When is the Best Time to Take Folic Acid for a Healthy Pregnancy?

Folic acid is one of the most important nutrients a woman must ensure a healthy pregnancy. It plays the most important role in fetal development in developing the brain and spinal cord.

If folic acid is consumed in the right quantity at the right time, serious birth defects like neural tube defects can be avoided. So, the best time for taking folic acid and how much of this you will require for a healthy pregnancy are discussed below:

This article discusses the need for folic acid in pregnancy, the best time to start taking it, and proper dosing so both the mother and the baby stay healthy at an optimum level.

Folic acid is another name for Vitamin B9. It is a very important B vitamin that participates in red blood cell production and DNA synthesis. It is highly crucial in cell division and growth, hence paramount during pregnancy.

Folic acid is the synthetic version of folate, a nutrient found in food that encompasses leafy green vegetables, fruits, beans, and fortified foods.

Proper folic acid intake is crucial throughout pregnancy due to its role in the development of the neural tube, which will eventually be the baby's brain and spinal cord.

The most important function of folic acid is during pregnancy; it plays a major role in preventing neural tube defects. The neural tube describes the curved or crescent shape of parts of the baby's brain and spinal cord at early stages of pregnancy.

Failure of this neural tube to close fully happens later in pregnancy, leading to serious birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects by a lot if adequate amounts are taken before and during pregnancy.

Taking folic acid is important before and during pregnancy since the neural tube forms in the first 28 days after conception and this may be before a woman even knows she is pregnant.

Taking folic acid before and in early pregnancy ensures that enough amount of folic acid is in the body, hence enabling rapid development in the neural tube.

This is a sensitive time since, by the time most women realize they are pregnant, the neural tube has already formed; hence, a start in taking folic acid can help prevent birth defects even before they occur.

The best time to take folic acid during pregnancy is before you even conceive. Women who want to get pregnant should begin their intake of folic acid at least one month before they try to conceive and continue it up to the first trimester of pregnancy.

This is the period when the baby's brain and spinal cord grow very fast; that is where the folic acid becomes essential to ensure proper formation.

Folic acid should be taken daily during pregnancy, most especially in the first 12 weeks of gestation when the neural tube will start developing.

When you take folic acid daily, you are sure that your body system is supplied with enough units of this nutrient, highly supporting your baby during the early periods.

The suggested dosage for most women of folic acid is 400 mcg (micrograms) per day. The appropriate dose is usually included with a prenatal vitamin or in supplements of folic acid, so expectant mothers should hardly miss one day without the required amount of folic acid.

In such cases, for women who are at a higher risk of delivering a baby with NTDs-for example, those who have had a previous pregnancy complicated by NTDs-increased doses of folic acid are more often prescribed.

Doctors may prescribe a higher dose of folic acid, usually in the range of 4,000 mcg (4 mg) daily, in such cases.

Consult your doctor if you're at higher risk or if you have a family history of neural tube defects, so he can determine the right dosage for your specific condition.

Folic acid is naturally occurring in some foods and added to others. Some of the good sources of folate are spinach, kale, and broccoli. Other excellent sources include citrus fruits, beans, and fortified cereals.

Then many women become unable to get enough folic acid from their diet, therefore, folic acid supplements available for women contemplating pregnancy or pregnant.

Most prenatal vitamins contain 400 mcg of folic acid, which is sufficient for most pregnant women.

Folic acid supplements are widely available and constitute a safe and sure way of ensuring that you get the recommended daily dose of folic acid.

More than that, many foods are fortified with folic acid-such as breakfast cereals, pasta, bread, and rice, providing an additional source of this important nutrient.

Timing is everything while on folic acid when one is pregnant. One recalls earlier chapters that a neural tube forms within the very first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant.

The embryo would already be developing inside her by then. Start taking folic acid at least one month before you actually intend to conceive to have enough amounts of folic acid in your body to accommodate the formation of the early fetal development.

If you do find out that you are pregnant and you haven't been consuming folic acid, then you should start with the intake of folic acid as soon as possible.

Even though the neural tube develops early, consuming folic acid during your pregnancy continues to benefit both you and your baby.

This is also the time when neural tube development happens to be most critical; folic acid, however is important in your pregnancy all through.

Folic acid enables the production of red blood cells, which are needed to carry oxygen to both you and your baby. Enough folic acid will ensure that you are fit as well as your baby.

The role of folic acid in preventing birth defects, especially neural tube defects, has been proven. The supplement of folic acid is the easiest way of reducing the risk of birth defects.

Some other types of birth defects are potentially prevented by folic acid, and these include heart defects, cleft lip, and cleft palate.

By taking sure to get enough folic acid before during your pregnancy, you drastically reduce the chances of your child entering the world with a neural tube defect or other severe congenital defect.

A usual daily dose is about 400 mcg of folic acid. Most can be taken in the form of over-the-counter prenatal vitamins. However, higher doses may be required based on a woman's risk factors or medical history.

Any female who has had a pregnancy with an affected by a neural tube defect, has diabetes, or is on certain medications that interfere with folate absorption, such as anti-seizure medications may need supplemental doses of folic acid. If you are at one of these risk levels, discuss this with your doctor for how much you should supplement.

An arguably more important question for most individuals, however, is whether to rely on food sources or folic acid supplement for daily needs.

Of course, a healthy diet with a good amount of folate from natural sources is important; however, ingesting the appropriate level of folate through diet alone to the daily recommended amount for pregnancy is difficult.

That is why folic acid supplements are advised as the easier and more reliable way to ensure that you are getting enough of this important nutrient. A prenatal vitamin that contains folic acid is a convenient option to help meet your daily needs.

It is essential to sufficiently obtain folic acid because its overdose is also allowed. The human body can only absorb and process that much folic acid at a time; otherwise, too much will mask the symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Failure to take notice of this may result in a nervous system problem.

Most pregnant women require no more than 1,000 mcg per day unless otherwise directed by a healthcare provider. If you have questions regarding your folic acid dose, see your doctor especially if you have any pre-existing conditions, or you have a chance of neural tube defects.

Bottom line: Folic acid is one of the supplements you need for a healthy pregnancy, and you should take folic acid even before you get pregnant. The best time for taking folic acid during your pregnancy term would be at least one month before actually getting pregnant, up to the first trimester-when your baby's neural tube is forming.

Taking 400 mcg of folic acid per day, or more if prescribed by a doctor, can really make all the difference in the reduction of neural tube defects and other birth defects.

Being pregnant or planning to become pregnant, getting and maintaining enough folic acid is one of the simplest and most effective ways in support of health and the proper development of the baby. Always discuss with your doctor how you should take folic acid prior to pregnancy and during pregnancy.

Medical Disclaimer - The following information is for educational purposes only. No information provided on this website, including text, graphic, and images, are intended as substitutes for professional medical advice. Please consult with your doctor about specific medical advice pertaining to your condition(s).