Why should you take folic acid in the first six months of pregnancy? Understand the importance of folic acid in preparing for pregnancy!
Folic acid plays a very important role in pregnancy preparation guidelines. It is a water-soluble B vitamin that is essential for pregnancy preparation and health during pregnancy. Why should we pay special attention to folic acid intake in the first six months of pregnancy? The following will give you detailed answers.
1. Promote fetal neural tube development: The first half year of pregnancy preparation is the most critical period for the baby’s neural tube development. Folic acid plays an important role in the neural tube closure process in the embryo. Insufficient folic acid intake may lead to neural tube defects such as spina bifida and incomplete closure of the cerebrospinal canal. Therefore, increasing folic acid intake in the first six months of pregnancy can effectively prevent the occurrence of fetal neural tube defects.
2. Promote embryonic cell division and development: Folic acid also plays an important role in promoting embryonic cell division and development. During the pregnancy preparation stage, folic acid can help embryonic cells divide normally and promote the embryo to develop into a normal and healthy state. Inadequate intake of folic acid may affect the normal development of the embryo and increase the risk of complications during pregnancy.
3. Prevent anemia during pregnancy: During the pregnancy preparation stage, the blood volume in a woman’s body needs to increase to supply the nutrients and oxygen required for the normal development of the embryo. Folic acid helps promote the production of red blood cells and prevents anemia during pregnancy. Anemia during pregnancy can lead to complications such as gestational hypertension and fetal growth restriction, posing certain risks to the health of the mother and baby.
4. Reduce the risk of congenital heart disease in the fetus: Adequate folic acid intake in the first half year of pregnancy can reduce the risk of congenital heart disease in the fetus. Studies have shown a link between folic acid deficiency and abnormal fetal heart development. Therefore, increasing folic acid intake in the first six months of pregnancy can help reduce the incidence of fetal congenital heart disease.
5. Improve the pregnancy rate: Taking enough folic acid in the first half year of pregnancy preparation can also increase the pregnancy rate of women. Folic acid plays a positive role in promoting the normal operation of ovarian function and promoting the improvement of egg quality. Therefore, increasing folic acid intake in the first six months of pregnancy can help increase a woman’s chance of conceiving.
In short, why should we take folic acid in the first six months of pregnancy? Because folic acid plays an important role in embryonic neural tube development, embryonic cell division and development, preventing anemia during pregnancy, reducing the risk of fetal congenital heart disease, and improving pregnancy rates. Women preparing for pregnancy should pay attention to increasing their folic acid intake to ensure the health of themselves and the embryo. Remember, every day in the first six months of pregnancy preparation is crucial. For the health of your baby, you must not ignore the importance of folic acid during pregnancy preparation!
