Benefits of Folid Acid in Pregnancy

VitaminAussie

New Member
Hi moms, just sharing an article about the benefit of folid acid for pregnancy. Hope it helps for moms who are currently pregnant or preparing for pregnancy. Happy reading.

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Folate (also known as folic acid) is a B-group vitamin essential for the healthy development of the fetus in early pregnancy, in particular their neural tube. Your body needs it to produce red blood cells, as well as norepinephrine and seratonin (chemical components of the nervous system. It helps make DNA (the body’s genetic material) and is a critical component of spinal fluid. Women of child-bearing age should take extra folate daily to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Folate taken before conception and during the first few weeks of pregnancy can prevent seven out of ten cases of neural tube defects.

Most women don’t get enough folate. The recommended daily intake of folid acid for women is 400 micrograms (mcg) per day. It’s difficult to measure just how much folate you get from your diet because the vitamin is affected by how foods are cooked and stored.

Folate requirements increase substantially in pregnancy, so women should aim to consume at least 600 mcg of folate from their normal daily diet. In addition to eating foods that are rich in folate, if you are planning a pregnancy or are in the early stages of pregnancy (the first three months or ‘first trimester’) you should take a daily supplement containing 0.5 mg of folic acid.Once you are into your second trimester (from week 13), you may wish to stop taking the supplements, although continuing to take them throughout pregnancy won’t harm you or your baby either.

Women who have had one child with a neural tube defect have a higher risk of having other children with the same disability. In this case, and for those who are prescribed certain medications, doctors will prescribe these women to take a much higher dose of folic acid — a five milligram (mg) tablet — starting one month before conception, if possible, and continuing through the first three months of pregnancy.


To increase your folate intake, you are recommended to consume:


  • Eat folate-rich foods – folate is present in a variety of vegetables (such as asparagus, spinach and broccoli) and fruits (such as oranges, bananas and strawberries) as well as legumes (such as chickpeas, dried beans and lentils), cereals, nuts and yeast extracts such as Vegemite
  • Choose foods that have been fortified with folate – this includes some breakfast cereals and fruit juices, and most bread.

However, if you are planning a pregnancy, the best way to guarantee you get enough folic acid, is to take a daily folic acid supplement at least one month before and three months after conception. You don’t need to take folic acid supplements after that. This is in addition to eating foods with added folic acid and naturally rich in folate.

Remember, it’s important to enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods every day in order to get the variety of vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy pregnancy.
 
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