Pregnancy and Folic Acid

In order to have a healthy baby you have to take into account the mother’s health too. In order to aid her body in preventing birth defects that can be serious you will have to make sure that enough folic acid is included in the daily nutrition plan. Even before you will get pregnant you have to make sure that there is a period of time of around one month in which you took in the RDA of folic acid.

In most cases folic acid is found in vegetables in our diets. According to various studies done women have to take in at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily even before conception. Then during the early stages of pregnancy it is equally important that these quantities are respected. Failure to do this can lead to serious birth defects like neural tube defects. By simply making sure that you take in at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily while pregnant you will reduce neural tube defect risks by 70%. One of the most dangerous neural tube defect is spina bifida, a condition that develops in the first month of pregnancy. Unfortunately most women will not even be aware of the fact that they have conceived a baby. Because of this we must make sure that pregnancy and folic acid intake is properly understood and the RDA is met accordingly. Keep in mind that just half of all pregnancies around the world are actually planned.

As a woman you have to make sure that folic acid intake is proper before conception and then 3 months after that moment. The good news is that this is not at all difficult. There are a lot of grain products that are actually enriched with folic acid so eating rice, breads and breakfast cereal that has been fortified 100% with folate is perfect. We must also realize the fact that few women will be able to meet the recommended quantities by eating. Unfortunately our diets are pretty bad when talking about folic acid. This is exactly why it is always important to supplement our nutrition plan. Every pregnant woman out there needs more of the nutrients that were needed in the past. A prenatal vitamin product might be a great solution for most women. Such supplements usually contain 100% of the daily quantity of folic acid required or even more. By taking prenatal vitamins and making sure that the diet is diversified you would make a huge step towards maintaining your health and making sure that the baby receives all the nutrients he needs.

Sometimes you will have to take special folic acid supplements when pregnant. The doctor is the one that usually recommends them. On the other hand there are also many women out there that choose to take a regular multi vitamin supplement and then an extra folic acid supplement. We must also consider the fact that in the past no vitamin supplements were available and pregnancy was still handled properly. The key element that you have to take into consideration is your diet. Most of the folic acid intake (and all essential nutrients in general) should come from what you eat. Supplements are exactly what the name implies: a way to supplement what you already take in through food.

In conclusion folic acid and pregnancy go well together and should not be separated. Out of all the essential nutrients that you need while pregnant, folic acid is one of the most important, especially before you get pregnant and in the first 3 months of pregnancy. It is your responsibility that the RDA of folate is properly met and that you eat right.