Twins & folic acid

Hi there. Hoping a twin mummy can help. Expecting twins in dec. Had script for 5 mg folic acid for 1st 14 wks and just about to run out. Can't get hold of dr of course to ask what to do now. Just wondering how much folic acid to take with twins in 2nd and 3 rd trimester?

No experience of twins but my doctor told me that there is no benefit of taking folic acid after 13 weeks so I can stop taking it then.

Yes, the benefit is before the neural tube is formed, which happens in the first trimester.

Flower Girl, I know you are a GP and therefore a very valuable resource around here so just wondering about the level of risk around not taking my folic acid now? I'm not really taking it for the last two weeks (11 weeks now) as I'm so ill with hyperemesis I can't take it. Was at gp this morning and forgot to ask.

I would check this with your consultant before stopping. I'm in a high risk category and my consultant told me to continue with the 5mg folic acid until after the 20 week scan.

Expecting twins and consultant told me it was fine to stop taking folic acid at 12 weeks.

[quote="anonforawhile":2fyh9tec]Flower Girl, I know you are a GP and therefore a very valuable resource around here so just wondering about the level of risk around not taking my folic acid now? I'm not really taking it for the last two weeks (11 weeks now) as I'm so ill with hyperemesis I can't take it. Was at gp this morning and forgot to ask.[/quote:2fyh9tec] The risk is low at this stage, especially if you've been taking it consistently up til now. I don't have numbers on it, but you're talking about a rare occurrence to begin with, and any folic acid you take reduces the risk of defects even further. I definitely wouldn't lose sleep over it at this point.

[quote="Flower Girl":1pjoayev][quote="anonforawhile":1pjoayev]Flower Girl, I know you are a GP and therefore a very valuable resource around here so just wondering about the level of risk around not taking my folic acid now? I'm not really taking it for the last two weeks (11 weeks now) as I'm so ill with hyperemesis I can't take it. Was at gp this morning and forgot to ask.[/quote:1pjoayev] The risk is low at this stage, especially if you've been taking it consistently up til now. I don't have numbers on it, but you're talking about a rare occurrence to begin with, and any folic acid you take reduces the risk of defects even further. I definitely wouldn't lose sleep over it at this point.[/quote:1pjoayev] Thank you so much!!!!

I'm 27 weeks pregnant with twins and I stopped the high dose folic acid at 12/13 weeks. My consultant (twin specialist) just said to take Pregnacare instead.