{"id":496,"date":"2022-08-21T20:19:12","date_gmt":"2022-08-21T19:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/folic-acid\/"},"modified":"2022-08-29T09:25:36","modified_gmt":"2022-08-29T08:25:36","slug":"folic-acid","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/folic-acid\/","title":{"rendered":"Folic Acid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><div class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-host wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover\"><a class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/healthy-start.jpg\" data-wpcp-wp-lb-image=\"1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"239\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/healthy-start.jpg\" alt=\"Healthy Start\" class=\"wp-image-735\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/healthy-start.jpg 700w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/healthy-start-300x102.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/healthy-start.jpg\" data-fancybox=\"wpcp-wp-img-735\" class=\"wpcp-lightbox-trigger wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon wpcp-position-top-right wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover wpcp-global-lightbox-icon wpcp-lightbox-icon--global wpcp-lb-icon-style-default\" data-wpcp-lb-icon-source=\"global\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" data-thumb-src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/healthy-start-300x102.jpg\" data-wpcp-lb-single=\"1\"><span class=\"wpcp-icon-container\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"><path d=\"M17.6585 16.025L14.2437 12.6198C15.1716 11.3338 15.6121 9.7613 15.4871 8.1819C15.362 6.60251 14.6795 5.11847 13.5607 3.99351C12.936 3.36206 12.1916 2.86066 11.3709 2.51845C10.5502 2.17623 9.66952 2 8.77995 2C7.89039 2 7.00969 2.17623 6.18899 2.51845C5.36829 2.86066 4.62395 3.36206 3.99919 3.99351C3.36594 4.61649 2.86312 5.35871 2.51992 6.17708C2.17673 6.99545 2 7.87365 2 8.76068C2 9.64772 2.17673 10.5259 2.51992 11.3443C2.86312 12.1627 3.36594 12.9049 3.99919 13.5279C5.11957 14.6901 6.62279 15.4103 8.23285 15.5562C9.84291 15.7022 11.4517 15.2641 12.7639 14.3224L16.1788 17.7275C16.3849 17.9034 16.6473 18 16.9186 18C17.1899 18 17.4523 17.9034 17.6585 17.7275C18.1138 17.16 18.1138 16.5925 17.6585 16.025ZM5.59278 12.0523C5.16258 11.6298 4.82094 11.1263 4.58774 10.5709C4.35455 10.0156 4.23446 9.41951 4.23446 8.81744C4.23446 8.21536 4.35455 7.6193 4.58774 7.06394C4.82094 6.50859 5.16258 6.00503 5.59278 5.58257C6.01644 5.15359 6.52144 4.81292 7.07838 4.58039C7.63532 4.34786 8.23308 4.22811 8.83687 4.22811C9.44066 4.22811 10.0384 4.34786 10.5954 4.58039C11.1523 4.81292 11.6573 5.15359 12.081 5.58257C12.5112 6.00503 12.8528 6.50859 13.086 7.06394C13.3192 7.6193 13.4393 8.21536 13.4393 8.81744C13.4393 9.41951 13.3192 10.0156 13.086 10.5709C12.8528 11.1263 12.5112 11.6298 12.081 12.0523C11.6573 12.4813 11.1523 12.822 10.5954 13.0545C10.0384 13.287 9.44066 13.4068 8.83687 13.4068C8.23308 13.4068 7.63532 13.287 7.07838 13.0545C6.52144 12.822 6.01644 12.4813 5.59278 12.0523Z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your baby will benefit if you take folic acid supplements before you get pregnant and in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Currently, it&#8217;s recommended that you take a 400 microgramme (0.4milligramme\/mg) folic acid tablet every day\u00a0starting when you are trying to get pregnant\u00a0and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center supplementary is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, for women who are overweight with a body mass index of over 30*, a higher dose of folic acid is required and you should attend your GP to discuss this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*to work out your BMI \u2013 you need to know your height and weight \u2013 visit NHS inform to find out more and calculate your BMI:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhsinform.scot\/healthy-living\/food-and-nutrition\/healthy-eating-and-weight-loss\/understanding-your-healthy-weight-body-mass-index-bmi-and-waist-to-hip-ratio-whr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NHS Inform BMI Calculator<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You are\u00a0entitled to free\u00a0folic acid\u00a0(and other vitamins) through\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/introducing-solid-foods\/best-start-foods\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Healthy Start<\/a>\u00a0when you are pregnant. Ask your midwife for more information.\u00a0You should also eat foods rich in folate such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Green Vegetables<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Fortified Cereals<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Oranges<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Berries<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Potatoes<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Lentils<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Speak to your midwife if you have had a previous pregnancy with a neural tube defect, are on medication for epilepsy, or have diabetes, as you might need a higher dose which is only available on prescription.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/RSB-Folic-Acid.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here for the latest recommendations on Folic Acid from &#8216;Ready, Steady, Baby&#8217;<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The information presented on this site is for general use only and is not intended for people living with any medical conditions who are seeking personal medical advice; it is not a substitute for the advice of your doctor or midwife. If you have any questions or concerns about individual health matters or the management of your condition, please consult your local GP or midwife.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your baby will benefit if you take folic acid supplements before you get pregnant and in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Currently, it&rsquo;s recommended that you take a 400 microgramme (0.4milligramme\/mg) folic acid tablet every day&nbsp;starting when you are trying to get pregnant&nbsp;and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, for women who<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/widewidth.php","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-496","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"NHS Lothian","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/author\/nhs-lothian\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"Your baby will benefit if you take folic acid supplements before you get pregnant and in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Currently, it&rsquo;s recommended that you take a 400 microgramme (0.4milligramme\/mg) folic acid tablet every day&nbsp;starting when you are trying to get pregnant&nbsp;and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, for women who","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=496"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/496\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}