We all know that pregnant women sometimes need to supplement their bodies with certain trace elements during pregnancy, which is beneficial for the healthy growth and development of the baby. For example, folic acid is a medication that almost every pregnant woman will take during pregnancy. So, do pregnant women need to continue taking folic acid during pregnancy? The following will provide answers.
Should I keep taking folic acid during pregnancy
Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is a water-soluble vitamin. Folic acid is an essential substance for the human body to utilize sugars and amino acids, and is necessary for cell growth and reproduction. Folic acid is an essential nutrient for fetal growth and development. Lack of folic acid in pregnant women may lead to low birth weight, cleft lip and palate, heart defects, etc. If there is a lack of folic acid during the first 3 months of pregnancy, it can cause defects in fetal neural tube development, leading to deformities.
What to pay attention to when taking folic acid during pregnancy
The main purpose of taking folic acid tablets before and during pregnancy is to prevent fetal neural tube defects, which mainly occur in the first three months of pregnancy. Therefore, clinically, it is generally recommended to start taking folic acid tablets three months before pregnancy and continue taking them until three months after pregnancy. In fact, many foods contain folic acid, but due to its difficulty in absorption, the folate in fruits and vegetables almost disappears within a day or two after removal. Therefore, only oral folic acid tablets can be taken, one tablet a day, and should not be taken excessively!
So, we can also understand that pregnant women do not need to take folic acid all the time during pregnancy. Generally, they only need to take it three months before pregnancy. Of course, if conditions permit, taking folic acid can also be consulted with a gynecologist at a local hospital, because everyone's physical characteristics are unique, and individual absorption will also vary from person to person.
