Pregnancy requires special nutrition, which is why expectant mothers attempt to include enough of fruits, vegetables, complete grains, and lean protein in their meals. You’ve probably heard about the necessity of taking a daily prenatal vitamin, and folic acid is one of the most vital components of this miracle pill.
Folic acid is the synthetic version of folate, a B vitamin (specifically vitamin B9) which occurs in certain fruits, vegetables and nuts. Looking for more Folic Acid Benefits in Pregnancy? Read ahead!
Benefits of Folic Acid:
Folic acid aids the normal closure of the embryonic neural tube, which is the precursor to your baby’s brain and spinal cord, during the first few weeks of pregnancy. It also aids with the development of your baby’s heart and circulatory system, as well as lowering the risk of some birth abnormalities.
Because folic acid is water-soluble, your body can’t keep too much of it. Instead, it passes through your urine, which is why you need to acquire enough folic acid in your diet on a daily basis to avoid a deficiency when pregnant. Because the majority of birth defects appear in the first few weeks of pregnancy, it’s critical to acquire adequate folic acid as soon as possible.
These include lowering the chances of:
- Miscarriage, Folic acid deficiency have been linked to difficulties in conceiving and maintaining pregnancy in certain women, according to research.
- Defects in the neural tube Spina bifida, a spinal malformation, anencephaly, a type of brain injury, and Chiari malformation, which causes brain tissue to spread into the spinal canal, are three birth defects connected to a lack of folic acid.
- Heart defects are present at birth. A hole in the heart’s wall, too-narrow valves, or poorly formed blood arteries are among the disorders that harm 40,000 babies each year.
- Dietary adjustments, exercise, and regular monitoring are occasionally used to treat pregnancy-related diabetes.
- Preterm labour is when a baby is born prematurely. A folic acid-rich diet may assist to prevent labour before 37 weeks.
- Folic acid may help to prevent this oral problem, which is characterized by an opening in the lip that does not form properly.
How to get the right amount of folic acid?
You will be advised to take a larger dose of 5mg folic acid if you have a higher chance of having a pregnancy impacted by neural tube abnormalities.
If any of the following apply to you, you may be at a higher risk:
- You’re diabetic.
- A neural tube defect affects you or your companion.
- a prior pregnancy ended in a miscarriage due to a neural tube malfunction.
- You or your partner have a history of neural tube problems in your family.
- You suffer from epilepsy.
- You’re a binge drinker.
Gynaecologist in kharghar suggests that it is crucial to take the tablet as well as eat foods high in folate because eating foods high in folate alone will not provide the optimal protection for the infant.
You might also try to consume folate-rich foods. These are some of them:
- broccoli
- brussels sprouts
- spinach
- asparagus
- peas
- chickpeas
- fortified breakfast cereals
Facing issues due to less folic acid?
If you think your pregnancy Is affected, you need to visit a Gynaecologist Centre in Kamothe at the earliest. Yashoda IVF Centre is a state-of-the-art fertility and IVF clinic in Kamothe that has been serving the community for over ten years.
With a dedicated IVF expert fertility specialist with 15 years of expertise in the field of infertility and women’s health, as well as a whole team of trained and experienced professionals who are dedicated to assisting and serving our patients.