Why is folic acid important during pregnancy?

Answer 1

It is a major contributing factor in brain development.

Answer 2

Folic acid is important in cell division -- a unborn babies are dong a lot of cell division.

A lack of adequate folic acid makes you much more likely to have a miscarriage, a baby with a deformed spine, or a baby with several other birth defects, including cleft palate (hare lip) or Down's syndrome.

The American diet is very low in folic acid. A folic acid supplement, taken early and often, reduces your baby's risk of birth defects. There is growing evidence that it's important to continue a folic acid supplement even after the first trimester.

If you have ever had a miscarriage or know that you have any genetic issues, you should take even more folic acid -- like 4 of those little 400 mcg pills, 3 times a day, with food for better absorption.

You should also take an Omega-3 supplement. That's another nutrient sadly absent from our diets, crucial for healthy pregnancy, and not included in the prenatal vitamins at all.

Answer 3

Folic acid, a B vitamin, helps prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord when taken very early in pregnancy. It is available in most multivitamins, as a folic acid-only supplement and in some foods.

Folic acid is a naturally occurring B vitamin that helps a baby's neural tube—the part of a developing baby that becomes the brain and spinal cord—develop properly. It must be taken before and during early pregnancy when the neural tube is developing.

The best way to get enough folic acid is to take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid in it and eat a healthy diet. Most multivitamins have this amount, but check the label to be sure. You also can get folic acid in your diet, but it's hard to get enough every day through food alone. That's why the March of Dimes encourages all women of childbearing age to take a multivitamin containing folic acid every day as part of a healthy diet.

Answer 4

Folic acid is used by the baby to create the brain stem and spinal column. Not having enough during the early stages of pregnancy can lead to mental retardation in the infant, or an inability to develop to a viable state.
Folic acid is thankfully easy to get in large amounts, particularly from spinach and other green, leafy vegetables. Also, any good prenatal vitamin will have it in large amounts.

Answer 5

Because it's very difficult to eat enough foods rich in the vitamin to supply the amount that experts recommend you take in pregnancy.
Folic acid, also known as folate or folacin, is one of the B group of vitamins, also known as B9. Your body needs it to produce red blood cells, as well as norepinephrine and seratonin (chemical components of the nervous system. It helps make DNA (the body's genetic material), which normalises the brain's functions, and is a critical component of spinal fluid. Folic acid is also one of the few nutrients known to prevent neural tube birth defects, such as spina bifida,
every woman who is thinking about pregnancy or is in the first third (trimester) of pregnancy to take a daily supplement of 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid and eat a folate rich diet to reduce her baby's risk of getting some types of birth defects. Women who don't get enough may also increase their chance of miscarriage. Once you are into your second trimester (from week 13), you may wish to stop taking the supplements, although continuing to take them throughout pregnancy won't harm you or your baby either. Folic B9 is found mostly in leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach, orange juice, and enriched grains.

Answer 6

Folic acid is important in preventing the neural tube defects - which include spina bifida and cleft palate.

Answer 7

Becuase it has alot of vitamins your baby & you need.
The "TeenParenting LAdy" Told me it's good to use it even before you become preg.[&planning to get preg]
She said it helps your body be ready for the baby.

Answer 8

It prevents neuro-tube defects such as spinabifida. You need to have it when you conceive, so you should start taking it before you even try.

Answer 9

Protection from nerual tube defects.

Answer 10

i heard that it makes your baby smart, it is vital in their brain development. but ask you dr. cause i don't know for sure.