Pregnancy and folic acid - promotes the development of the baby - Benefits

The benefits of folic acid for pregnant women

Now pregnant women get folic acid in prenatal free (for birth certificates). But few moms know what purpose is assigned to folic acid and why it is so necessary intake during pregnancy.

Folic acid or vitamin B9, relates to water-soluble vitamins or synthesized by man, and is supplied in the diet or produced by microorganisms of the colon.

Folic acid functions

Folic acid has many properties and is vital to man.

• involved in the metabolism Metabolism: The basis of life of all living things ;
• It has onkoprotektornyh action;
• involved in learning, transport and breakdown of proteins;
• needed for the assimilation of sugars and amino acids;
• prevents the development of atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis - a chronic disease of the arteries ;
• participates in the formation of blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets);
• indispensable in the synthesis of DNA and RNA (nucleic acids responsible for the transmission and storage of hereditary characteristics);
• It provides immunity;
• normalizes the digestive tract;
• enhances mental and physical performance;
• stimulates regenerative (healing process);
• increases the secretion of milk.

During pregnancy, folic acid is doubly important because it not only participates in the development and formation of neural tube defects, but also is responsible for the normal functioning of the placenta.

Foods that contain folic acid

Folic acid is found in many foods, both animal and vegetable origin.

Herbal Products: legumes (beans, peas), leafy vegetables (parsley, spinach, green onions, lettuce), bran, yeast, buckwheat and oat cereals, carrots, bananas Bananas: the benefits and harms health , Nuts, oranges, apricots, mushrooms, pumpkin.

Products of animal origin: liver, beef, mutton, eggs, chicken, fish (tuna, salmon), cheese, milk.

Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy

Since folic acid has many properties, its deficiency during pregnancy can lead to irreversible consequences:

• miscarriage;
• miscarriage and stillbirth;
• mental retardation kid;
• hydrocephalus (water on the brain);
• fetal anencephaly (no brain);
• spina bifida a child;
• cleft lip and cleft palate;
• encephalocele;
• partial or complete detachment of the placenta;
• premature birth.

On the part of pregnant women folic acid deficiency manifests itself:

• toxicity;
• pain in the legs;
• depression.

The daily requirement of folic acid

Adult folic acid Folic acid - the value is hard to overestimate   required in an amount of 400 g, a pregnant woman in need of folic acid increases approximately twice and 800 micrograms. It should start taking folic acid in the following cases:

• insufficient intake of folic acid from food;
• malabsorption of acid in the intestine;
• increased need for folic acid (small children in period of growth, cancer patients, oral contraceptives, pregnancy and breast-feeding).

Periods of folic acid in pregnant women

Ideally, folic acid should begin to take three months before the planned pregnancy. Pregnant its reception shows up to 12-14 weeks of pregnancy, during this period there is a bookmark and the formation of neural tube defects. Prophylactic administration of folic acid by pregnant can reduce the risk of neural tube defects and complications during pregnancy.

Drugs, which include folic acid

Preparations containing folic acid, enough and they differ not only dose and composition.

• tablets of folic acid (vitamin B9 dose of 1000 mcg), are usually prescribed for pregnant women: 1 tablet 2-3 times a day;
• folacin (folic acid dose of 5000 mcg) are used for treatment of folate deficiency;
• Folio drug, in its composition contains 400 micrograms of folic acid and 200 micrograms of iodine than is especially useful for pregnant women;
• multivitamin complexes, such as, Vitrum Prenatal, Pregnavit, Multi-tabs.

Side effects

Side effects that may occur while taking folic acid, are expressed in allergic reactions: bronchospasm, erythema, fever, skin rashes.

A joint reception drugs and folic acid

Some drugs may increase excretion of folic acid excreted. These include: oral contraceptives, anticonvulsants, analgesics, antacids, antibiotics, cytostatics.

Understand the role of folic acid in the body, especially during pregnancy, so in any case should not neglect the advice of the doctor and start receiving it immediately after the determination of pregnancy.

Anna Sozinova