What are the benefits of taking folic acid during pregnancy

Women who are planning to become pregnant need to maintain a stable physical condition, pay attention to a regular lifestyle, and take in nutritional elements in their diet, so that the body is in a healthy state to ensure the quality of the egg cells and allow the sperm and egg to combine to develop healthily into a fetus. Therefore, women who are planning to become pregnant must pay attention to their physical condition before pregnancy, and they need to take folic acid tablets in advance. So, what are the benefits of taking folic acid tablets before pregnancy?

1. What are the benefits of taking folic acid tablets when preparing for pregnancy?

1. Prevent neural tube defects and birth defects. Folic acid tablets are beneficial to the growth and development of fetuses with neural tube defects. The UK Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that if women take the recommended daily dose of folic acid tablets at least one month before pregnancy and during the first three months of pregnancy, the risk of neural tube defects in the baby can be reduced by 50%-70%.

2. Reduce the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women. Studies have shown that taking a combination of vitamins and minerals including folic acid can reduce the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women. Preeclampsia is a complication unique to pregnancy. It is a hypertensive disease unique to pregnancy and affects 5%-8% of pregnant women. Preeclampsia increases the difficulty of pregnancy, and folic acid tablets help reduce the risk of pregnant women suffering from preeclampsia.

3. Reduce the risk of hyperlipidemia during pregnancy. Folic acid tablets are beneficial to the physical and mental health of pregnant women. Chinese nutritionists recommend starting to take it 2-3 months before pregnancy and continuing until 3 months of pregnancy or throughout the entire pregnancy. In addition to preventing neural tube defects, it is also helpful to reduce the risk of gestational hyperlipidemia.

2. How long do you need to take folic acid to prepare for pregnancy?

1. Folic acid supplementation should be continued throughout the pregnancy. If you did not take folic acid supplements before pregnancy, there is no need to worry too much. Starting folic acid supplementation from the moment you find out you are pregnant can still reduce the risk of abnormal development of the baby. The first three months of pregnancy are the critical period for the growth and development of the fetus' neural tube defects. Adequate folic acid supplementation by pregnant mothers can significantly reduce neural tube defects and greatly reduce the incidence of anencephaly and congenital spina bifida in babies.

2. Pregnant women who meet the conditions can take it continuously throughout the pregnancy and breastfeeding period, which is beneficial to the health of pregnant mothers and the growth and development of fetuses and newborns. Generally, you can stop taking folic acid tablets in the third month of pregnancy depending on the situation.

Folic acid is an essential nutrient for the development of the fetus, and women should take it in advance during the pregnancy preparation period to ensure that there is sufficient folic acid in the body. At the same time, they can also eat more foods rich in folic acid to create a good environment for the development of sperm and egg combination and promote the healthy development of the fetus. After pregnancy, it is necessary to continue taking without medical advice.