Pregnant women develop food cravings from the beginning of theirpregnancy. This is the time when you need to be extra careful about what youeat. It’s important to discuss your health with a gynecologist in Vashi, Navi Mumbai as soon as you notice the signsof pregnancy.
Your doctor will most certainly recommend 400 micrograms of folic acidfor regular consumption before and during the pregnancy. This supplementprevents the risk of birth effects, especially in the spine and brain of yourbaby, during pregnancy.
Folic acid is a man-made vitamin B9 supplement that helps with thespine and brain development of your fetus. It also promotes red blood cellgrowth in your body. Vegetables, fruits, cereals, and citrus fruits are naturalsources of folic acid.
How Much Folic Acid DoesYour Body Need?
You should start taking folic acid in the initial stage of yourpregnancy since this is the time when your baby’s spinal cord and the braindevelop. Note that birth defects are highly likely to occur during the first fewweeks of pregnancy, which is why healthy eating and adequate rest are importantat this time. It also prevents the premature birth of your baby.
Folate is not only necessary for pregnant women, but ladies who areplanning to conceive should also incorporate folic acid into their diet toprevent the risk of premature birth after conceiving.
Before pregnancy and within the first 3 months of pregnancy, you aresupposed to take 400 mcg of folic acid. You can increase the dosage to 600 mcgafter 3 months of pregnancy. For breastfeeding women, 500 mcg of folic acid isthe ideal dose.
How Does it Help theMother and the Baby?
The intake of folic acid during pregnancy is highly recommended forthe baby’s development. It also keeps the mother healthy. Here are a few commonbenefits of folic acid for pregnant women.
● Prevents the risk of Spina Bifida as well asAnencephaly
● Reduced risk of miscarriage and prematurebirth
● Avoids fertility problems in women
● Decreases the risk of birth defects in babiesduring the initial stage of pregnancy
● Protects the mother from heart strokes,Alzheimer’s disease, and other types of heart problems
In addition to the supplements, your doctor recommends foods rich infolic acid to keep your body in good shape. These foods include egg, okra,avocado, fortified cereals, beets, citrus fruits, and more.
According to the CDC, one should start taking folate-rich foods amonth before they conceive and continue until they deliver the baby. In fact,you should keep eating folic supplements after delivery. Women who are in theirchildbearing age or want to conceive should add folic acid to their regulardiet.
If you are taking a multivitamin tablet daily, ask the pharmacistwhether the supplement has the recommended amount of folic acid. If you are nottaking multivitamins, get folic acid supplements. You need these pills for atleast the first few months of pregnancy to ensure a safe and healthy delivery.
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