Folic acid in pregnancy – why and how to take it

Folic acid in pregnancy (otherwise known as vitamin B9, B11 or folacin) must be taken by pregnant women until the end of the first trimester. However, in order to ensure better development of the baby, folic acid should be taken before pregnancy, as it supports organogenesis, the process of developing the baby’s organs. Folic acid before becoming pregnant should be taken for about 6 months.

Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy

Folic acid is a vitamin that dissolves in water. It is said to be the most important in this unique period for women. Folic acid during pregnancy can be consumed with food products like spinach, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, cabbage but also legumes and fruits – oranges and bananas. There is also a lot of vitamin B11 in the liver, but it should be limited during pregnancy due to its high vitamin A content. During pregnancy, folic acid is involved in cellular regulation and contributes to the proper maturation of red blood cells (erythrocytes). Without adequate folic acid, anemia can develop. Vitamin B9 plays an important role in the biosynthesis of DNA, or genetic material. However, the most important task of folic acid in pregnancy is to improve the formation of the neural tube – the embryo of the fetal nervous system. It has been calculated that folic acid supplementation during pregnancy reduces the risk of neural tube defects by 70%. In addition, long-term intake of folic acid reduces the risk of women developing cervical cancer.

When and how much folic acid to take?

Many women ask themselves how long to take folic acid during pregnancy. Doctors say that by the 16th week of pregnancy. For folic acid in pregnancy, the daily dose should be about 04,mg. Supplementation of this ingredient before pregnancy has its justification. The first 3-4 weeks are crucial for fetal development, and sometimes women are unaware of their condition at this stage of pregnancy. Therefore, the dose of folic acid in pregnancy and before pregnancy must be taken very systematically. Excess folic acid in pregnancy is excreted along with urine and  therefore it is impossible to overdose. During pregnancy, folic acid deficiency can result in cleft lip and palate, heart defects or neural tube defects. Unfortunately, Poland occupies a leading, infamous place on the list of countries where the most children are born with neural tube defects – 1/1000 of newborns born. Some gynecologists advise that solid doses of folic acid should also be consumed by fathers-to-be who are trying to have a baby with their partners. Semen rich in this component is of better quality and protects against developmental disorders.

When are higher doses of folic acid used?

There are cases when folic acid doses in pregnant women need to be significantly higher. These cases include twin pregnancies, a birth mother’s BMI above 30, and cigarette smokers. Folic acid in pregnancy at a dose of 1 mg is recommended for moms-to-be with megaloblasticity and hyperhomocysteinemia. The highest dose  – 4 mg – should be taken by women with epilepsy or those with neural tube defects in previous pregnancies.