How many months of pregnancy do you not need to take folic acid?

In the early stages of pregnancy, you should supplement folic acid in moderation. Folic acid has the effects of replenishing blood, preventing fetal malformations, and increasing the resistance of pregnant women. Some pregnant women supplement folic acid through folic acid tablets, while others supplement folic acid through food. No matter what method is used to supplement folic acid, the folic acid content must be checked first and then supplement folic acid according to the doctor's instructions. Some pregnant women do not know that they do not need to take folic acid for a few months after pregnancy. How many months of pregnancy do they not need to take folic acid? Let’s take a look at it next.

1. How many months of pregnancy do you not need to take folic acid?

Pregnant women are usually required to supplement folic acid at least 3 months before and 3 months after pregnancy, especially the first 3 months of pregnancy are crucial for the healthy development of the newborn. Nowadays, folic acid is supplemented almost throughout the entire pregnancy process, and the body's needs can be met by supplementing with multivitamins (which contain higher levels of folic acid) three months after pregnancy.

2. Introduction to folic acid

Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is a water-soluble vitamin. The earliest folic acid was extracted from spinach leaves. Pregnant women taking folic acid can effectively prevent neonatal neural tube defects and other diseases such as anencephaly, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, etc.

3. The role of folic acid supplementation in pregnant women

The main function of taking folic acid during pregnancy is to prevent fetal neural tube defects. The fetal nervous system begins to develop in the early stages of pregnancy. If there is a lack of folic acid, it will cause fetal neural tube defects. Foreign countries often add folic acid to flour, so it can be consumed in the diet. The domestic dietary structure is different from that of foreign countries. It is mainly consumed in vegetables. About 50% of the folic acid in most vegetables is destroyed during the cooking process, which leads to absorption disorders in the human body and easily causes folic acid deficiency.

4. What foods should you eat to supplement folic acid?

Most green vegetables and fruits contain folic acid, such as: lettuce, spinach, asparagus, broccoli, rapeseed, Chinese cabbage, orange, strawberry, cherry, banana, lemon, peach, plum, apricot, bayberry, etc. In addition, animal food, bean food and grain food also contain folic acid. Among fruits and vegetables, kiwi has the highest folic acid content, which can reach 8%, so it is good for pregnant mothers to eat more kiwis. Expectant mothers can also take folic acid by taking folic acid tablets or folic acid supplements.

For pregnant mothers, the daily folic acid intake is about 0.6 mg, and the maximum should not exceed 1 mg. Therefore, pregnant mothers should know when to stop when supplementing folic acid.