What are the consequences of not taking folic acid during pregnancy preparation?
Folic acid plays a vital role in the health of women and fetuses during pregnancy preparation. If you do not consume enough folic acid during pregnancy preparation, it may have a series of adverse effects on pregnancy and fetal development.
1. Increased risk of neural tube defects: Folic acid is a B vitamin that is essential for the formation and development of the fetal neural tube. Failure to consume enough folic acid during pregnancy may increase the risk of the fetus suffering from neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and cerebrospinal canal insufficiency.
2. Increased risk of premature birth: Lack of folic acid may also increase the risk of premature birth. Folic acid plays an important role in maintaining the normal development and growth of the fetus. If there is a lack of folic acid during pregnancy preparation, it may affect the growth and development of the fetus, leading to premature birth.
3. Increased risk of anemia: Folic acid is involved in the formation of red blood cells. If you do not consume enough folic acid during pregnancy preparation, it may lead to the occurrence of anemia. Anemia affects the mother\’s health and also adversely affects the development of the fetus.
4. Impaired immune system: Folic acid plays an important role in maintaining immune system function. A lack of folic acid while preparing for pregnancy may lead to a compromised immune system, making pregnant women susceptible to infections.
Therefore, adequate folic acid intake during pregnancy preparation is crucial to ensure the health of the mother and fetus. It is recommended that women start taking adequate folic acid before preparing for pregnancy to reduce the occurrence of the above risks.
In order to get enough folic acid, you can do the following:
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1. Dietary supplement: Foods rich in folic acid include dark green vegetables (such as spinach, kale, green leaf lettuce, etc.), beans , nuts, yeast, animal liver and eggs, etc. You can increase your intake of these foods during pregnancy preparation to increase your folic acid intake.
2. Folic acid supplements: You can consider taking folic acid supplements during pregnancy preparation. Folic acid supplements can ensure you are getting enough folate to make up for any deficiencies in your diet. When choosing a folic acid supplement, it is recommended to seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist and follow the product instructions for correct dosage and usage.
3. Avoid overheating food: Folic acid is easily destroyed by high temperatures, so you should try to avoid overheating food during cooking to retain the folic acid content in the food.
To sum up, not taking folic acid during pregnancy preparation may increase the risk of neural tube defects, premature birth, anemia and immune system damage. Therefore, it is recommended that women during pregnancy preparations ensure adequate intake of folic acid, which can be met through dietary supplements and folic acid supplements. Please consult a doctor or professional before trying to conceive to understand your folic acid needs and get the right guidance.
