1c=58mcg

enriched cereal 3/4c=82mcg

beets 1/2c=68mcg

now you have some more food options! I don't know a lot about pregnancy(little too young lol) but I remember when my lacrosse coach was pregnant she didn't take any meds OTC or prescription I don't know if your not supposed to but..anyways be wary if you take aspirin,antacids,or anticonvulsant medications on a  pretty regular basis as they do interfere with the bodys absorption of folate, occasional use does not (so does oral contraceptives and smoking but I'm assuming you do neither)

hope this helps!