How much folic acid to take when planning pregnancy?

Folic acid is another name for vitamin B9. The substance belongs to the category of “beauty vitamins”, so dietary supplements with it are often taken to preserve youth and improve the quality of skin, hair and nails. Folic acid is involved in metabolism and controls many important processes in the body: cell division and renewal, blood circulation, nervous system function, etc. Folates are also taken when planning pregnancy; without folic acid, the normal development of a child is impossible.

But how to determine the correct dosage and which dietary supplements to take? Let's figure out how many micrograms are in 1 mg of folic acid, and how the concentration is calculated.

The role of vitamin B9

The main role of folic acid is to participate in the creation of new body cells and support them in a healthy state.

Other properties:

• participates in DNA replication (creation of daughter molecules);
• affects RNA synthesis;
• promotes protein absorption;
• helps the absorption of other vitamins;
• has an antioxidant effect;
• prevents the development of cancerous tumors;
• participates in the production of nucleic acids, the connection of protein structures, the formation of blood cells (erythrocytes);
• maintains immune status at a high level;
• prevents the development of atherosclerosis.

Folic acid is believed to help you get pregnant faster. In the early gestational stages, it is especially necessary for the mother and fetus. It will help eliminate pathological changes in the woman and fetus. Therefore, gynecologists recommend starting to drink folic acid when planning pregnancy , when a larger dosage is required than usual.

Doctor's opinion

Deviations in the formation and growth of the embryo occur in the first few weeks after fertilization.
A woman may not know about pregnancy when she does not plan to conceive. Both parents should start taking B9 during pregnancy planning. — Elicheva Lyudmila Fedorovna Obstetrician-gynecologist, Ph.D.

From about 16-20 days of embryogenesis, the process of neurulation (formation of the neural tube) occurs. With a lack of folic acid, the neural tube, which is the rudiment of the central nervous system, will not form correctly. This will lead to abnormalities in the development of the brain and spinal cord, up to anencephaly (lack of soft tissues of the head, bones of the cranial vault, and cerebral hemispheres).

Pregnant women need folacin for:

• neurulation process;
• formation of the placenta;
• construction of an extensive vascular network of the placenta;
• providing the placenta with immune protection;
• preventing miscarriage;
• reducing the risk of premature birth;
• normal gestation;
• supporting maternal health.

In early childhood, folic acid

is required for the child to grow and develop normally.

Formation of the fetal neural tube

With the phenomenon of gastrulation, a trilaminar germinal disc appears with three embryonic layers, which will give rise to the remaining organs of the unborn child: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Mesoderm cells initiate the formation of the notochord, a flexible rod structure that supports the embryo until the vertebral column is formed. On the other hand, ectoderm cells give rise to the neural tube, which will form the nervous system of the fetus.

Benefits for the body

Vitamin B9 is involved in cell division, protein and nucleic acid metabolism. It has a positive effect on the blood, intestines, brain, and immunity.

Developmental anomalies occur if the mother’s body did not receive enough folacin during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Its additional intake helps fight pathologies:

1. Folate deficiency anemia. The disease occurs in prematurely born children, with improper feeding, low weight of newborns and intestinal dysfunction. With anemia, red blood cells become large. Their number is decreasing. Blood cells do not grasp oxygen, nutrition and gas exchange in tissues are disrupted. Children with blood disorders need folic acid to help their bone marrow produce healthy red blood cells. Beneficial bacteria develop in the intestines and indigestion goes away. Metabolism improves, O2 enters the brain and the development of the body is compensated.
2. Autism. The genetic disorder manifests itself from birth. His symptoms cannot be understood by his parents. The child lies quietly and does not cause any disturbance. But from the age of 3, deviations in behavior become noticeable: isolation, a distant look, monotonous actions, lack of speech. There is no reaction to your own name or a request to do something. According to doctors, in autism, folacin is retained by antibodies. The supply of B9 from the outside will eliminate the deficiency and help strengthen the nervous system. It will be easier for the baby to adapt to the environment and establish eye contact.

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Folates for men

About 10% of women become pregnant in the first year of marriage. That is, men also need to take folic acid when planning pregnancy, this increases the likelihood of conception.

In addition, Q9:

• stimulates sperm formation;
• enhances sperm activity;
• maintains the quality and volume of seminal fluid;
• prevents infertility;
• has a tonic effect on the body;
• reduces the number of mutations in male gametes, which reduces the likelihood of fertilization of an egg with a defective sperm and the birth of a child with congenital genetic syndromes;
• reduces the risk of gestational complications;
• activates the immune system.

Folate concentration levels are important for healthy spermatogenesis.

Our chances: how long will it take from the start of planning to conception?

It may seem unusual that sometimes it takes six months or even a year to conceive a child. This is due to the fact that ovulation may not occur every month. If a woman has recently stopped taking birth control pills or interrupted some other course of hormonal contraceptives, it will take several months before her menstrual cycle returns. Emotional factors, lifestyle changes and poor health can also affect ovulation. But even if a woman had sex right before ovulation, if her egg was successfully fertilized, the developing embryo may not implant. Thus, a married couple should not be too surprised if their attempts to conceive are unsuccessful within six months or so. For healthy married couples who make love without using contraception two to three times a week, the typical picture looks like this:

• 60 out of every 100 couples can conceive within six months;
• 80 out of every 100 married couples can conceive a child within one year;
• 90 out of every 100 married couples can conceive a child within two years.

Folate deficiency

Folic acid deficiency leads to the following consequences:

A lack of folic acid can occur with:

• constant consumption of cooked food;
• poor nutrition;
• rapid growth during adolescence;
• anemia;
• insufficient dosage during gestation;
• impaired absorption of beneficial elements in the intestine;
• oncological diseases;
• gastrointestinal diseases;
• bad habits;
• caffeine abuse;
• long-term use of COCs containing estrogen and progesterone. Some oral contraceptives include B9 to avoid hypovitaminosis.

If abnormal development of the neural tube in the fetus is detected early, abortion is performed. If a child is born with impaired neurulation, he dies in the first days after birth.

Excess folic acid can manifest itself:

• bloating;
• bitterness in the mouth;
• nausea;
• loss of appetite.

It is extremely rare that an allergy occurs, the temperature rises, a skin rash appears, psycho-emotional excitability, and bronchospasm develops. But even when high doses are used, adverse effects of the drug are usually not observed.

Side effects

Folic acid causes individual intolerance. Symptoms:

• itching, skin rash;
• nausea;
• bloating;
• diarrhea, constipation;
• temperature;
• bronchospasm.

Another undesirable effect is allergies. It appears as:

• skin rashes;
• attack of suffocation, Quincke's edema;
• anaphylactic shock.

If allergy symptoms appear, an antihistamine should be given. For infants, if there is swelling, call an ambulance.

Norms

When planning pregnancy, the dosage of folic acid is 400 mcg (micrograms) additionally. The body should contain 5-20 mg of the substance. During pregnancy, it is recommended to take 460-800 mcg/day. In case of a pathological course, the doctor increases the dosage by an average of 200 mcg, but for healthy women it should not exceed 1000 mcg/day.

Nursing mothers need to drink 500 mcg of B9 every day. Additionally, 60 mcg may be prescribed. Men in preparation for conception should take 400 mcg of folic acid every day. Sometimes vitamin E is prescribed simultaneously with B9 to enhance sperm production (see more details here).

Mode of application

Almost 80% of women have a folate deficiency. If the couple has not previously thought about adding to the family, then they should start taking folic acid immediately upon learning about pregnancy. Early intake will help avoid the formation of fetal pathologies. During pregnancy, B9 is consumed quickly and must accumulate in sufficient concentration 2-3 months before conception.

The dosage to 1.5 mg or more (sometimes up to 5 mg) can be increased individually by the doctor. For example, with megaloblastic anemia, malabsorption syndrome, unbalanced nutrition, diseases of the digestive system.

When prescribing folic acid when planning pregnancy, the doctor should consider:

• the presence of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, heart, blood vessels;
• problems with the hematopoietic system;
• hormonal imbalance;
• intolerance to foods containing folic acid;
• undergoing antibacterial or hormonal therapy;
• fetal pathologies in previous pregnancies;
• repeated miscarriages;
• depressive disorder.

The prescribed amount varies during the period of preparation for pregnancy and depends on the gestational age. The duration of the course in case of complicated gestation is determined by the gynecologist. An overdose of folic acid is rare, and its deficiency leads to tragic consequences. 6 hours after taking an increased dose, folates are excreted unchanged by the kidneys. But you cannot overload the body with vitamins, especially in case of serious illnesses.

Synthetic folates have greater bioavailability than the vitamin obtained from food. 1 mcg of natural B9 consumed with food is equivalent to 0.6 mcg of synthetic folic acid. Before conception, medications containing folate are prescribed. These substances dissolve in water and are not stored in tissues, so they require regular intake from food and tablets.

How to take folic acid when planning pregnancy , what medications, duration of use, and dosage are determined only by a doctor. You cannot prescribe medications for yourself. Reception begins 3-4 months, less often six months before conception. It all depends on the initial health of the future parents, who must undergo a comprehensive diagnosis. Usually the drug is taken throughout pregnancy and after childbirth. Folic acid is included in vitamin complexes, and it is also produced as a single drug in tablets. Drink in the dosage recommended by the gynecologist once a day after meals. Taking tablets on an empty stomach is prohibited, as folacin is not absorbed.

When prenatal vitamins containing folate are prescribed, additional B9 is not needed. You cannot take other drugs with it (anticonvulsants, antibiotics, cytostatics, painkillers, antimalarials, etc.).

How to plan a pregnancy

The disease is difficult to cure, but easy to prevent. Doctors have long realized that it is much easier for them to engage in prevention - it brings much more tangible results, and it is much easier. Treatment always lags behind prevention. Prevention of diseases that do not yet exist is very simple, and if you take it seriously, they can really be avoided. Treatment of existing complications is always late and lags behind the mechanism of their development. Treatment is always a step of desperation, always consent to side effects in order to cure the underlying condition, always an advanced stage. The strategy of modern medicine is prevention, the strategy of modern obstetrics is planned, prepared pregnancy.

It has long been proven that most complications that develop during pregnancy can be prevented by proper preparation, namely by replenishing vitamin deficiencies, examination, diagnosis of possible diseases, conditions, predispositions, and their correction. There are conditions whose harmful effects can be completely eliminated if identified in advance: for example, lack of immunity to rubella. One vaccination, 3 months of contraception - and such a problem no longer exists, otherwise - 9 months of stress, constant testing and in the event, God forbid, infection - a 50% chance of developing fetal defects and a clear recommendation to terminate the pregnancy.

There are conditions that cannot be completely eliminated, but diagnosing them before pregnancy allows the attending physician to predict possible expected complications, be prepared for them and prescribe their correction in time - literally from the first days of the delay, before contacting the doctor, the woman begins taking medications that allow her to maintain pregnancy in the early stages.

A visit to the gynecologist can bring unpleasant surprises - for example, in the form of a mild inflammatory process that can become more active during pregnancy. Treatment will take time. Therefore, you need to start preparing for pregnancy at least three months before the expected conception.

. Better yet, six months.

Destination Features

You should take folic acid following these rules:

• do not miss an appointment;
• with prolonged use, monitor the level of vitamin B12 in the blood;
• take into account the dose in tablets and received with food to avoid overdose;
• Do not choose medications on your own and do not change the dosage;
• women need more folate than men;
• warn the doctor about the treatment of chronic diseases;
• be constantly monitored by a gynecologist;
• consult a doctor if your health worsens;
• notify the doctor immediately if ARVI or any inflammatory processes occur;
• Do not use if you are hypersensitive.

Folacin is not absorbed or partially absorbed:

• on an empty stomach;
• when smoking;
• alcoholism;
• stress;
• with lack of sleep;
• hard work in hazardous industries;
• taking antibiotics, hormones.

When planning pregnancy, alcohol, smoking, caffeinated drinks, and fast foods are excluded.