What happens if a pregnant woman does not have enough folic acid?

Folic acid is a common nutrient essential to the body, especially for pregnant women. Once folic acid deficiency occurs, it will adversely affect the development of the fetus. For example, it is easy to cause fetal neural tube malformations, congenital cleft lip and palate in the fetus, and it is also easy to cause fetal anemia and other symptoms. It is very harmful to the health of the fetus. Pregnant women must supplement folic acid in time.

1. Fetal neural tube defects:

During the early development period of the fetus in the mother's body, the neural tube needs to develop and close. If the amount of folic acid is insufficient, it will cause abnormal closure of the neural tube, and then cause congenital malformations of the baby, such as encephalocele, anencephaly, mental retardation, spina bifida, etc. A study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that if women take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day in the month before pregnancy and within the first three months of pregnancy, the probability of their babies developing neural tube defects can be reduced by 50% to 70%.

2. Fetal congenital diseases, cleft lip and palate and other physical deformities:

The first three months of pregnancy is an important period for the formation of the placenta and the differentiation of the baby's organs. If the pregnant woman lacks folic acid, it will cause malformations of the baby's cardiovascular, skeletal, lip, eye, kidney and other organs.

3. Pregnancy reaction:

As a member of the vitamin B group, folic acid can not only reduce early pregnancy reactions, but also replenish nutrients lost due to vomiting.

4. Anemia in pregnant women and fetuses:

Many expectant mothers experience symptoms of anemia during pregnancy. This is mainly because the baby in the mother's body will "rob" the mother of her serum iron due to the need for growth. If the mother's folic acid content is insufficient, anemia will occur. If this continues for a long time, the baby will suffer from hypoxia due to maternal anemia, and in severe cases it may lead to premature birth or even stillbirth. The mother may also be prone to pregnancy poisoning due to anemia, weak uterine contractions during delivery, poor resistance and slow recovery after delivery, and other adverse phenomena.

5. Abnormal development of the nervous system:

Folic acid greatly promotes the production of baby's DNA and the formation of the placenta. If the mother obtains enough folic acid, it can effectively promote the development of the fetus's nervous system.

6. Pregnant women with preeclampsia:

Preeclampsia is a high blood pressure disease that women are prone to during pregnancy. Supplementing with adequate folic acid can reduce the risk of this disease.