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Why do pregnant women need folic acid and how to take it
When planning motherhood, a woman should carefully monitor her health, eat right and take vitamins. One of the most important drugs is folic acid. Pregnant women are recommended to take it not only to maintain health, but also for the proper development of the fetus.
What is folic acid for pregnant women?
Folic acid or vitamin B9 is a source of folate, which is actively involved in the process of hematopoiesis. The lack of these substances threatens the development of anemia and increases the risk of various defects in the formation of the fetus.
Pregnant women need folic acid for normal fetal development
So, why do pregnant women need folic acid, and in what vital processes does it participate:
- the laying and growth of fetal nerve tissues;
- the formation of blood vessels of the placenta;
- development of the child’s brain;
- the formation of a neural tube;
- construction of all cells of the human body, including the cells of the embryo.
The vitamin is found in significant quantities in foods such as legumes, citrus fruits, leafy vegetables, liver and honey. But since part of the folate is destroyed during the cooking process, it is recommended to take B9 additionally during pregnancy.
How to take folic acid for pregnant women?
It is advisable to start taking vitamin B9 even before conception. At the moment when the expectant mother finds out that she is in position, the baby already begins the process of laying the vital organs. To provide a solid foundation for the physical and mental health of the baby, folate must already be present in the mother’s body in sufficient quantities.
In most cases, you need to drink vitamin B9 throughout pregnancy, but the decision to take it is made exclusively by the attending physician.
The recommended daily dose of folate is 1000 mcg per capsule. If the results of the examination of the pregnant woman showed any defects in the development of the fetus, the attending doctor may increase the daily dose. In case of a deficiency of vitamin B9 in the body of the expectant mother, she is prescribed to take from 3 to 5 tablets per day.
Before taking folic acid while waiting for a child, it is important to get all the tests and consult a doctor. Despite the benefits of the vitamin for the proper development of the fetus, its excess in the body of a pregnant woman can lead to a decrease in immunity in both the mother and the baby. As with any drug, folic acid must be taken with caution.