How Much Folic Acid Does A Pregnant Woman Need ?
Folic acid plays a very important role in the development of the fetus in a pregnant woman. The health and the well being of the fetus depend on the amount of folic acid content in the woman’s body. Folic acid is a water soluble source of Vitamin B, which provides the necessary nutrients for the well being of the human body. |
Pregnant women need more of folic acid because the fetus is in the early stages of development in the body. The prenatal vitamins that are prescribed for the pregnancy contain high dosages of folic acid so that it takes care of the body’s needs of the pregnant woman and the fetus. Folic acid is also available naturally in many foods and it is also available in a synthetic form as a tablet. It is not possible by an individual to consume large quantities of food that is rich in folic acid and that is why it is given in a synthetic form to women who are pregnant to support their body.
Folic acid prevents birth defects in the baby which are related to the neural system like neural tube defects and spinal cord damage. The neural tube defects in a fetus can occur in the early stages of pregnancy and it can happen to the baby even before the woman realizes that she is pregnant. So, how much folic acid does a pregnant woman need? A pregnant woman is prescribed at least 400 mcg of folic acid everyday through their prenatal vitamins the moment the pregnancy is confirmed.
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