Folic acid and your pregnancy

FOLIC acid is described as a super mineral for pregnant women. It is a very important agent necessary to reduce the possibility of birth defects, which are most common in the first trimester.“Folic acid, a member of the B vitamin family, is necessary for the developing embryo and foetus, and is important for the baby’s central nervous system development,” according to Dr Keisha Buchanan, obstetrician gynaecologist at ICON Medical Centre.She warned that a deficiency in folic acid may cause nervous system defects including spinal cord defects such as spina bifida.The mineral, which is produced naturally, is found in a variety of foods including enriched cereals and pasta, green leafy vegetables such as kale, broccoli, lettuce, fruits such as bananas, papaya, and also beans and lentils.Dr Buchanan noted that a diet rich in folic acid-rich foods should be taken throughout pregnancy. In order to ensure that a woman is achieving the required daily intake, many folic acid-rich supplements are on the market, she advised.“The daily requirement of folic acid is 600 mcg to 800mcg in pregnancy, with 600 mcg being needed in the first trimester and 800 mcg in the third trimester. Folic acid is also important in breastfeeding. So it is recommended to take prenatal vitamins which will generally give 600 to 1000 mcg of folic acid per day along with other vitamins and minerals including iron,” Dr Buchanan continued.She also recommended that whether women are actively trying to conceive or not, it would be wise to adhere to a folic acid-rich diet once they are of childbearing age.“Folic acid is needed as early as the first three to four weeks of the pregnancy, but during this time many women don’t know that they are pregnant. Therefore all women who are in the reproductive age group should always partake of healthy folic acid-rich diets and look into supplementation through vitamins if the diet is not adequate,” Dr Buchanan instructed.Additionally, in the case of women who are actively exploring pregnancy, Dr Buchanan said that it is best for them to start taking prenatal vitamins at least three months before attempting to conceive. What is more, taking folic acid for a year or more may actually decrease the risk of premature labour by 50 per cent and will increase protection for the baby’s brain and spine.In the absence of folic acid or adequate amounts, the outside of the spine could be exposed (spina bifida), as well as other spinal or neural tube defects like anencephaly (absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp). With these conditions, Dr Buchanan says that the spinal cord fails to close off from the surrounding environment.“Spina bifida is marked by paralysis of the legs, and in anencephaly the foetal brain is exposed to the surroundings as the cranium (skull) and membranes covering the spine and brain failed to seal off the nervous system. While children with spina bifida usually live, their quality of life is usually highly reduced. On the other hand, babies with anencephaly tend to die before birth or shortly after birth,” Dr Buchanan explained.Other effects of folic acid deficiency include cleft lip, low birth weight babies, premature delivery, higher risk of miscarriage and autism.Fear of birth defects in babies can sometimes cause women to overdose on supplements, and that could also be dangerous, Dr Buchanan cautioned.“It is important to not be overzealous with folic acid supplementation. A 2016 study suggests that excessive (more than five times the daily requirement) intake of folic acid can double your child’s chances of developing autism. To be cautious, it’s best to not only keep the daily supplementation of folic acid between 600 to 800 mcg, which is the daily amount in most prenatal vitamins, but to check with your doctor before taking prenatal vitamins, or have him or her recommend one,” she advised.