How to take folic acid while pregnant. Folic acid for pregnant women: benefits and harms. At different times

This is an essential vitamin in the diet of expectant mothers. Although scientists still cannot fully explain why folic acid for pregnant women plays such a significant role in the process of preventing neural tube disorders, it is unequivocally proven that vitamin B9 is very important in the development of DNA. Therefore, taking folic acid is especially important during pregnancy.

Folic acid requirement for pregnant women

Folic acid is simply necessary in the process of formation, life and renewal of cells. Also, it has a direct effect on the functioning of the nervous system and brain. That is why it is recommended to start taking folic acid even before the expected pregnancy.

Dosage of folic acid during pregnancy in the first trimester

Numerous studies have shown that taking folic acid (vitamin B9) from 400 mcg (0.4 mg) to 800 mcg per day before pregnancy and later in its early stages significantly (by 50% - 70%) reduces the risk of having a baby with some neural tube defects.

Especially relevant is the intake of folic acid in the first 28 days of pregnancy (unfortunately, not all women know that they are pregnant). But if the pregnancy is planned, it is better to start taking the substance two to three months before the intended conception.

How to take folic acid during early pregnancy

During pregnancy - 400 mcg / day, during lactation - 300 mcg / day. Once a day, with meals. The course of admission lasts throughout the entire stage of pregnancy planning and another 12 weeks after conception.

Folic acid overdose during pregnancy

An overdose of folic acid is considered to be the use of more than 40,000 mcg (40 mg) per day - this is a hundredfold excess of the dose. This amount of folic acid can cause an allergic reaction.

Although folic acid overdose is not considered to be harmful to the body, as the excess is easily excreted in the urine, a number of studies have shown the detrimental effects of long-term use of large doses:

  • children whose mothers significantly exceeded the dose of folic acid during pregnancy are prone to bronchial asthma and colds;
  • in people with pathologies of the cardiovascular system, the development of coronary insufficiency, myocardial infarction or other diseases of the cardiovascular system is possible;
  • allergic reactions and symptoms of intoxication are possible;
  • sleep disturbance and increased excitability;
  • with a large amount of folic acid in the body, a deficiency of zinc and vitamin B12 appears.

What are the risks of folic acid deficiency during pregnancy?

As already noted, folic acid deficiency can provoke neural tube defects in the fetus. The formation of the neural tube occurs between and the day of pregnancy, after which the transformation of the tube into the brain and spinal cord begins. In case of violations of this process, there is a risk of such pathologies as spina bifida, incomplete closure of the spinal cord and spine, severe cerebral hypoplasia, brain herniation.

What's more, scientists agree that taking vitamin B9 may help reduce the risk of other defects, such as cleft lip and palate. For the most pregnant woman, folic acid deficiency threatens to occur.

What foods contain folic acid

The main thing to remember here is that it is much easier for our body to get folic acid from synthetic drugs than from food. That is why doctors prescribe this substance in the form of supplements. Most prenatal vitamin complexes also contain folic acid. Of particular relevance is the intake of folic acid for. In any case, the amount of vitamin that is optimal for you should be agreed with your doctor.

The health of the expectant mother is one of the most important factors for a favorable pregnancy. The lack of vitamins and useful micro and macro elements is very dangerous during childbearing. Folic acid is vital at this time. We will talk about the features of this vitamin and its intake in an “interesting” position in this article.

General information about folic acid

This substance belongs to the vitamins of group B. In the body, folic acid, or vitamin B9 in other words, is produced in very small quantities, so most of it gets to a person with food.
Often in some sources you can find the term "folate". Some people think that folic acid and folate are the same thing. But it is not so. Folate is a natural form of the vitamin that occurs naturally in foods. And folic acid is a synthetic substance, that is, a product of chemical manipulations by scientists in laboratories.

  • parsley;
  • spinach;
  • salad;
  • cabbage;
  • beet;
  • cucumbers;
  • broccoli;
  • spinach;
  • peas;
  • beans;
  • lentils;
  • oranges;
  • bananas;
  • apricots;
  • wholemeal bread;
  • meat;
  • liver;
  • eggs;
  • leaves of blackcurrant, raspberry, wild rose and some other products.

Dutch scientists have identified a link between folic acid and human mental abilities. In the experiment, it was proved that taking 0.4 mg of vitamin B9 daily preserves intelligence as you age.

When I was pregnant with my second son, I got a new district gynecologist. I was very surprised that she was against prescribing any synthetic vitamins without special need. To all my requests and questions regarding what I would drink from multivitamins, she answered that there is nothing better than a balanced diet. And only she treated folic acid differently and prescribed it in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Vitamin B9 is found in a fairly large number of foods: vegetables, legumes, meat products, etc.

Unfortunately, the diet of a modern person often does not correspond to the concept of "balanced nutrition". Therefore, situations are not uncommon when certain substances in the body are not enough. In addition to this, vitamin B9 is practically unstable to environmental influences. It breaks down quickly during storage and cooking.
And there is also a category of people who lack the enzyme responsible for the absorption of folic acid. It is not absorbed from food at all, but taking pharmaceutical preparations can eliminate its deficiency.
Normally, in a healthy person, folic acid in the blood should be in the amount of 7 to 45 nmol / l. And although these figures are very small, their slightest fluctuations up or down are fraught with health problems. The main symptoms of folic acid deficiency are constant fatigue, loss of appetite, and extreme irritability.

These signs are very similar to those that a woman feels in position in the first months of pregnancy. Therefore, many people often do not even know about the lack of vitamin B9.

But if in the normal state its lack is not so dangerous, then this problem becomes especially acute when a woman begins to carry a child under her heart. The body of the expectant mother at this time needs much more nutrients. And she needs especially a lot of vitamin B9, since it is involved in the process of DNA synthesis, growth and division of fetal cells, and the formation of the hematopoietic system.
Folic acid is essential for the development of the child's nervous system. Its deficiency often leads to defects in the brain, neural tube of the embryo, etc. All these organs are formed already in the first weeks of pregnancy. So, in the first week after conception, the neural tube of the fetus is formed, which is responsible for the correct functioning of the whole organism. This is why OB/GYNs recommend starting folic acid supplementation 3-4 months before the final decision to conceive is made.

Preparations with "folk", as future mothers affectionately call it, are freely available in pharmacies. They are produced in tablet form. Vitamin B9 can be contained both in monopreparations with one active ingredient, and be included in a complex remedy, combined, for example, with iodine, iron, other B vitamins and other substances.

Vitamin complexes for pregnant women usually contain a whole range of substances necessary for the course of pregnancy. Some may contain folate, a substance derived from natural foods. And in others - folic acid, which was synthesized artificially. It is believed that folate is better and faster absorbed by the body.
Pharmaceutical factories produce folic acid in the form of tablets

The monopreparation contains only folic acid. Its name corresponds to the active substance. Auxiliary components are the following components:

  • lactose monohydrate (milk sugar);
  • cellulose microcrystalline;
  • povidone (polyvinylpyrrolidone);
  • corn starch;
  • magnesium stearate.

In the blood, vitamin B9 reaches its maximum value half an hour to an hour after ingestion. It accumulates in the liver and is excreted in the urine. Folic acid is able to penetrate to the fetus through the placenta and into breast milk.

Indications, contraindications and side effects

Indications for the use of folic acid are:

  • prophylactic reception during childbearing and lactation in order to prevent its deficiency in the body;
  • treatment and prevention of folic acid deficiency anemia.

The drug should not be taken by people who have the following health problems:

  • individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
  • anemia associated with vitamin B12 deficiency;
  • lactose intolerance;
  • lactase deficiency;
  • glucose-galactase malabsorption (impaired absorption of glucose and galactose).

Also, the drug should not be taken by children under 3 years of age. Folic acid should be taken with extreme caution:

  • in the presence of a folate-dependent malignant tumor;
  • when taking inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (drugs that slow down the activity of this enzyme).

As side effects, there may be:

  • allergic reactions: rash, itching, erythema (severe reddening of the skin due to capillary expansion), bronchospasm (narrowing of the bronchi), hyperthermia (fever), anaphylactic reactions;
  • from the gastrointestinal tract: anorexia, nausea, bloating, bitterness in the mouth, diarrhea;
  • from the nervous system: irritability, sleep disturbance.

With prolonged use, there is a risk of developing hypovitaminosis B 12 .

Folic acid is not compatible with all medications, so it is imperative to consult a doctor before taking it. Reduce the absorption of folic acid:

  • antacids (drugs that reduce the acidity of gastric juice);
  • Colestyramine;
  • antimicrobial agents from the sulfonamide class (Arifon, Clopamid and others).

Reduce its effectiveness:

  • Methotrexate;
  • Pyrimethamine;
  • Triamterene;
  • Trimethoprim.

The relationship of zinc absorption with the simultaneous intake of folic acid has not been proven. However, some scientists suggest that their combined use does not allow adequate absorption of zinc.

Can there be an overdose

It used to be thought that an overdose from taking folic acid could not happen. However, recent studies have proven that it is possible. Those pregnant women who took it for a very long time or in large quantities gave birth to children prone to frequent colds and bronchial asthma.
The health of a pregnant woman with uncontrolled intake of folic acid is also at risk, since an overdose is often not noticed for a very long time. And it can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency, as well as disruption of the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.

That is why you should not start taking folic acid supplements on your own. It is important to remember that only a person with medical education and knowledge of the patient's health status can prescribe the correct dosage and duration of taking such drugs.

Application features

According to the World Health Organization, a pregnant woman should receive 0.4 mg of folic acid per day. But each case is individual. And, based on the condition of the expectant mother, the doctor may prescribe a different dosage. It is possible to take 0.8 mg of the drug, and with anemia even 5 mg. Only a doctor can calculate the correct dose. It is he who prescribes the regimen for taking the drug.

Usually, a pregnant woman is prescribed 1 tablet per day with an active ingredient concentration of 1 mg. But the doctor may prescribe an appointment in a different way. For example, 2-3 tablets of 0.4 mg per day. If the expectant mother has confirmed folic acid deficiency anemia, then she is prescribed a dosage of more than 5 mg. Usually, the treatment of this condition is carried out with the drug Folacin, which is no longer a preventive, but a therapeutic agent.

When purchasing a vitamin in a pharmacy, be sure to pay attention to the concentration of the active substance, which can be different.

It is better to drink folic acid after meals, as it increases the acidity of gastric juice. And in pregnant women, taking it before meals can cause vomiting. If you take a vitamin B9 tablet with a meal, the digestion of food will be difficult.

Unfortunately, not all doctors indicate when prescribing the drug the amount of active substance that should be in 1 tablet. It happened to me as well. The gynecologist prescribed to take Folic acid 1 tablet twice a day. Arriving at the pharmacy, I was extremely discouraged by the fact that the dosage can be different. The lack of necessary information led to the fact that I had to visit the doctor again so that she would clarify the amount of folic acid in the daily dose.
Folacin is prescribed for the treatment of folic acid deficiency anemia.

At what stage of pregnancy can you take folic acid

The importance of taking vitamin B9 at the stage when the life of the baby has not yet begun, and the early stage of pregnancy, was mentioned above. But the need for this vitamin does not disappear even after.

So, its lack throughout the entire period of pregnancy can lead to preeclampsia (a complication of its course, characterized by high blood pressure, edema and the appearance of protein in the urine). This condition is very dangerous for the fetus, as the blood flow through the placenta is disturbed, which often leads to a lag in the physical development of the child. And also this pathology can lead to premature birth and eclampsia, in which blood pressure becomes critically high, which is dangerous for the life of the mother and fetus.

In the last 3 months of pregnancy, folic acid is an important element to prevent too early rupture of the amniotic membrane, as well as early onset of labor.

Doctors usually prescribe folic acid in the first 3 months of pregnancy. Subsequently, as a rule, multivitamins are prescribed for women in position, in which it is also present, but in a lower dosage. In any case, the need to take any vitamins should be determined only by a doctor based on the available data on the health status of a pregnant woman.

Analogues

Among the complete analogues of the monopreparation Folic acid, the following can be distinguished:

  1. Vitrum Folikum. One tablet contains 0.4 mg of the active substance. Indications, method of administration and dosage correspond to the original drug.
  2. Folacin. Contains 5 mg of active ingredient in 1 tablet. It is a remedy for the elimination of folic acid deficiency anemia.

Complex preparations that have in their composition other useful substances, in addition to folic acid, include:

  1. Foliber. Also contains vitamin B12. Among the contraindications are individual intolerance to the components of Foliber, lactose intolerance, lactase deficiency, glucose-galactase malabsorption. The dosage of folic acid in 1 tablet is 0.4 mg, and cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) - 0.002 mg, which is the minimum daily dosage.
  2. Elevit pronatal. This drug is a combination of vitamins and minerals necessary for the health of a pregnant woman and her baby. Folic acid is contained in it in an amount of 0.8 mg. Contraindications to taking this vitamin complex are individual intolerance to the components, an excess of one or more substances of the drug in the body, kidney and liver diseases, impaired absorption and excretion of iron, problems with excessive excretion of calcium in the urine.
  3. Alphabet Mom's health. The uniqueness of this vitamin complex lies in the fact that all the substances contained in it (namely, 13 vitamins with folic acid together, 11 minerals and taurine) are distributed over three tablets in such a way that they do not interfere with the absorption of each other. Vitamin B9 is contained in two tablets of 0.3 mg each. Contraindications include sensitivity to the components of the drug, as well as hyperfunction of the thyroid gland. The manufacturer recommends taking each tablet separately throughout the day. But it is also possible to take all three tablets at the same time. But the effectiveness of taking the drug is reduced.
  4. Folio. The drug contains folic acid in the amount of 0.4 mg and 0.2 mg of iodine in 1 tablet. Contraindications include individual intolerance to the components. Caution should be taken by women with thyroid disease.

In both my first and second pregnancies, I took regular Folic Acid until 12 weeks pregnant. The gynecologist did not prescribe a further intake of multivitamins for expectant mothers. In my opinion, with a full-fledged varied diet, the body does not require additional sources of vitamins and minerals, even when a woman is in an “interesting” position.

Photo gallery: analogues of the drug Folic acid

Foliber, in addition to folic acid, contains vitamin B12 Vitamin complex Alphabet Mom's health is distributed between 3 tablets Vitrum Folicum is a complete analogue of Folic acid Folacin contains is prescribed only for folic acid deficiency anemia confirmed by analyzes Elevit pronatal includes a complex necessary for a pregnant woman
Folio is an additional source of folic acid and iodine for expectant mothers

Folic acid is of great importance when planning a pregnancy. It not only participates in the formation of healthy organs in the unborn child, but also contributes to the successful conception of the baby, which is important for couples planning a pregnancy in advance.

What is folic acid

Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin of group B, which does not accumulate and is not synthesized spontaneously in the body, requiring constant replenishment from the outside. Compensation for the lack of folic acid occurs during meals, but not always in the diet of women and men there is a sufficient amount of food containing the necessary amount of valuable vitamin.


With a deficiency of a substance in the body, the psycho-emotional background of a person is disturbed, the work of the brain worsens, and anemia develops. Folic acid is involved in the formation of DNA and RNA of the unborn child. The formation of healthy genetic material, the normal development of cells and tissues of the fetus, the formation of a healthy central nervous system depend on it. That is why doctors prescribe expectant mothers a daily intake of folic acid in the early stages of pregnancy, when the most important processes of laying internal organs and the formation of the nervous system take place.

Why take folic acid when planning a pregnancy

Preparing for a long-awaited pregnancy is a responsible and important matter in which both parents participate. Both women and men interested in a healthy and successful conception of a baby should monitor their diet and, if necessary, take additional vitamin complexes to make up for the deficiency of folic acid in the body. This reduces the risk of developing various diseases in the unborn child, improves the health of parents, and minimizes the risk of serious defects and malformations in the first month of pregnancy. If you start drinking vitamins not in the first trimester, but, the chances of having a healthy baby increase markedly.


Folic acid is also included in the treatment regimen for women suffering from infertility or reproductive disorders.


Men are advised to drink vitamins containing folic acid to improve sperm quality. If there are any problems with conception before pregnancy, there is a risk that a man cannot conceive a child due to the presence of defective sperm. In combination with vitamin E, folic acid promotes improved sperm production, greatly increasing the chance of conception, and also increases sperm activity.


Conscious pregnancy planning is a guarantee of successful conception and the development of a healthy fetus in the future. It is best if preparation for a long-awaited pregnancy begins 2-3 months before the expected date of conception. Future parents will be able to undergo all the necessary examinations, start drinking vitamins, and also give up alcoholic beverages and tobacco. Nicotine destroys folic acid entering the body, so before pregnancy, all men and women are advised to quit smoking.

How to take folic acid

If a sufficient amount of nutrients does not enter the body with food, the doctor prescribes the intake of additional vitamins. During pregnancy, it is very important to follow the doctor's prescriptions and take all the vitamins, as this directly affects the health of the unborn baby.


The dosage of folic acid on the eve of pregnancy, as well as while waiting for the baby, should be 0.8 mg per day. If necessary, the doctor increases the dosage to 4 mg per day, if the risk of any defects in the fetus increases. The instruction to the drug notes that the daily norm of folic acid for a person is 200 micrograms. During pregnancy and lactation, this rate doubles. It is very important that the dosage is not exceeded, since hypervitaminosis can be dangerous for the body of the expectant mother.

What foods contain folic acid

Preparing for pregnancy should include dietary changes. It is necessary that the nutrition of women and men is balanced. The following foods should be included in the diet:


  • Salmon


  • Milk

  • egg yolks

  • Lamb and pork

  • Chicken meat

  • Beef

  • oranges

  • Legumes

  • Buckwheat

  • Carrot

  • nuts

  • Bananas

  • Barley

  • Spinach, parsley, green salad

In order for the products to retain their nutritional value, it is recommended to eat them raw, without subjecting them to heat treatment.

Most often, folic acid deficiency is due to three reasons:

  • Insufficient intake from food. It should be borne in mind that up to 90% of the folic acid contained in raw food is destroyed during heat treatment, but nevertheless, it is not difficult to ensure a sufficient amount of folic acid from food. In addition to the leaves of garden greens, it is also found in liver, meat, cheese, caviar, egg yolk, legumes, tomatoes, sunflower seeds,
  • Increased need. The need for this substance increases when rapid growth and tissue renewal prevails: during a period of rapid growth in young children and adolescents, with severe oncological diseases, anemia, skin diseases, etc. The need for folic acid in pregnant women increases with the growth of the fetus. During breastfeeding, the need for this vitamin is also increased, as well as the need for other vitamins.
  • Violation of the absorption of folic acid in the intestine. Diseases of the stomach and small intestine can lead to deficiency due to insufficient absorption, while with a normal composition of the intestinal microflora, the body can synthesize folic acid on its own.

Folic acid contained in medicinal preparations is absorbed much better than its natural counterpart.

Mechanism of action of folic acid

As you know, in order for any living cell to enter into the process of division, its genetic material, enclosed in a DNA helix, must double. It is in the process of DNA doubling that folic acid takes an active part. In addition, it is involved in the synthesis of RNA (ribonucleic acid), amino acids, and contributes to better absorption of iron.

Accordingly, the deficiency of this factor is especially dangerous for actively proliferating cells. Folic acid is necessary for the growth and development of all organs and tissues, the normal development of the embryo, and hematopoiesis processes. In the early stages of pregnancy, this is especially important, because already in the 2nd week from conception in the embryo, you can determine the part from which the brain begins to develop. It was during this period, despite the fact that the woman is still unaware of her pregnancy, even a short-term deficiency of folic acid is fraught with the development of defects in the development of the nervous system in the fetus.

In addition to participating in the creation of fetal cells, this vitamin is used to replace the cells of the body of a pregnant woman, as human cells are constantly updated. Folic acid is involved in the formation of all blood cells. In addition, it provides a good mood, participating in the exchange of biologically active substances serotonin and adrenaline, which largely affect the state of the nervous system, stimulates appetite at the sight of food, participating in the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach,

During pregnancy, folic acid deficiency leads to the formation of neural tube defects: the absence of the brain, hydrocephalus (hydrocephalus), the formation of brain hernias, spina bifida, in addition, the formation of malformations of the cardiovascular system and splitting of the lip and palate (cleft lip and cleft palate). With a lack of this vitamin, the formation of the placenta is disrupted, the likelihood of miscarriage, partial placental abruption, stillbirth, and fetal growth retardation increases. Studies have shown that about 75% of these defects can be prevented if a woman starts taking folic acid supplements before pregnancy.

It is important to continue the use of folic acid during breastfeeding, when the need for it even exceeds the need for a pregnant woman. Folic acid deficiency has a significant impact on the formation of postpartum depression, apathy, weakness, and causes a decrease in the amount of milk. In addition, a deficiency of this vitamin in a nursing mother leads to its low content in breast milk and, as a result, to its deficiency in a child. In children with folic acid deficiency, in addition to anemia, there is a lag in weight, a delay in psychomotor development, a decrease in immunity, and disruption of the intestines.

Dosage of folic acid during pregnancy

The minimum daily requirement for folic acid in the normal state is 50 mcg, but with increasing needs, for example during pregnancy, it can increase several times. In Russia, it is believed that the need for folic acid in pregnant women without signs of deficiency of this vitamin is 400 mcg per day. In nursing mothers, this need is 600 mcg per day. Considering that folic acid deficiency is especially dangerous in the first weeks of pregnancy, this vitamin is recommended to be taken in the process of preparing for pregnancy (at least three months), as well as during the entire period of bearing a baby. The standard folic acid tablet contains 1 mg, the folic acid content of multivitamins ranges from 300 micrograms to 1 mg. Thus, taking one tablet of folic acid per day or a multivitamin containing this vitamin, among others, covers the daily requirement for it by 100-200%. Taking such doses of folic acid is safe.

In women with a therapeutic purpose, the dose can be increased to 5 mg per day. The course of treatment is 20-30 days. High doses of folic acid in the period of preparation for pregnancy and in the first third of it are also prescribed to women who have already had cases of the birth of children with folate-dependent malformations.

Safety of Folic Acid

Folic acid is not toxic to humans. There are studies on the long-term use of 15 mg of folic acid per day (exceeding the daily dosage by 40 times), which did not reveal any toxic effects of this drug. However, long-term use (over 3 months) of high doses of folic acid can help reduce blood levels of vitamin B 12, which can lead to anemia. Large doses of folic acid sometimes cause gastrointestinal disorders, increased nervous excitability, and functional changes in the kidneys.

Contraindications to the use of folic acid are cases of an individual allergic reaction to the drug.

It is important to take folic acid regularly. However, given that any folic acid preparation covers the daily requirement for it, you should not worry if you missed the next dose. Just take the drug when you remember it.

Many medications can affect the absorption, utilization, and storage of folic acid in the body. Folic acid is best taken together with vitamins B 12 and C. Additional intake of bifidobacteria increases the synthesis of folic acid in the large intestine.

On the contrary, when taking alcohol, antacids (drugs that neutralize hydrochloric acid, - ALMAGEL, MAALOX etc.), sulfonamides, antiepileptic drugs, the absorption of folic acid in the intestine is significantly reduced. Reception ASPIRINA in high doses, nitrofuran drugs (prescribed for urinary tract infections), oral contraceptives, corticosteroid hormones reduces the concentration of folic acid in the blood.

Verified: no risk!

In the United States, there is a law requiring manufacturers to add fairly high doses of folic acid to flour in order to prevent a deficiency of this vitamin in the population. In addition, in the United States, the prophylactic dosage of folic acid is 2 times higher than in Russia. No negative effects on the genotype of folic acid doses used in Russia have been identified.

Folic acid intake during pregnancy in the conditions of modern nutrition, unfortunately, is a necessity. The body cannot do without it, especially in conditions of growth and development, and every second pregnant woman is deficient in this vitamin.

Since folic acid during pregnancy is necessary for the formation of organs and systems of the child, primarily for its nervous system, a deficiency leads to malformations and other irreversible consequences.

What is folic acid and why does the fetus need it?

Cell division in our body occurs constantly and continuously, even if a person is an adult and has not been growing for a long time. There is a renewal of skin cells and the gastrointestinal tract, constantly destroyed and new blood cells are formed. In order for a cell to divide, the DNA chains in its nucleus must be doubled, each cell must receive the complete human genome. This process is not possible without the participation of folates, that is, we need folic acid simply to maintain life and constantly renew body cells.

Its deficiency is manifested by symptoms characteristic of impaired cell division. The intestinal mucosa ceases to regenerate - the patient suffers from nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the skin and mucous membranes do not regenerate - ulcers appear in the mouth, the skin becomes painful and irritated, seizures are disturbing. There is no regeneration of blood cells - anemia develops ...

A growing organism, in a child, a teenager, needs folic acid to an even greater extent, and imagine what the needs of a fetus growing in the womb are if it increases the number of cells in its body exponentially every week, and if you count the entire pregnancy, this billions of new cell divisions.

In the early stages of pregnancy, any error in cell division leads to fatal consequences, malformations are formed. The worst thing is that the baby’s nervous system is especially sensitive, and those defects that are possible with a folate deficiency during pregnancy can never be compensated later, a newborn without a brain (anencephaly, lack of cerebral hemispheres) is incurable.

Folic acid has a second name, vitamin B9, nature has tried to protect the body from its possible deficiency. It is found in many foods, and even intestinal microorganisms are able to produce it on their own, supplying a person with this vital vitamin. In addition, our body knows how to store it in reserve, in the liver there may be an amount of folic acid sufficient to cover its deficiency for six months.

But, despite this, every fifth person on earth lacks it.

If the expectant mother does not have enough folic acid during pregnancy, this can lead to the following consequences:

Malformations of the child’s nervous system, underdevelopment of the brain, “open back”, when the vertebral arches do not fuse and the spinal cord of the newborn is not covered by anything, spinal and cranial hernias, in the absence of gross defects, a lag in neuropsychic development is possible.

The risk of miscarriage and premature birth, hypoxia and intrauterine death of the child due to the imperfection of the formed placenta.

It is possible to form any other malformations, depending on which particular organ system was most actively formed at the time of folic acid deficiency during pregnancy.

Why do we lack folic acid?

If folic acid is so widely available and can be produced in the body, why do we lack it?

The problem arises due to the fact that human nutrition is almost devoid of fresh greens, we heat all our food, and heat destroys folic acid. The use of antibiotics and dietary habits kill the beneficial intestinal microflora, and now there is no one to produce endogenous folic acid, and common chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract lead to impaired absorption.

What foods contain folic acid?

Folic acid is found in almost all foods, some are especially high in it. Almost all vegetables with dark green foliage are very rich in folic acid, which is why it is called "folic acid", in Latin it means "leaf". Spinach, asparagus, lettuce, carrots are excellent sources. There is a lot of it in melon and apricots, strawberries and peaches, avocados and pumpkins, beans and hazelnuts, dark rye flour and whole wheat.

By the way, in the US, ordinary flour for sale is enriched with folic acid to prevent this vitamin deficiency on a global scale.

There is folic acid in many meat products, for example, in eggs, liver, cheese.

If we had not subjected vegetables to long-term storage and heat treatment, such a problem as a lack of vitamin B9 simply could not have arisen.

folic acid during pregnancy

The norm of folic acid for an adult is only from 200 to 400 micrograms, according to various experts. This is quite a bit, 100 grams of asparagus cover this need completely. Naturally, the rate of folic acid during pregnancy increases significantly, now the developing fetus uses it in large quantities. For the development of all tissues of the child, the formation of his placenta, folic acid is necessary, the norm during pregnancy for this vitamin is from 600 to 800 mg for different women.

Folic acid intake during pregnancy

From the above, it becomes clear that taking folic acid during pregnancy is a vital necessity, and even the most ardent opponents of drugs agree with this. Folic acid during pregnancy cannot harm, with an excess of its intake, it will simply be excreted in the urine, and the metabolism of this vitamin during gestation is significantly accelerated, and the excretion of excess too.

The use of folic acid during pregnancy, even from its very first days, is not always a sufficient measure to prevent the complications of vitamin deficiency, if it is really present in a woman. The fact is that we learn about the pregnancy only at the 5th week, or at the life of the embryo 16-18 days. And by this week, the baby is already laying the foundation for the future nervous system, which means that if there is no folic acid, malformations are possible. Yes, and the placenta is also beginning to form, therefore, if it cannot develop properly, this can cause an abortion. This means that the best thing to do is to start taking folic acid before conception, when planning a pregnancy.

There is a group of women for whom folic acid is especially needed during pregnancy, the use must be started when planning:

If you have a laboratory-confirmed vitamin B9 deficiency.
- If you have had miscarriages in the past.
- If in the family or you personally had a birth with a child with malformations or stillbirths, miscarriages.

If folic acid is prescribed during pregnancy, how much should I take and for how long?

It is optimal to drink it throughout pregnancy until childbirth in a prophylactic dosage. Of course, it is most important to take it in the early stages, however, even later, the baby continues to grow and develop, and of course, folic acid is needed for the successful process of cell division.

Dosage of folic acid during pregnancy

The dose of folic acid during pregnancy is selected for each woman individually. If you do not have its deficiency, you are not at risk, 1 tablet of folic acid per day, 1 mg will be enough for you. She will more than cover all your needs and the needs of the child.

Moreover, if you are taking multivitamin preparations for pregnant women, for example, Materna or Pregnavit, then there is no need for an additional intake of folic acid at all, because it is part of these vitamin complexes in the optimal preventive dose.

However, doctors prefer to play it safe and prescribe not 1 mg of folic acid, but 2-3 mg, that is, 2-3 tablets per day. Vitamin deficiencies can be hidden, and, knowing the possible risks and safety of taking high doses, it is better to get more of this vitamin than necessary than not to cover a possible deficiency.

If there is a confirmed vitamin deficiency or you are at risk for miscarriage, congenital malformations in a child, you must be prescribed folic acid during pregnancy, the dosage is very high, more than 5 mg per day. These pregnant women are prescribed Folacin, this is already a therapeutic, not a prophylactic drug, the dose in it exceeds the needs many times over.

Taking folic acid during pregnancy according to the scheme recommended by your doctor reduces the risk of miscarriage and miscarriage by several times, it is your doctor who will tell you how to take it in your case, and not you yourself.

Since the dosage of folic acid during pregnancy is an individual matter, the preparations are produced differently to meet the needs of different women. Their price is also different.

Folic acid during pregnancy, price:

Folic acid, 1 mg tablets - cost about 30 rubles for 50 tablets.
Folacin, 5 mg - price 125 rubles. 30 tablets.
Folio, 0.4 mg folic acid and 0.2 mg iodine - price 320 rubles 150 tablets.

What are the drugs and how to take folic acid during pregnancy?

Folic acid tablets

Folic acid in tablets is the most widely prescribed, cheap drug that fully satisfies the needs of the expectant mother under normal conditions. How to take folic acid is prescribed by a doctor, there are different regimens. For example, with an irregular menstrual cycle, folic acid, when planning a pregnancy, can be prescribed only in the first half of the cycle, but more often it is still prescribed at a dose of 1-3 tablets 1-3 times a day. If you look at the documentation, folic acid can be prescribed according to the characteristics of a particular pregnant woman. A primiparous vegetarian who receives a lot of folic acid is unlikely to need such a high dosage as a normal pregnant woman who does not have the opportunity to constantly consume fresh leafy vegetables.

Folacin

Folacin is a folic acid preparation, one tablet of which contains 5 mg of the vitamin. This dose is huge, it covers the daily requirement several times, which is why the drug is not preventive, but therapeutic. When administered in such huge doses, even during pregnancy, the vitamin does not harm, its excess is simply excreted by the body.

Folacin is taken only if there really is a laboratory-confirmed vitamin B6 deficiency, in all other cases it is money thrown away, the excess is simply excreted, the child will not be healthier from this.

Folio

Folio is one of the most successful preparations for expectant mothers in early pregnancy. This is a complex preparation containing iodine (200 mg) and folic acid (400 mg). These are prophylactic doses of both one and the second drug, and this eliminates the need to swallow extra pills.

Multivitamins for pregnant women

All multivitamins for pregnant women contain folic acid in an amount that covers the needs of the mother and fetus. Elevit and Materna contain 1 mg of the substance, Pregnavit 750 mcg, Vitrum prenatal 800 mg, Multitabs-prenatal 400 mg. These are preventive, not at all high, but sufficient doses.

Folic acid during pregnancy, the instructions for the preparations of which are taken into account by the doctor, but are not mandatory, are prescribed to each woman in the dose and according to the scheme that is right for her, so do not be surprised that you were prescribed the wrong drug and not like your friend . How to take it may also differ. In any case, folic acid should be taken during pregnancy, it will help you bear and give birth to a healthy baby.

Folic acid overdose during pregnancy

An overdose of folic acid during pregnancy is virtually impossible, because at least some clinical manifestations of its excess will appear only if you use 20-30 tablets at a time. Sane people do not use drugs in such doses.

However, still controversial and requiring evidence is the result of studies conducted on the intake of folic acid by pregnant women in high doses in Britain.

British scientists argue that if folic acid is taken in too much of a woman's body during pregnancy, an overdose can contribute to ... the birth of twins. Excess folic acid during pregnancy and at the planning stage contributes to multiple pregnancies. The fact is not proven, and requires confirmation.

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