Folate is a B vitamin. It's essential in pregnancy, specifically in the weeks before and just after conception, when the neural tube forms. The neural tube becomes the brain and spine. It closes by week six. Most women don't even know they're pregnant at week six! That's the whole reason supplementing before conception matters. The NHS recommends 400mcg of folic acid a day, ideally three months before you conceive. That advice is solid. But folic acid and folate are not the s

Every pregnancy is different but there’s a general shape to how it goes on an NHS pathway. Your postcode can affect the details though, so ask your midwife early on what your local setup looks like. The booking appointment is usually around 8-10 weeks. It’s usually your first proper appointment and it’s looooong. They’ll ask about your health, your family history, the biological father’s family history. They’ll go through all the tests and screenings they offer too. If you ha

In the UK, your booking appointment is usually your first proper in-person thing with the NHS. It happens around 10 weeks. And it's much less medical than people expect. No scans or real tests, it’s just a long conversation about you. If you've gone private, your independent midwife will have their own schedule. Worth checking it lines up with what you actually want. It's mostly questions. A lot of questions. About your health. Your partner's health (or whoever the biological