The Importance of Folic Acid During Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, the first thing your obstetrician might advise is to start taking folic acid supplements. This supplement is often recommended during pregnancy or when considering getting pregnant to reduce the risk of birth defects. However, It is an essential nutrient that everyone needs.

It is common to have concerns and questions about folic acid, and you might want to understand the importance of folic acid during pregnancy.

By the end of this article, you will get answers to all your questions. Read on to learn what folic acid is and how being deficient might affect the development of your fetus.

What is folic acid?

Folic acid is a type of vitamin B that helps your body make new cells. Skin, hair, nails, and other body parts make new cells daily. This supplement aids in that process. The vitamin also helps produce new red blood cells and prevent anemia (folate-deficiency anemia). Folic acid is also essential for producing and repairing DNA and other genetic material, as it helps healthy cells divide and grow rapidly.

Why do you need folic acid during pregnancy?

It is extremely important to take enough folic acid before and during pregnancy as it helps prevent major birth defects such as:

• Spina bifida- A condition in which the spine and spinal cord do not develop properly.
• Neural tube defects- A condition that affects brain and spinal cord development.
• Anencephaly- A serious defect that occurs when the baby's brain and skull don't develop properly.

Besides reducing the risk of NTDs, taking adequate folic acid may also reduce the chances of:

• Preterm birth
• Gestational diabetes
• Cleft lip and cleft palate
• Certain types of congenital heart defects

When should you start taking folic acid during pregnancy?

Your baby's spinal cord and brain develop from the neural tube. Neural tube abnormalities occur in the first few weeks of pregnancy —often before a woman realizes she's pregnant. Hence, taking folic acid regularly before conception and for at least three months after that is important.

A study showed that women who took folic acid for at least a year before becoming pregnant reduced their chances of premature delivery by 50% or more.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women who start taking the recommended daily dose of folic acid at least one month before conception and continue through the first trimester of pregnancy can lower their baby's risk of birth defects by up to 70 percent.

How Can You Get Enough Folic Acid During Pregnancy?

There are several ways to ensure you get enough folic acid:

• Take a Vitamin with Folic Acid: Your doctor will prescribe a supplement containing folic acid. Make sure to complete the recommended duration of the course.
• Eat foods rich in folic acid: Folate is the natural form of folic acid found in food. Including a variety of foods in your diet can provide folate. Some foods are fortified with folic acid, meaning it's added to them. You can check product labels to see the folic acid content. Look for terms like "fortified" or "enriched" on labels of foods like bread, breakfast cereal, pasta, cornmeal, flour, and products made from corn masa, like tortillas and taco shells.
  • Good Food Sources of Folic Acid are Beans (like lentils, pinto beans, and black beans), leafy green vegetables (such as spinach and Romaine lettuce), asparagus, broccoli, peanuts (avoid if allergic), citrus fruits (like oranges and grapefruit), and orange juice.

It can be challenging to get all the folic acid needed from food alone. Even if you consume folic acid-rich foods, taking a daily vitamin supplement containing folic acid is recommended to ensure you meet the requirements. 

Takeaway

Having a healthy baby means making sure you're healthy, too, which can be achieved with proper vitamin and nutrient intake. One of the most important ways to protect your baby against serious birth defects is to have enough folic acid every day—especially before conception and during early pregnancy.

Let's dive deeper and answer some of the most common questions about folic acid.

FAQs

1. How Much Folic Acid Should I Take? 
A. The daily recommended dose for adults is 400 micrograms (mcg). Women who are trying to conceive or who are pregnant should take 400 to 1,000 mcg of folic acid once every day.

2. When Should I Start Taking Folic Acid? 
A. Taking folic acid while trying to conceive (ideally for three months before) and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is highly beneficial.
 
3. What Are the Benefits of Folic Acid?
A. Folic acid supports new, healthy cells' production, growth, and proper functioning. It helps prevent birth defects and pregnancy complications, maintains brain health, and lowers the risk factors for heart disease.
 
4. Are folate and folic acid the same thing?
A. Both these terms are often used interchangeably, but folate is the natural form of the B9 vitamin that comes from food sources like dark, green leafy vegetables, etc. But folic acid is a synthetic made for supplements or added to foods.

References

● https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-folate/art-20364625
● https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/folic-acid#benefits-uses
● https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/index.html
● https://www.webmd.com/baby/folic-acid-and-pregnancy