Folic acid intake in the form of natural food or supplements is quite quite important in pregnancy. There are many benefits of folic acid and is normally recommended to mothers in the planning phase and during pregnancy too.
Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate which is part of the vitamin B family. This nutrient is especially important in the three months prior to conception and in the first trimester of pregnancy. It is recommended that if you are a woman of child bearing age and are planning to have a baby then you should start taking a folic acid supplement regularly. Folic acid is really important for the baby’s development. It is essential for the development of the baby’s brain, skull and spine. Adequate intake of folate can help prevent abnormalities and birth defects related to the spine. Natural sources of Folic acid include legumes, fortified cereals, oranges and green leafy vegetables.
In most cases Folic acid is continuously administered to mums in the first three months. Some doctors may even prefer to continue the same all through the pregnancy. The baby’s neural tube is well formed by week 12, post which folic acid supplementation is not necessary.
Additionally a multi vitamin suited to pregnancy is also started. It has supplements which help to support the pregnancy and moms should take these without fail.