Folic acid is of great importance when planning a pregnancy. She not only participates in the formation of healthy organs of the future child, but also contributes to the successful conception of a child, it is important for couples planning pregnancy in advance.

What is folic acid

Folic acid is a water soluble b – vitamin that does not accumulate and is not synthesized spontaneously in the body, requiring constant replenishment from the outside. The replenishment of folic acid occurs in food, but not always in the diet of women and men is present a sufficient quantity of food containing the necessary amount of vitamin.

Deficiency of substances in the body is disturbed the psycho-emotional background of a person, deterioration of the brain that develop anemia. Folic acid participates in the formation of DNA and RNA unborn child. It affects the healthy formation of genetic material, normal development of cells and tissues of the fetus, the formation of a healthy Central nervous system. That is why doctors prescribe expectant mothers daily intake of folic acid in early pregnancy when there most important processes for the laying of internal organs and the formation of the nervous system.

Why take folic acid when planning pregnancy

Preparing for long-awaited pregnancy is a responsible and important job, which involved both parents. Both women and men interested in healthy and successful conception of a baby should monitor their diet and, if necessary, to take additional vitamins to compensate for a deficiency of folic acid in the body. This reduces the risk of various diseases in the unborn child, and strengthens the health of the parents, to reduce the risk of serious defects and malformations in the first month of pregnancy. If you start to drink vitamins in the first trimester and before pregnancy, the chances of having a healthy baby significantly increase.

Folic acid is also included in the treatment plan for women suffering from infertility or reproductive disorders.

Men are recommended to drink vitamins containing folic acid to improve sperm quality. If you have any problems conceiving before pregnancy there is a risk that a man can't conceive a child due to the presence of defective sperm. In combination with vitamin e, folic acid improves the creation of semen, greatly increasing the likelihood of conception and increases sperm activity.

Conscious pregnancy – the guarantee of a successful conception and healthy development of the fetus in the future. Best of all, if preparing for a long-awaited pregnancy will start 2-3 months before the expected date of conception. Future parents will be able to pass all the necessary tests, start to drink vitamins, and to refuse alcoholic beverages and tobacco. Nicotine destroys folic acid entering the body, so before pregnancy all men and women are advised to quit Smoking.

How to take folic acid

If the food in the body do not receive sufficient amounts of nutrients, the doctor prescribes additional vitamins. During pregnancy it is important to follow a doctor's prescription and taking any vitamins, as it directly affects the health of the future baby.

The dosage of folic acid before pregnancy and during expectation of the kid should be 0.8 mg per day. If necessary, the doctor increases the dosage to 4 mg per day if the risk of any defects in the fetus increases. The instruction to the drug notes that a daily intake of folic acid for adults is 200 micrograms. During pregnancy and lactation this rate doubles. It is very important that the dosage is not exceeded as hypervitaminosis may be dangerous to the health of expectant mothers.

What foods contain folic acid

Pregnancy preparation should include correction of the diet. It is necessary that the power women and men was balanced. The diet should include the following products:

  • Salmon
  • Cheese
  • Milk
  • Egg yolks
  • Lamb and pork
  • Chicken
  • Beef
  • Oranges
  • Legumes
  • Buckwheat
  • Carrots
  • Nuts
  • Bananas
  • Barley
  • Spinach, parsley, green salad

To ensure that the products retain their nutritional value, it is recommended to eat them raw, without heat treatment.