Should I take folic acid before or after pregnancy?

In order to have a successful pregnancy and the healthy growth of the fetus during pregnancy, women need to maintain good physical functions and supplement the body with necessary nutrients. Folic acid tablets are very important for the health and healthy growth of the fetus. So, is it better to take folic acid tablets when preparing for pregnancy or during pregnancy?

Generally speaking, the best time to take folic acid tablets is three months before preparing for pregnancy and three months after pregnancy. It is a good time to take folic acid tablets during this period. It can prevent fetal deformities, so it is recommended to take folic acid tablets before and after pregnancy.

After a woman becomes pregnant, her need for folic acid tablets will be many times higher than usual. Therefore, this nutrient should be supplemented immediately before and after pregnancy to ensure the needs of the human body and embryo development.

Especially in the early embryo formation, as well as the fetal organ division all take place in the early pregnancy, so this stage of cell growth and disintegration is at a very optimal period. If folic acid is lacking, the chance of causing fetal deformity will increase, so whether the amount of folic acid in the body can meet the needs at this time is very important.

In addition, in addition to taking appropriate folic acid supplements when preparing for pregnancy and during pregnancy, you also need to improve your nutrition, ensure that your nutrition is diversified, your diet is reasonable, and your schedule is regular. Only in this way can you ensure that your body functions are in the best condition, and thus lay a good foundation for pregnancy and the development of the baby during pregnancy.

The main functions of folic acid tablets are as follows:

1. Prevent neural tube 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 their babies 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.