In today's technological advancements, we all know that taking folic acid during pregnancy has many benefits. But do you know when is the best time for pregnant women to take folic acid? Today, our editor will explain it for you!
What are the benefits of taking folic acid during pregnancy?
Folic acid is essentially a water-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in cell proliferation and growth in the human body. If expectant mothers do not consume enough folic acid in a timely manner after becoming pregnant, the first potential crisis they may face is anemia.
The task of nurturing new life is a challenge for women's hematopoietic function. Lack of folic acid can prevent the body from producing red blood cells normally, leading to symptoms of anemia. In addition, folic acid also plays a role in preventing neural tube defects in newborns. Taking it daily and on time can reduce the possibility of this deformity by 50% to 70%.
Taking folic acid consistently can also have a certain preventive effect on other birth defects, such as major physical deformities and cleft lips.
When is the best time for pregnant women to take folic acid?
The ideal time to supplement folic acid is from three months before planning to conceive to the early stages of pregnancy. It is recommended to take folic acid 30 minutes to one hour after breakfast. The supplementation of folic acid should continue until the end of pregnancy without interruption.
During the middle and late stages of pregnancy, the synthesis of the baby's DNA, the increase of the placenta, maternal tissues, and red blood cells significantly increase the demand for folic acid.
Therefore, even if the baby's nervous system has completed development in the early stages of pregnancy, the lack of folic acid in the middle and late stages can still lead to megaloblastic anemia, preeclampsia, and placental abruption.
If you have not taken folic acid before pregnancy, it is recommended to supplement it as soon as possible within the first three months of pregnancy. If you have not taken folic acid during the first three months of pregnancy, you can first go to the hospital for an ultrasound examination to see if the fetus has any neural tube defects. If there are none, it means that the lack of folic acid did not have a significant impact on the mother.
In fact, pregnant women can also supplement a sufficient amount of folic acid through their regular diet.
Can pregnant women take cold medicine?
The use of cold medicine is strictly prohibited during the first three months of pregnancy, as this is the most crucial period for embryonic formation.
If a pregnant woman contracts the flu during the early stages of pregnancy, a doctor may even recommend terminating the pregnancy to prevent the virus from affecting the fetus. Medication should be used with caution during the middle stages of pregnancy, and drugs that can damage the auditory nerve, such as quinine, streptomycin, and kanamycin, should be avoided.
In the late stages of pregnancy, the effects of medication on the mother and fetus are relatively reduced.
Taking cold medicine while pregnant can potentially affect the safety of the fetus, so it is important to approach this with caution and preferably under the guidance of a doctor.
