Folic acid is essential during pregnancy. The US preventive task force says that every pregnant woman should have at least 400-800 grams of folic acid dosage during pregnancy. The
This, in turn, would help the baby’s neural development in the brain and spinal cord. This is the best way to keep your baby safe from any form of deformity in.
What is Folic Acid?
Folic acid is a Vitamin B9 supplement that is usually taken in addition to the food you eat every day. They are found in abundance in leafy veggies, cereals, and kinds of pasta.
When should a woman start taking Folic acid?
It is during the initial stages of pregnancy, and deformities develop in babies. So, it is always advisable for a pregnant woman to take folic acid during the first week of pregnancy.
A recent study reveals that if a pregnant woman takes folic acid one year before pregnancy, the chances of giving birth to a premature baby can be avoided to a great extent.
The Center for Disease Control says that a pregnant woman can take the folic acid supplement from the first day of pregnancy and throughout pregnancy.
Now the question that is stuck in my mind is how much folic acid should I take while pregnant?
How much folic acid to take when pregnant?
When a woman conceives, she has to have the recommended folic acid for pregnancy is 400 Microgram of folic acid and should continue folic acid pregnancy dosage until the first trimester of pregnancy.
For the rest of the pregnancy, she has to have 600 micrograms of folic acid. During the lactation period, she should take 500 micrograms of folic acid.
Benefits of taking folic acid supplements during pregnancy?
If your body doesn’t get enough supply of folic acid, the baby might get neural tube defects in the brain and spinal cord. The reason is folic is the main nutritional supplement that assists in the proper development of the nerves in the brain and Spinal cord.
Spinal Bifida and Anencephaly are the two main diseases that affect these two parts of the body. When a pregnant woman doesn’t take folic acid, it will hamper the baby’s brain and spinal cord development.
As a result, the babies whose spinal cord doesn’t develop completely will be born with permanent disabilities to move. The babies who develop brain deformities during the initial stage of pregnancy will not survive. The intake of folic acid can also help to reduce premature birth of babies, miscarriage, congenital deformities, etc.
What are the natural sources of folic acid?
The US and Canada have decided to add folic acid to daily food items such as white flour, bread, and cereals. This will help the women get appropriate daily needs of folic acid from daily dietary items.
The US Food and Drug Administration says that pregnant women should eat natural foods high in folic acid from their daily diet.
Many Folic acid foods are rich in Vitamin B 9. They are
- Green and leafy veggies.
- Bread
- Orange or lemon juice, etc.
If these foods are not providing enough folic acid for pregnancy, you have to have a folic acid supplement in the form of a tablet that your gynaecologist may suggest.
What kind of women is prone to delivering babies with neural defects?
If a woman is not having a balanced diet, she is at an increased risk of delivering a baby with neural defects. If a woman has delivered a baby with such defects are prone to delivering babies with neural defects in the future.
The best way to prevent deformities in the baby is to have 400 micrograms of folic acid before pregnancy. You can start having a baby when you plan to have it and continue post-delivery if you wish to lactate.
The doctors recommend taking the folic acid supplement before getting pregnant because the baby’s growth starts even before pregnancy.
Another fact is that the babies from these defects during the initial stages of pregnancy is another reason why women should start having foliate supplements before getting pregnant.
In short, a pregnant woman needs to take the proper amount of doses of folic acid daily. It will protect the baby and woman.
