Ensuring you get the right nutrition during pregnancy means that you have all the vitamins and minerals you need for the healthy growth and development of your baby. And there are some key vitamins you may need extra supplementation for, including folic acid.
This B vitamin is one of the most important you can take when pregnant as well as when planning to have a baby. We take an in-depth look at the role of folic acid in pregnancy.
What is folic acid?
Folic acid is a form of vitamin B9. The natural form of B9 is known as folate and folic acid is actually a synthetically produced form of folate that can be used as a supplement. Folate (B9) naturally occurs in certain foods, including dark green leafy veg, nuts, eggs, grains and dairy products. Many foods, such as rice, pasta and bread can also be fortified with folic acid.
Both folate and folic acid play a major role in supporting the production of healthy blood cells, the breakdown and formation of new proteins, DNA creation and preventing certain birth irregularities in babies.
Why it’s so important during pregnancy
Folic acid (B9) is an important nutrient, particularly during the very early stages of a baby’s development, as it helps to form and close the neural tube, which is the embryonic form of a baby’s brain and spinal cord. It also plays a key role in the formation of the foetus’s heart and circulatory system as well as reducing the risk of a baby developing certain birth defects, including spina bifida.
As many birth defects start to form in the very early stages of pregnancy, it is essential that the mother to be gets sufficient and sustained levels of folic acid, ideally starting when not yet pregnant but planning a baby. Choosing a private fertility clinic in London when deciding to start IVF will mean that you are able to start on folic acid supplementation before the process starts.
The benefits of folic acid
Ensuring sufficient levels of folic acid can have huge health benefits for women planning a pregnancy or looking to undergo IVF as well as their babies, including reducing the risk of:
- Miscarriage – research has shown that in certain cases, folic acid deficiency can impact on some women who may have trouble falling pregnant or sustaining their pregnancy.
- Defects of the neural tube – with folic acid supporting the healthy formation of the neural tube, deficiencies in the vitamin can raise the risk of spina bifida in their baby, as well as anencephaly, which affects the brain.
- Congenital heart defects – including holes in the heart’s wall, narrow valves or incorrectly formed blood vessels.
- Cleft lip and palate – folic acid may also help to prevent this mouth defect, where the lip and palate has not formed properly.
How much folic acid do you need?
The optimum recommended daily dose of folic acid is 400 micrograms, ideally taken from the moment you start trying to get pregnant and then for at least the first three months of a pregnancy. This recommended amount of folic acid can be obtained through supplementation as well as a balanced diet.
