Why is it necessary to take folic acid before preparing for pregnancy? How long does it take to take effect?
Preparing for pregnancy is a stage that every couple who is preparing to have a child will go through. When preparing for pregnancy, diet and nutritional intake play a vital role in the success of conception. Among them, folic acid is an important nutrient, and supplementation before pregnancy is particularly important. So, why is it necessary to take folic acid before preparing for pregnancy? How long does it take for folic acid supplementation to take effect?
First of all, the necessity of taking folic acid before preparing for pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin that is essential for fetal development and health. Before pregnancy, folic acid intake can prevent the occurrence of fetal neural tube defects. Neural tube defects refer to the failure of the neural tube to close properly during embryonic development, including spina bifida and cerebrospinal tube malformations. These defects can cause severe physical and intellectual disabilities at birth. Therefore, taking folic acid before preparing for pregnancy can reduce the risk of neural tube defects and protect the health of the fetus.
Secondly, there is the issue of the timing of folic acid supplementation. Folic acid supplementation should be started before trying to conceive to ensure normal development of the fetal neural tube during early pregnancy. The best time to supplement should be at least one month after stopping contraceptive measures, so as to ensure that folic acid is fully accumulated in the body. However, even if folic acid supplementation is started early in pregnancy, the effects may not be immediate. It takes a certain amount of time for folic acid to accumulate in the body to a sufficient level to play its role in protecting fetal development. Generally speaking, folic acid supplementation needs to continue for at least 3 months, or even longer, to ensure that the fetal neural tube development is completely closed.
In addition, the dosage of folic acid taken before preparing for pregnancy also needs to be noted. According to expert recommendations, 400 micrograms of folic acid should be consumed every day during pregnancy preparation. This dose can be obtained through diet or through oral folic acid supplements. However, it should be noted that folic acid intake cannot be excessive. Excessive folic acid intake may have adverse effects on the body and increase the risk of other diseases. Therefore, when supplementing folic acid, be sure to follow expert recommendations to avoid excessive intake.
In general, taking folic acid before preparing for pregnancy is crucial for the development and health of the fetus. Folic acid supplementation should be started before trying to conceive and should be continued for at least 3 months. Get 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, either through diet or supplements. However, the effects of folic acid supplementation are not immediately apparent and take time to reach adequate levels in the body. Therefore, you should plan in advance before preparing for pregnancy to ensure adequate and continuous folic acid supplementation to ensure the healthy development of the fetus.
