What Is Folic Acid?
Folic acid is a synthetic version of the B vitamin folate. Folate is essential for the synthesis of red blood cells and the development of your baby’s neural tube into their brain and spinal cord. Fortified grains are the finest suppliers of folic acid. Natural sources of folate include dark green vegetables and citrus fruits
When Should I Start Taking Folic Acid?
Birth malformations are common throughout the first 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. So having folate in your system is critical during the early stages of your baby’s brain and spinal cord development.
If you spoke with your doctor about attempting to conceive, they most likely advised you to begin taking a prenatal vitamin containing folic acid. According to one study, women who took folic acid for at least a year before becoming pregnant reduced their chances of giving birth prematurely by 50% or more.
What Are the Benefits of Folic Acid?
Without enough folic acid in your body, your baby’s neural tube may not close properly, resulting in health concerns known as neural tube defects. These are some examples:
- Spina bifida: Spina bifida is characterised by inadequate development of the spinal cord or vertebrae.
- Anencephaly: Anencephaly is characterised by the inadequate development of main sections of the brain.
Babies born with anencephaly seldom survive, while those born with spina bifida may be permanently crippled. To say the least, these are frightening issues. However, getting adequate folic acid may prevent your kid from neural tube abnormalities by up to 50%.
When taken before and during pregnancy, folic acid may also protect your baby against:
- Cleft lip and palate
- Premature birth
- Low birth weight
- Miscarriage
- Poor growth in the womb