Tips for planning a healthy pregnancy. Why is Folic acid supplementation important?

Plan on starting a family soon? Schedule a prenatal consultation with your doctor. You can count on their assistance while you make prenatal preparations.

Life adjustments made in the preconception period (the three to six months before pregnancy) have been shown to improve fertility, lessen complications during pregnancy, and speed up recovery time after giving birth.

Following are a few tips to have a healthy pregnancy1-3:

Folate or folic acid: Before conceiving, take a folate and iodine supplement. Folic acid promotes optimal infant health. Folic acid prevents neural tube disorders like spina bifida in babies. Brain growth requires iodine.

Diet: You should examine your diet if you and your spouse are getting ready to become parents to identify areas where you might be able to choose healthier foods. A well-balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables will increase your chances of conception and achieving a healthy pregnancy.

Alcohol: The safest course of action for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant is to refrain from consuming alcohol because there is no safe level of alcohol to consume during this time. Alcohol can permanently harm a foetus.

Smoking: The best way to prevent significant issues during pregnancy for both you and your unborn child is to stop smoking before getting pregnant. Quitting smoking increases your chances of conceiving naturally and quickly, avoiding miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and premature births.

Prenatal check-up: Consult a doctor before planning your pregnancy. In addition to discussing your health and family history, you may want to investigate. Consider immunisations, pre-pregnancy health exams like cervical screening, STI screening, dental checks, and lifestyle adjustments. Genetic carrier screening can also detect undiagnosed genetic disorders that could be passed on to your child. Consult your doctor.

Importance of Folic Acid during Pregnancy4-6:

Folic acid is a man-made synthetic version of folate, a vitamin B. Folic acid supplements and meals high in folate should be taken daily by women who are trying to conceive or who are in the early stages of pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. Greens, citrus, beans, and nuts are all good natural sources of folic acid.

Pregnant or women who are planning pregnancy should take 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of folic acid daily for at least three months prior to conception and for the first three months of their pregnancy. The chance of major neural tube problems in the baby is drastically reduced, according to studies 4.

Birth disorders known as neural tube defects affect the development of the brain and spine improperly during pregnancy. The most common types of neural tube defects are:

Anencephaly occurs when the skull, scalp, and brain do not form properly. An encephalocele occurs when brain tissue protrudes out to the skin through a hole in the skull, and spina bifida occurs when the spinal cord and spinal column do not close fully. Birth malformations occur in the first 28 days of pregnancy, often before the mother is aware she is expecting.

Therefore, it is crucial that all women of reproductive age, not only those who are attempting to conceive, consume an adequate amount of folic acid. Since unintended pregnancies account for half of all births, everyone who might get pregnant should take precautions to ensure they obtain adequate folic acid.

Why folic acid is so effective in preventing neural tube abnormalities is unclear. However, scientists have proven its importance in genetic evolution. Therefore, folic acid is crucial for the synthesis of new cells and tissues.

Reference:

  1. Australia, H. Planning for your pregnancy. Learn more (2022).
  2. CDC. Planning for Pregnancy | Preconception Care | CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Learn more (2022).
  3. Planning your pregnancy. nhs.uk Learn more (2020).
  4. Chitayat, D. et al. Folic acid supplementation for pregnant women and those planning pregnancy: 2015 update. J Clin Pharmacol 56, 170–175 (2016).
  5. Folic Acid and Pregnancy (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth. Learn more.
  6. Benefits of taking folic acid before pregnancy | Tommy’s. Learn more.