Benefits of Taking Folic Acid Before Pregnancy

The essential ingredient folic acid, often known as vitamin B9, is important for the healthy development of a fetus during pregnancy. To lower the chance of birth abnormalities and other issues, many medical professionals advise women to begin taking folic acid supplements before getting pregnant. In this blog post, we’ll go over the advantages of folic acid supplementation prior to conception and why it’s crucial for women to incorporate it into their daily routines.

1. Lowers the chance of birth abnormalities

The neural tube, a structure that forms the baby’s brain and spinal cord during the first few weeks of pregnancy, needs folic acid to develop properly. When the neural tube doesn’t form properly, it might result in severe birth abnormalities. Spina bifida and anencephaly are the most prevalent abnormalities of the neural tube.

Spina bifida develops when the spinal cord and its surrounding vertebrae do not form properly, resulting in nerve damage and problems include intellectual incapacity, paralysis, and bladder and bowel dysfunction. Babies with anencephaly are typically stillborn or die soon after delivery because a substantial portion of the brain and skull do not develop normally.

According to studies, folic acid supplements taken prior to conception can dramatically lower the chance of neural tube abnormalities. According to a study that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, women who took folic acid supplements prior to getting pregnant had a 50% to 70% lower risk of giving birth to a child who had a neural tube abnormality than women who did not.

All women who are capable of becoming pregnant are advised to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily, beginning at least one month before conception and continuing throughout the first trimester of pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A larger dose of folic acid may be necessary for women who have a history of certain medical disorders, are taking certain drugs, or have had a previous pregnancy that resulted in a neural tube abnormality.

Folic acid may lessen the chance of additional birth problems like cleft lip and palate, congenital heart malformations, and urinary system abnormalities in addition to neural tube disorders. The precise contribution of folic acid in preventing certain birth abnormalities must to be determined by further study.

2. supports wholesome fetal growth

In fostering proper fetal growth and development, folic acid is crucial. Red blood cells, which supply oxygen and nutrients to the growing fetus, depend on it for the production and growth of their red blood cells. The creation of DNA and RNA, the fundamental components of all cells in the body, depends on folic acid.

The intricate process of fetal growth includes the formation of all of the baby’s organs and tissues. The placenta, the organ that joins the growing fetus to the mother’s uterus and delivers oxygen and nourishment to the unborn child, needs folic acid to grow and develop properly.

According to research, prenatal folic acid supplementation is linked to a decreased risk of low birth weight and small for gestational age newborns. A birth weight of less than 5.5 pounds is considered low birth weight, and it is linked to a higher risk of health issues such respiratory distress syndrome, jaundice, and feeding issues. Babies who are underweight for their gestational age are known as small for gestational age newborns, and they are more likely to experience health issues like cerebral palsy, infections, and developmental delays.

The risk of preterm birth may also be decreased with the aid of folic acid. An increased risk of health issues like respiratory distress syndrome, feeding issues, and infections is linked to preterm delivery, which is defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. Women who took folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy had a decreased risk of preterm delivery compared to women who did not take folic acid supplements, according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Folic acid may help the mother in addition to encouraging healthy fetal growth. Folic acid has been demonstrated to lower the risk of anemia, a frequent illness during pregnancy. Fatigue, weakness, and other health difficulties can result from anemia, a condition in which there are not enough red blood cells to supply oxygen to the body’s tissues.

3. Lowers the chance of miscarriage

A frequent pregnancy issue that can be distressing for expectant parents is miscarriage. Low levels of folic acid may be one of the causes of miscarriage, while there are numerous other factors that can also play a role.

DNA synthesis and repair, which are necessary for normal cell growth and division, are facilitated by folic acid. The fetus develops quickly during pregnancy, increasing the need for folic acid. Chromosome abnormalities brought on by low folic acid levels can raise the chance of miscarriage.

Supplementing with folic acid before and throughout pregnancy has been shown in numerous trials to lower the chance of miscarriage. Researchers found that women who took folic acid supplements before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy had a markedly lower incidence of miscarriage compared to those who did not take folic acid supplements in a landmark study that was published in the Lancet. According to the study, taking supplements containing folic acid decreased the risk of early miscarriage by 50% and the risk of late miscarriage by 70%.

According to one idea, folic acid may assist to prevent blood clots from developing in the placenta, which would explain why it lowers the chance of miscarriage. Blood clots in the placenta might hinder the fetus’s ability to grow and develop properly, increasing the chance of miscarriage.

It’s crucial to understand that while folic acid helps lower miscarriage risk, not all miscarriages can be avoided. Age, underlying medical issues, and lifestyle choices are just a few more variables that can increase the risk of miscarriage.

4. It enhances maternal health.

In addition to being crucial for fetal growth, folic acid also provides advantages for maternal health. The numerous changes a woman’s body experiences throughout pregnancy may increase the demands on her nutritional condition. In a number of ways, folic acid can assist these modifications and enhance maternal health.

First off, taking folic acid supplements while pregnant can lower the chance of anemia, a frequent disorder that can result in fatigue, weakness, and other symptoms. A lack of red blood cells, which results in anemia, may cause the body’s tissues to get less oxygen. By guaranteeing appropriate levels, which are required for the production of red blood cells, women can lower their risk of anemia.

Second, preeclampsia, a dangerous disorder that can arise during pregnancy and result in high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and other issues, may be decreased by folic acid. Preeclampsia can be harmful to the mother and the unborn child, and in extreme situations, an early birth may be necessary to safeguard the mother’s health. According to studies, pregnant women who take folic acid supplements have a lower risk of getting preeclampsia than those who do not.

Finally, gestational diabetes, a disorder that can result in high blood sugar levels and develop during pregnancy, may also be decreased by folic acid. Gestational diabetes may raise the risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes later in life as well as the risk of complications during pregnancy, such as preterm labor and delivery. Research have revealed that pregnant women who take folic acid supplements have a decreased chance of developing gestational diabetes than pregnant women who do not.

Together with these advantages, folic acid may also improve immune system health and lower inflammation in the body. In order to prevent the body from rejecting the fetus, the immune system is suppressed during pregnancy, which increases the risk of infections and other health issues. Folic acid can boost immune system health and reduce inflammation, which may lower the risk of infections and other pregnancy issues.

Conclusion

Finally, folic acid supplementation is a crucial component of prenatal care that can assist to lower the risk of birth abnormalities, encourage healthy fetal growth, and enhance maternal health. In particular, if they intend to get pregnant, women should make sure they are getting enough folic acid in their diet or through supplements. Women may give their unborn children the best possible start in life by taking care of their bodies before becoming pregnant.