One step to increasing the chance of twins is said to be taking extra Folic Acid. It is also said the body will get rid of any extra Folic Acid it does not need. I also spoke with a pharmacist who confirmed that Folic Acid is a B vitamin and B vitamins are water soluble and the body does flush out what it does not need. One mommy from my message boards said the only thing she did after having three children was take extra Folic Acid and got a surprise pregnancy with twins. Some even say, taking double the amount of Folic Acid sway your chances for twins. Double meaning 2 mg (2,000 mcg) while others say a high dose of Folic Acid is 2,500 - 5,000 mcg. One user even said taking one 800 mcg folic acid pill five times a day (making a total of 4,000 mcg) could possibly increase your chances not only for twins, but also for triplets.
Some information I found online, was 400 mcg to 600 mcg is recommended for pregnancy and max dose is 2,000 mcg, because excess amounts can hide a Vitamin B12 deficiency. It is said to mask, but not cause the Vitamin B12 deficiency. When I spoke with a pharmacist about safe levels of Folic Acid, I was told that 800 mcg (0.8 mg) is usually the highest over counter a person can buy. Anything that contains 1 mg of Folic Acid usually requires a prescription. The pharmacist did confirm that you do not want to go over 2,000 mcg. I have read online that you do not want to exceed 5,000 mcg of Folic Acid. I would caution taking anything in an extremely high amounts, even things that say the body will flush out extra. As that saying goes, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.
Having a higher BMI may increase the chances for twins, but also means a person might have to take a higher dose of Folic Acid than someone with a lower BMI. Of course your doctor will tell you if taking an over the counter pre-natal vitamin is not enough if you have certain health conditions or are expecting twins. To know more about why someone may need to take More Folic Acid, click this link: Special Cases for Taking More Folic Acid
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