Is it OK not to take folic acid when pregnant?

Most women need to supplement folic acid in the early stages of pregnancy, because folic acid is a very important necessity for women and fetuses. Some women start taking folic acid tablets one month before pregnancy. Folic acid and calcium tablets are two indispensable drugs for women during pregnancy. Generally, women do not need to supplement folic acid after three months of pregnancy. So, is it okay not to take folic acid during pregnancy?

Folic acid tablets are a very important physical necessity for expectant mothers and fetuses in the early stages of pregnancy, so it is best for expectant mothers who are preparing for pregnancy or who are already pregnant to start taking them in advance. Of course, there will be many expectant fathers and mothers who get pregnant accidentally. They may not have the opportunity to take folic acid in advance. This is not a big deal. Just like in ancient times, there was no such thing as folic acid, and the babies born would be very healthy, because many foods we usually eat contain folic acid, such as fruits: grapes, strawberries, bananas, etc., vegetables: carrots, tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, as well as animal liver, beans and nuts, etc. As long as the expectant mother pays more attention to the combination in her daily diet, she does not have to worry too much about the fetus being affected. But when you know you are pregnant, you should try to continue taking folic acid.

Now many expectant mothers already know that if they want a baby, they should start taking folic acid three months in advance. So in fact, they should continue taking folic acid for three months after pregnancy. Is this answer a bit surprising? It is said that folic acid is abundant in fruits and vegetables, so why do we need to supplement it specifically?

That is because the body can only slowly digest and absorb folic acid tablets after four weeks of continuous taking, satisfying the body's need for folic acid and keeping the body in a normal state of folic acid. The first three months of pregnancy is a critical period for the development of the fetus' kidneys and nervous system. Fetal neurodevelopmental malformations may occur. Folic acid is a very important trace element during this period. The fetus and expectant mother need additional supplements to meet the needs of fetal growth and development. After three months of pregnancy, it doesn't matter whether the expectant mother takes folic acid or not. At this time, the body only needs to absorb folic acid from food to meet its needs.

Although you don't need to take additional folic acid tablets during the second trimester, you should still eat more fruits and vegetables rich in folic acid. This is because the folic acid in food is not very stable and can be easily destroyed by heating or light. The correct way to eat it is to eat fresh fruits and vegetables as early as possible, and do not stir-fry or boil them at high temperature for a long time. Be sure to wash and drain raw food. If the pregnant mother is not very reassured, she can choose the vegetables and fruits of her choice to make her own salad, which can effectively prevent the loss of folic acid and supplement the nutritional needs of the expectant mother, thus achieving the best of both worlds.