Pregnant women need to maintain good physical condition, pay attention to regular daily routines, and the nutritional content of their diet to ensure the quality of their eggs and the healthy growth and development of their fertilized eggs into fetuses. Therefore, women who plan to conceive must pay attention to their physical condition during the preconception period and take folic acid in advance. So, what are the benefits of taking folic acid during the preconception period?
What are the benefits of taking folic acid during pregnancy
1. Prevent neural tube birth defects. Folic acid is beneficial for fetal neural tube development. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States states that if women take the recommended daily dose of folic acid at least one month before conception and throughout the first three months of pregnancy, the risk of developing neural tube defects in their babies can be reduced by 50% -70%.
2. Reduce the risk of pre eclampsia for expectant mothers. Studies have shown that taking multiple vitamins containing folic acid may reduce the risk of pre eclampsia for expectant mothers. Pre eclampsia is a pregnancy specific complication, a hypertensive disorder that occurs during pregnancy and affects 5% -8% of expectant mothers. Pre eclampsia increases the difficulty of pregnancy, while folic acid can help reduce the risk of pregnant women developing pre eclampsia.
3. Reduce the risk of gestational hyperlipidemia. Folic acid is beneficial for the health of pregnant women. The Chinese Nutrition Society recommends starting from 2-3 months before pregnancy and continuing to take it until 3 months or the entire pregnancy. In addition to preventing neural tube defects, it is also beneficial for reducing the risk of gestational hyperlipidemia.
How long do I need to take folic acid for pregnancy preparation
1. Folic acid supplementation should be continued throughout the entire pregnancy. If folic acid is not supplemented before pregnancy, there is no need to worry excessively. Supplementing folic acid from the time of pregnancy can still reduce the risk of fetal developmental abnormalities. In the first three months of pregnancy, which is a critical period for the development of the fetal neural tube, supplementing sufficient folic acid can significantly reduce neural tube abnormalities, greatly reducing the incidence of anencephaly and congenital spina bifida in fetuses.
2. Pregnant women with conditions can persist in taking it throughout pregnancy and lactation to promote maternal health, fetal and neonatal growth and development. Generally, folic acid intake can be stopped at 3 months after pregnancy depending on the situation.
Folic acid is an essential trace element for fetal growth and development, and women need to take it in advance during pregnancy preparation to ensure sufficient folic acid content in their bodies. At the same time, they can also eat more foods rich in folic acid to create a good environment for the growth and development of fertilized eggs and promote the healthy growth and development of fetuses. After pregnancy, if there is no doctor's advice, it is necessary to continue taking it.
