This might sound unreal but it has been scientifically proven that if you’ve ever wished for a healthy pregnancy, taking vitamins with a recommended 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid before and during pregnancy can help prevent birth defects. Folic acid also called folate is a B vitamin that plays an important role in the production of red blood cells and helps your baby’s neural tube develop into her brain and spinal cord. The best food sources of folic acid are fortified cereals.
According to a Consultant neurosurgeon at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH), Ikeja, Dr. Bamidele Ayodele, mothers that have low level of folic acid during pregnancy have been known to have a number of problems with brain development for the children.
Also a biochemist, Kelechi Chioma, said folic acid plays a vital role in the cell development. “Folic acid helps in the formation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Folic acid is very important for women who give birth because when they lack it, it affects the unborn child. In fact, if you are trying for a baby, it is advised you start taking folic acid because some people get pregnant for almost four weeks without knowing they are pregnant.”
“it could affect the spinal cord of the baby, create a gap in the spine of the baby or spinal bifida,” he adds.
In corroborating this fact, the neurosurgeon emphasis that, “Ideally, every young lady of reproductive age group should take folic acid whether you are pregnant or not because you don’t know when you will get pregnant because it is a critical period for the formation of organs and the brain which is between the first six weeks.
In fact, for the brain, you are talking about the 3rd to the 5th week in which case a mother may not even know that she has taken in.”
An article in HowStuffWorks, on the benefits of folic acid during pregnancy, states that it helps keep your baby from developing a heart defect, cleft lip, or cleft palate.
“Additionally, a pregnant woman needs folic acid to help support the rapid growth of the placenta and fetus. The nutrient aids in baby’s DNA production. Cell division and fetal growth can become impaired without it.
One study found that women with folic acid deficiencies were two to three times more likely to have a premature baby or a baby of low birth weight than those who got enough of the vitamin,” it read.
There is no known toxicity of folic acid. However, women who are taking folic acid supplements, especially if they are current or former users of oral contraceptives, are at risk of lower plasma zinc concentrations. But it is recommended that these women take additional zinc to prevent lowered zinc levels and take B12 supplements along with folic acid supplements.
