[firsttimemom]

Hi there,
I am very worried about my unborn child. I am about 7 weeks, 3 days pregnant (had an ultrasound at 6 weeks). I am 27 years old, husband is 36. I didn't take a multi-vitamin or folic acid supplement prior to conception (not trying to conceive) and only started taking it about 5 weeks along when I found out I was pregnant. I also don't think I had the healthiest eating habits as it was quite a stressful time in my life. I am very worried about neural tube deficits and curious about risk with combination of stress and lack of supplement.
Thank you

[joypulv]

You are adding to the stress with worry about what you cannot know yet. Start a healthy diet, not just vitamins, and keep your stress and worry down. Your youth will contribute a lot to the baby, who will steal what he can from your body. Look at half the women in the world, many of whom are having babies while deficient in just about every nutrient there is. Think of the Grapes of Wrath. Trust in your doctor, read about parenting, plan your finances, and put things like neural tube deficits way on the back burner.

[LearningAsIGo]

I agree with joypulv. As your pregnancy progresses, your doctor will be able to determine IF there are any health concerns. You may have naturally had enough folic acid to prevent neural tube defects - only time will tell - in the mean time just focus on the miracle you've been given and take care of yourself and the baby. Pregnancy & motherhood is stressful enough without putting more on yourself ;)