What can you tell me about Folic Acid?

Question

I need some information on folic Acid.

Both me and my husband are trying to conceive, i just came off the birth control patch last month,so i went to the doctor and she told me to start taking Folic Acid. So my questions are

1. what are the sides affect?

2.does this really helps a women get pregnant faster?

3. Do you know someone that was or is using Folic acid?

4.Should i start on Folic Acid?

And my last question is

5.What else is it good for besides getting pregnant and having a healthy baby?

Or you can just tell me what you know about Folic Acid.

Answer 1

1. None, unless you take stupidly high doses. Folic acid is a vitamin you need anyway. They put it in grain products because it is safe and most women don't take supplements or eat enough green leafy vegetables.

2. There is some evidence that it does, and many studies that show it does not. Ultimately a well nourished body works better than one that is not.

3. I take folic acid sometimes. Sometimes I take green supplements like green+ or alfalfa pills that have folic acid and calcium in them naturally. I believe natural sources are better.

4. Honestly I believe all women should take folic acid their whole lives. In fact I wish they would give it to women for free.

5. Eat well, get enough sleep and stay hydrated. Encourage you husband/partner to live well as well. Both of you should cut down on caffeine of eliminate it complete (I am a coffee addict, but I did it).

(Hehe sorry I misread your last question I thought it said "What else IS good for getting pregnant and having a healthy baby" Anyway skip the rest of my answer if you want)

You should stop taking alcohol, think about the medications you take on a regular basis and look into whether they are safe during pregnancy and lactation (including pain killers, allergy medication, herbal supplements). Think about whether you can do without them (even if they are safe) and if you can not look into what the safest drugs are. If these are prescription drugs discuss it with your doctor.

Look at your diet and see what you can do to make it the best it can be. Think about starting prenatal vitamins, however I find prenatal vitamins aren't really worth the price. A good multivitamin with a folic acid supplement is good for before you are pregnant. Once you are pregnant add in some iron (low dose like this one: http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/usa/products/r64771.asp, there is some evidence that this kind of supplement is better for the baby and you than the high dose in prenatal vitamins) and maybe some calcium (calcium carbonate is an antacid as well as a source of calcium, many women experience heartburn while pregnant and this can help. I recommend vitamin pills with magnesium over tums. You want to limit your intake of Vitamin A while pregnant to less than 2000 IU.

Being at your optimum weight is also good, if possible.

Visit a doctor for a check up and mention that you want to try getting pregnant. They will check certain things depending on the doctor.

Ascorbic acid is good for building new cells and makes your amniotic sac stronger, it is good at preventing infections and UTIs which are bad when pregnant. There is some evidence it prevents SIDS as well.

Have lots of sex ;-)

Maybe buy "Taking Charge of Your Fertility". or look into charting. I didn't but to each their own.

It is never to early to look into what prenatal care you want and what tests you do not want. Also look at where and how you want to deliver your baby.

FUN STUFF:

Sniff newborns heads.

Borrow some used unwashed baby clothes/booties from a friend and sleep with them under your pillow or under the foot of your bed.

Answer 2

1) There are no side effects that I'm aware of.

2) It doesn't help women get pregnant faster, it helps the developing baby's nervous system so they want you to already be taking it so the baby gets the best start possible.

3) Every pregnant women takes Folic Acid. It's in your prenatal vitamins.

4)Yes, I would suggest starting to take Folic Acid now because like I said it gives the baby the best start.

5) It prevents neroulogical defects, such as spina bifida.

You should definately listen to your doctor when they tell you that you should take this. It's very good for your child and won't hurt you to take it. You'll end up taking it anyway when you become pregnant. Good Luck!

Answer 3

You definitely need to start on folic acid. Folic acid is a B vitamin. Our bodies use it to make new cells. Everyone needs folic acid. But for women who can get pregnant, it is really important! If a woman has enough folic acid in her body before she is pregnant, it can help prevent major birth defects of her baby’s brain and spine. These birth defects are neural tube defects. Women need to take folic acid every day, starting before they are pregnant to help prevent abnormalities.
i took supplements of folate as well as consumed total cereal that has 100% of folic acid in it, which is 0.4mg.
side effects if there is an allergy to folate.

to answer ur question about helping conceive by taking this supplement, no, it does not.
i hope i answered all questions, not in the order, but i tried.
good luck !

Answer 4

Folic acid is a vitamin B, that is encouraged to be taken by women who are trying to conceive, the reason why is because it greatly reduces the risk of having a baby with birth defects. Since it is a vitamin there are no side effects unless you overdose of course. As soon as you know you want to try to have kids you need to start taking it, no it does not help you get pregnant faster.

Answer 5

folic acid will not help u get pregnant. folic acid is a vitamin/mineral like vitamin b or calcium (which u should also b taking). take a PRENATAL VITAMIN (used for trying to conceive women, pregnant women, and breast feeding women) and u will b getting all the vitamin/minerals u need.

1. there are no side affects that i know of
2. it will not help u get pregnant faster
3. i am taking folic acid, it is in my over the counter and prescription vitamins
4. every women should take folic acid ESPECIALLY if ur trying to conceive or pregnant
5. folic acid will ensure ur baby does not have spina bifida. spina bifida is when the spinal cord does not close in the place where it meets the brain.

let me know if there is anything else u want to know. i'm sure u'll have a healthy baby, it was VERY smart to talk to the doc first about it

Answer 6

1. what are the sides affect?
NONE ITS JUST LIKE A VITAMIN....OF COURSE DO NOT OVER DO IT BY TAKING MORE THAN 800MG A DAY.

2.does this really helps a women get pregnant faster?
NO IT JUST MAKES THE RISK OF CERTAIN BIRTH DEFECTS BE LOWER.

3. Do you know someone that was or is using Folic acid?
I TAKE IT EVERYDAY......ITS RECOMENDED EVEN BEFORE YOU GET PREGNANT.

4.Should i start on Folic Acid?
YES....LIKE I SAID BEFORE ITS VERY GOOD EVEN BEFORE YOU ARE PREG.

5.What else is it good for besides getting pregnant and having a healthy baby?
I THINK JUST A HEALTHY BABY....I'M NOT SURE OF THE REST THERES NO STUDY TO CLARIFY WHAT EXACTLY IS IT GOOD FOR......OR SO I READ ONLINE.

Answer 7

The B vitamin folic acid helps prevent birth defects. If a woman has enough folic acid in her body before and while she is pregnant, her baby is less likely to have a major birth defect of the brain or spine.

Most women do not know how important folic acid is for their bodies and for the health of a baby they might have in the future. They also do not know that a woman needs to take folic acid every day, starting before she is pregnant, for it to work to prevent birth defects.

Birth defects of a baby’s brain or spine happen in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows that she is pregnant. That is why it is important for a woman to get enough folic acid each day, starting before she is pregnant.

A woman’s body uses folic acid to make healthy new cells for her baby. Scientists are not sure how folic acid works to prevent birth defects, but they do know that it is needed for making the cells that will form a baby’s brain, spine, organs, skin, and bones.

Every woman needs folic acid for the healthy new cells her body makes every day . . . even if she is not planning to get pregnant.

Answer 8

Folic acid is a vitamin, there are really no side effects, it helps to decrease the number of children born with birth defects, you need to take it while you are trying to get pregnant and while you are pregnant.

Answer 9

Folic acid and pregnancy

Folic acid is very important for all women who may become pregnant. Adequate folate intake during the periconceptional period, the time just before and just after a woman becomes pregnant, helps protect against a number of congenital malformations including neural tube defects. Neural tube defects result in malformations of the spine (spina bifida), skull, and brain (anencephaly). The risk of neural tube defects is significantly reduced when supplemental folic acid is consumed in addition to a healthy diet prior to and during the first month following conception. Women who could become pregnant are advised to eat foods fortified with folic acid or take supplements in addition to eating folate-rich foods to reduce the risk of some serious birth defects. Taking 400 micrograms of synthetic folic acid daily from fortified foods and/or supplements has been suggested. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for folate equivalents for pregnant women is 600 micrograms.

Answer 10

There are no side effects to folic acid.

no it does not help you get pregnant faster

yes i am using folic acid. you are suppose to start taking it 6mths to a year before you want to start having kids. it helps prevent anemia in you and birth defects in the baby.