So I was recently found out I have MTHFR, a blood clotting disorder after having a miscarriage at 20 weeks. I was sent to a specialist to go over the blood work I had done and he had said I should take a baby aspirin, 4mg of folic acid, and B6 & B12 vitamins along with a prenatal. The prescription was called through my OB's office and when I went to get the prescription, its only for 1mg of folic acid. I wondered if anyone else has been treated with folic acid and if this seems too low of a dose and should I call my OB's office to make sure its not a mistake.
The other thing I wanted to know if anyone in the Salt Lake area has been to an acupuncturist that they liked and if they could give me a referral. I've been researching how accupuncture is helpful with fertility issues and I thought I might try it, although I don't know if it can help with MTHFR since its genetic, but I've had 2 miscarriages in the past 2 years and my husband and I would really like to have another child.
So I decided to call my OB's office today and sure enough, there was a mistake with the dosage of the folic acid. I'm suppose to be taking 4mg daily while TTC and throughtout my next pregnancy. (Until told otherwise.) As a weird side note, I found out my doc wants me to have a Factor 5 blood test as well, we found out recently that some extended family has this blood clotting disorder so she wants to see. (Lets hope I don't.) Thank you all for your advice, and support. I'll be crossing my fingers for another healthy baby!
I don't know if it is too low a dose, but folic acid is part of the normal prenatal vitamin package. I would look into it more on the internet using google.com
Hi N.,
I'm so terribly sorry for your loss. I am homozygous MTHFR+ and lost a pregnancy in April, most likely due to the blood clotting disorder. The 1mg seems too low if the doctor wants you taking 4mg a day (most pregnant women take 800mcg a day in their prenatal vitamin, but women who are MTHFR+ require a much higher dosage). How many per day are you supposed to take? I'm pregnant again, and both prior to my pregnancy and now I take a baby aspirin once a day and Fabb Tablets (Rx folic acid). Each pill contains 2.2 mg of folic acid, so I take it twice a day, along with a baby aspirin, my prenatal, and lovenox 2x a day (low-molecular weight heparin which is an injectable blood thinner). Following my pregnancy, I will likely need to take folic acid and aspirin for the rest of my life, as this disorder can lead to an increased risk of stroke.
Good luck to you.
Warmly,
S.
Hi N.,
I was just reading your post and I saw that there were no responses yet to your question about an acupuncturist in the Salt Lake area. I hope you don't mind that I am plugging myself here but I am an acupuncturist. I have an office on 3300 south, inside Millcreek Wellness. I am still working on my website but here is the address www.wholefamilyhealthcenter.com and my number is ###-###-####. Feel free to give me a call if you would like to talk more about acupuncture.
Warmest Regards,
H. Seay
N.,
I sent you a private message with more information, but for the other people, who replied:
N. is absolutely right about such a big dosage. Her condition requires it.
The good part about folic acid that our body would wash extra of it out if it is too much, but with this vital vitamin is better too much than not enough.
Hi,
I had infertility but not a blood clotting disorder. I would recommend acupuncture to anyone for infertility. I didn't try it until after I was done with kids, but I was dxed menopausal, did acupuncture, no more menopausal blood levels.
I also have a good friend who had post partem depression, and lots of hormonal issues that whacked her out and acupuncture cured her, too.
I am not in SLC, but just find one who has been trained in China if you can, and give it a try!
Also, it doesn't hurt and there are no side effects except feeling tired right afterwards.
Marci
Hi N.:
I wanted to let you know that the 1mg of folic acid is actually a larger dose than what your doctor probably meant--which is fine. It is a better dose for pregnancy anyway. Most doctors mean to subscribe a 400mcg dose of folic acid which is actually 0.4mg strength. That is the typical pregnancy dose of folic acid. Pharmacies do not carry that dose of folic acid. Instead, they carry 1mg which is actually 1000mcg. If you feel uncomfortable taking that dose, you could always break the pills in half (although I know they are already quite small). Call your doctor anyway, and ask him/her what they want you to do.
Kim
Hi N.,
I also was diagnosed with MTHFR after 1 ruptured ectopic pregnancy, 1 successful pregnancy and 2 miscarriages, and was also put on baby aspirin, prenatal vitamins and folate to prepare for the next pregnancy. It is my understanding that extra folate is always recommended for women in the child bearing years. It isn't a treatment for the MTHFR, rather, it helps to prevent birth defects. When I became pregnant again, I continued the baby aspirin, vitamins and folate, and also had to give myself shots of Heparin every day, twice a day until the 3rd trimester, then 3 times a day until birth. I'm happy to say, we now have 2 beautiful boys, 8 1/2 and 6 - TOTALLY worth every needle prick! Good luck to you!
I also have the MTHFR problem. My doctor did not describe the condition as a blood clotting problem (although that may be one effect of MTHFR). Rather, I was told that I had one bad gene in the pair that allows the body to effectively make use of folic acid. The solution recommended was to give my body more folic acid to work with, so my faulty uptake system could still take enough to maintain my needs. I was told I should take folic acid supplements regularly for the rest of my life, not just while trying to conceive or while pregnant, since folic acid is associated with heart health.
I also took baby aspirin and a folic acid supplement in addition to regular prenatals when I was pregnant (okay, actually, I took kids' chewable vitamins the first trimester with my doctor's blessing instead of prenatals because I couldn't keep the prenatals down.). I still take 800mcg (twice the recommended daily allowance) of folic acid per day, at the recommendation of my doctor.
I don't know the percentages in the general population, but I can tell you that I and several friends I know with the same genetic problem have managed to successfully carry babies to term with no trouble once the problem was identified, treated, and monitored. I wish you success, health, and happiness on your next try.
