Folic acid
If you already know that you are pregnant, one of the two first things your gynecologist tells you during the first visit after finding out if you are pregnant is, on one hand, they ask when your last period was to calculate the weeks of pregnancy and the second is that you start taking folic acid. If you still don't know if you are pregnant, check out this article free virtual pregnancy test.
In fact, if you visit your gynecologist to tell them your intention to go look for a baby, something we should all do so they can give us a check-up and provide us with the proper guidelines, surely, they will already indicate that you start taking folic acid. In this article, I will try to answer all those questions we have about folic acid: What is it? What is it for? When should I start taking it? What amount is recommended? … Let's get started!
What is folic acid?
Actually, we would need to be chemists to understand what folic acid is, but for the majority of us mortals to understand, folic acid is a vitamin, specifically vitamin B9. This vitamin is found in green vegetables, legumes, nuts, brewer's yeast, … but, unfortunately, it gets lost during cooking, even when storing food at room temperature. In reality, what you need to take can come in different formats, generally, in little round tablets or, like the ones I took, which the gynecologist called tablets, because they are round and plastic-like, they are these. Many times, the same tablets that the gynecologist prescribes or we can buy at the pharmacy contain supplements of other vitamins and minerals necessary for pregnant women like Omega 3, Omega 6, iron, …
Who should take it?
Although it is also used as a treatment for certain anemias or psilosis (a chronic disease in warm climates, mainly characterized by diarrhea and stomatitis), in recent years, health organizations and governments recommend that all pregnant women or women looking to get pregnant should take folic acid.
Why should you take folic acid if you are pregnant or even before?
It is very important to take folic acid for these reasons: It prevents deformities in the placenta that could lead to miscarriage, birth defects in the brain (anencephaly) and the spinal column (spina bifida) of the baby due to improper closure of the neural tube at the head and tail ends, respectively. You have probably heard of spina bifida, a birth defect in the spine that can cause paralysis of the lower part of the body, lack of control over the intestine and bladder, and difficulties in learning. If the fetus suffers from a deficiency of folic acid during pregnancy, it can also lead to megaloblastic anemia, be born prematurely, or have a low birth weight. The mother may suffer from eclampsia, a process characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. Folic acid also helps maintain a healthy uterus.
As you can see, it is extremely important to have sufficient reserves of folic acid. Therefore, since the interaction between folate deficiency and neural tube defects was discovered, governments and health organizations worldwide have intensified recommendations regarding taking a folic acid supplement for women trying to get pregnant.
Where can we find folic acid naturally?
As mentioned before, folic acid can be found in the following foods:
In green leafy vegetables like spinach, chicory, peas, in legumes like chickpeas, lentils, dry beans, fortified cereals, nuts, sunflower seeds are rich sources of folic acid. Meat is low in folic acid, but, for example, we can find it in the livers of meats such as beef and also in blue fish.
How long should you take folic acid during pregnancy?
Remember that the specific guideline will be provided by your gynecologist, but to give you an idea, it is usually taken during, at least, the first trimester of pregnancy.
How much folic acid should you take?
The recommended daily intake of folic acid for pregnant women is between 600 µg and 800 µg. Considering that there is already a portion of folate that we ingest from the foods we eat, gynecologists usually prescribe a supplement of 400 µg of synthetic folic acid. It has been established that for pregnant women, the maximum intake should be 800 µg.
Although there is no known toxic level for folic acid, there are studies that associate excess folic acid in the last trimester of pregnancy with the child developing asthma. Therefore, it is recommended to take a high folic acid supplement before becoming pregnant and in the first trimester when its deficiency would be more severe, and during the second and third trimesters to take a more moderate supplement.
Where to buy folic acid?
You can get folic acid at any pharmacy. There are many brands, different ones, and all completely effective. Let your gynecologist prescribe the brand they know and know works well; you can also consult your trusted pharmacist. However, since it is not a prescription medication, it can be found in other stores such as supermarkets, in parapharmacies, or even on Amazon.
Should men also take folic acid?
If you are looking for a baby, folate helps fertility in both men and women. In men, it contributes to the creation of sperm. In women, it contributes to the maturation of the ovum, implantation see fertile days, besides the effects already mentioned in pregnancy. Therefore, it is necessary to receive sufficient amounts through diet to avoid infertility or take supplements.
Well, I hope this has helped clarify all the doubts you may have about folic acid. Always remember, you should consult with your gynecologist or doctor. It is important to communicate your intention as a couple to go looking for a baby. They will be the ones who will indicate the guidelines to follow for taking a folic acid supplement.
