Folic Acid And Pregnancy Essay

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Folic Acid and Pregnancy

WHAT IS FOLIC ACID?
Folic acid is a B vitamin. Your body needs it to make new cells. Folic acid is also called folate. Folate is the form of the B vitamin that is found naturally in food. Folic acid is the manmade (synthetic) form of the B vitamin. Folic acid is added to certain foods (fortified foods) and is also available in dietary supplements, like prenatal vitamins.
All women who may become pregnant or are planning to become pregnant need at least 400–800 mcg of folic acid daily. Most pregnant women need 600–800 mcg of folic acid per day, but some women need more.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TAKING FOLIC ACID DURING PREGNANCY?
Taking folic acid during pregnancy helps prevent abnormalities that can develop in an unborn baby's brain, spine, or spinal column (neural tube defects), such as: …show more content…

This is when the spinal column does not close completely during development, leaving the spinal cord exposed. This means the nerves that control leg movements and other bodily functions do not work. Spina bifida causes lifelong disabilities.
• Anencephaly. Babies born with anencephaly have an underdeveloped brain. They may have little or no brain matter and could also be missing parts of their skull.
Neural tube defects occur in the first trimester of pregnancy. If you are trying to get pregnant, make sure you get enough folic acid for at least one month before you start trying . Even if you are not trying to get pregnant, it is important to get enough folic acid because some pregnancies are unplanned. If your pregnancy is unplanned, start taking folic acid as soon as you find out you are pregnant.
Folic acid can also help prevent a drop in red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body (anemia). Anemia during pregnancy is associated with complications such as low birth weight and premature

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