Preparing for pregnancy is an important stage that every expectant parent must go through. At this stage, in order to ensure the health of themselves and their babies, many people choose to take folic acid supplements. So, why should you take folic acid when preparing for pregnancy? Let us find out together below.
Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for cell division, growth and development. During the pregnancy preparation stage, the role of folic acid is particularly prominent. Folic acid plays an important role in fetal neural tube development. During the first four weeks of pregnancy, the neural tube is forming, and folic acid is key to its closure. If folic acid is lacking, neural tube closure may not be complete, resulting in neural tube defects such as spina bifida in the fetus. Therefore, folic acid supplementation may reduce the risk of these deficiencies.
Folic acid also helps improve the ability of pregnant women to prevent anemia. During pregnancy, the blood volume of pregnant women will increase. If they are deficient in folic acid, they are prone to anemia. Anemia will have a negative impact on the health of the mother and fetus. For example, pregnant women may feel tired, dizzy, palpitations and other uncomfortable symptoms, and the development of the fetus may also be affected. Therefore, appropriate folic acid supplementation can effectively prevent the occurrence of anemia.
Folic acid also helps reduce the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus. These defects include spina bifida and cerebrospinal canal malformations, which can have long-term effects on the health of the fetus. Research shows that increasing folate intake can significantly reduce the incidence of these deficiencies. Therefore, starting to supplement with folic acid during pregnancy can help protect the fetal neural tube health.
Folic acid can also improve male fertility. Research shows that folic acid has a certain impact on male sperm quality and quantity. Appropriate supplementation of folic acid can improve sperm motility and morphology, thereby increasing the possibility of pregnancy.
So it is very necessary to take folic acid during pregnancy preparation. Folic acid not only contributes to the normal development of fetal neural tubes and reduces the risk of fetal neural tube defects, it can also prevent anemia in pregnant women and improve male fertility. Therefore, before planning a pregnancy, both women and men should start supplementing with folic acid to ensure a smooth pregnancy preparation process and prepare for the arrival of a healthy baby.
Why do you need to supplement folic acid when preparing for pregnancy?
Preparing for pregnancy is an important stage for couples who are about to become parents. At this stage, future parents need to take a series of measures to ensure good health and prepare for the healthy development of their baby. Among them, folic acid supplementation is considered to be a very important measure during the pregnancy preparation stage. So, why do you need to supplement folic acid when preparing for pregnancy?
Folic acid plays an important role in fetal development. Folic acid is a vitamin B complexmember, it plays a vital role in the development of the fetal nervous system and the formation of the spine. Adequate folic acid intake can prevent neural tube defects during fetal development, such as spina bifida. This is essential for your baby\’s normal growth and healthy development.
Folic acid is also very important for women who are preparing to become pregnant. Folic acid helps improve female fertility. It promotes healthy egg development and improves the chances of conception. Folic acid can also help maintain normal menstrual cycles and ovarian function, thereby increasing a woman\’s fertility potential.
Folic acid intake is crucial for both couples preparing for pregnancy. Therefore, when preparing for pregnancy, doctors usually recommend that women start taking folic acid supplements three months before pregnancy. At the same time, men can also increase their own folate levels by consuming folate-rich foods to support healthy sperm production.
So, how do you get enough folic acid? Folic acid can be obtained through food intake or supplementation. Foods rich in folate include dark green vegetables (such as spinach, kale), legumes (such as black beans, red beans), nuts and whole grain cereals. There are also folic acid supplements available on the market, but you should seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist when choosing a supplement.
Couples preparing for pregnancy should pay attention to folic acid supplements. Folic acid plays an important role in fetal development and female fertility. By consuming foods or supplements rich in folic acid, couples can ensure their own health and prepare for the healthy development of their baby. Remember, it is best to seek the advice of your doctor before starting any supplement program to ensure safety and correct intake.
