Medically Reviewed By Margaret Etudo, BPharm. Written By The Vitamins For Woman Team.
What is folic acid? Why is it essential for pregnancy? This article will answer some of your questions about folic acid.
Pregnancy is a critical period of growth and transformation for you and your baby. If you want a healthy baby, you must be healthy too. This means that you need the macro and micro-nutrients in the right proportion.
Folic acid or folate is one of the most essential nutrients you should look out for during this period. Insufficient amounts of folic acid can lead to complications and cause malformation in your baby’s development.
In this article, we will examine folic acid, when and how much to take, its benefits, and unique folic acid-rich foods. Want to see our top three recommendations? Skip to the end of this article to learn the right one for you.
Folic acid is the synthetic form of the essential B vitamin (B9) found in prenatal vitamins. It is responsible for DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) synthesis and replication. It plays an even more critical role during pregnancy in your baby’s growth and development. You can get folic acid from diet or prenatal vitamins because your body cannot produce it.
Folic acid deficiency is linked to several complications:
You can start taking folic acid at least four weeks before planning to conceive. As for prenatal vitamins, take them with folic acid throughout pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.
Your baby’s neural tube forms and develops into the brain and spinal cord in the first 3-4 weeks after you conceive. This occurs before most women find out that they are pregnant. Eating a diet rich in folate daily helps protect your baby from congenital malformations and reduces your risk of miscarriage.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women of childbearing age should take folic acid whether she wants to get pregnant or not. Folic acid supports the production of new cells.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends at least 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily.
If you have had a child with a congenital malformation, your doctor may prescribe a much higher daily dose of folic acid. CDC recommends that these women take 4,000 mcg of folic acid daily one month before getting pregnant and through the first 3 months of pregnancy. This is because you are at greater risk of having further children with a congenital malformation.
Check your prenatal vitamin’s leaflet or drug information to ensure it contains at least 600 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid. Based on your medical history, you can consult your doctor for personalized advice.
Here are some benefits of prenatal vitamins with folic acid:
Prenatal vitamins supply the right amount of folic acid your body needs. However, you must incorporate folate-rich foods into your diet. Here are some foods and their folate content (mcg):
Table showing good food sources of Folic Acid and the content of folate in each one
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also requires manufacturers to add folic acid to their enriched grain products. These include cereals, breads, pastas, and rice.
In previously written articles, we compiled a list of the best prenatal vitamins and gummies. Here are our top 3 recommendations for the best prenatal vitamins with folic acid on the market:
At Vitamins For Woman, we are committed to offering the best prenatal vitamins and supplements to provide proper nutrition during pregnancy. Every prenatal vitamin product is selected based on its health, safety, quality, and nutritional value.
This article provides proper guidance and knowledge on taking folic acid during pregnancy. Carefully review it for more information on the best product for you and your pregnancy.
medically reviewed by margaret etudo, BPharm. written by the vitamins for woman team.
I just found out im pregnant and not sure about folic acid? When is the best time to start taking it? Thanks Vitamins For Woman for the info!
Congrats Ellie-May! Starting folic acid as soon as you find out or even before if you can is super important. It’s great for baby’s development early on.
To add on, it’s recommended to start taking folic acid at least four weeks before you plan to conceive. It’s crucial for preventing birth defects.
i dont understand why everythings about supplements now. didnt our grandmas have babies without all this fuss?
Prenatal vitamins are a game changer, especially with folic acid in them! Make sure you’re eating right too though, food sources are just as important.
If I start taking folic acid, does that mean I’ll get smarter too? my dna could use some fixing lol
It’s important to point out that while folic acid is crucial, too much of it can have negative effects as well. Always follow the recommended daily amount.
This article is spot on! Folic acid is so important for pregnancy. It’s amazing how much it contributes to the health of the baby. Thanks for sharing, Vitamins For Woman!
Can men benefit from folic acid too or is it just a pregnancy thing? Asking for a friend who’s into health stuff.
Folic acid is beneficial for everyone, not just pregnant women. It helps in the production of healthy red blood cells, which is important for men and women alike.
I think getting nutrients from food is always better than supplements. You can’t rely on pills for health. you gotta eat right.
everyone’s always pushing vitamins. how do we even know they work? seems like a lot of money for maybe no reason.
[…] Folic acid, also known as folate, is a B vitamin that you must take during your pregnancy. This nutrient helps to prevent any abnormality that may happen in the fetus’s brain and spine development. […]
[…] Folic acid reduces the neural tube defects in embryos during […]
[…] Folic acid reduces the neural tube defects in embryos during […]