Something, and folic acid during pregnancy, is prescribed to almost everyone, especially during pregnancy planning and its first trimester. Even ardent opponents of reception medicines during pregnancy, treat folic acid favorably. And this is true, since the lack of this vitamin in the body of the future mother (and folic acid is vitamin B9) is fraught with many serious unpleasant consequences. During pregnancy, a sufficient dosage of folic acid is extremely important, since B9 is involved in DNA synthesis, in the process of cell growth and division, in the process of hematopoiesis. Folic acid is necessary when laying in the fetus nervous system, it prevents the development of defects in the neural tube, brain, etc.

· folic acid during pregnancy: dosage

Doctors say that every second pregnant woman is seriously deficient in vitamin B9 (folic acid). That is why the appointment and sufficient dosage of folic acid during pregnancy is important. Its deficiency is extremely dangerous both for the mother herself and for the unborn baby. provokes such serious violations as:

1. the formation of defects in the nervous system of the fetus (cerebral hernia, absence of the brain, dropsy of the brain, spina bifida);
2. development of malformations of the cardiovascular system, "cleft lip" (cleft lip);
3. violations in the process of formation of the placenta in a pregnant woman;
4. increased risk of placental abruption, spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, preterm birth, physical and mental delay fetal development and other maternal and child health problems;
5. anemia of pregnancy, and with severe deficiency of vitamin B9, megaloblastic anemia inevitably develops, which can end lethal outcome for pregnant woman and child.

At the same time, one should not rush from one extreme to another, although, unfortunately, many people do just that: optimists do not believe in “medical horror stories”, and pessimists are ready to rush headlong to the pharmacy after the first paragraph of the article and swallow tons of drugs that can eliminate the deficit folic acid during pregnancy. Both the first and the second are erroneous, everything needs a "golden mean". In the vast majority of cases, the daily dose of folic acid during pregnancy needs to be supplemented with vitamin complexes for pregnant women. But a large dosage of folic acid during pregnancy is far from always justified, and taking individual vitamin B9 preparations is not often prescribed. One way or another, and during pregnancy, it will be best to listen to doctors and not refuse to take folic acid. The main thing is that the dosage of folic acid is correctly set, taking into account the needs of the woman's body at a particular moment.

· folic acid during pregnancy: daily dose and body need

According to doctors, the need for vitamin B9 in an adult is 200 mcg per day (0.2 mg). , providing the body's need during pregnancy naturally increases. In this case, the minimum "daily dose" is 400 mcg per day (0.4 mg). In most cases, the dosage of folic acid during pregnancy reaches 800 mcg per day (0.8 mg). And when a pregnant woman is at risk (when vitamin B9 deficiency is proven as a result of research and tests), the daily dose of folic acid can increase to 5 mg per day.

How to understand pharmacy preparations of vitamin B9, is the daily dosage of folic acid sufficient in your case? First, listen to the doctor's recommendations, insist that the dose of folic acid is prescribed based on the results of the tests, and not just for preventive purposes, and if in doubt, consult with another doctor. And secondly, always carefully study the instructions.

· folic acid during pregnancy: dose in preparations

The most common are tablets with a dose of folic acid in which 1000 micrograms (1 mg). Often the recommended dosage of folic acid during pregnancy is one tablet of this drug per day. Overdose in this case is simply impossible.

In the case of a pronounced deficiency of vitamin B9 in the body of a woman carrying a baby, more “strong” folic acid tablets will most likely be prescribed during pregnancy: “ Folacin" or " Apo-folic". One tablet of these drugs contains 5000 mcg (5 mg) of folacin, and this is a therapeutic dose of folic acid.

You should also take into account the intake of other vitamins and complexes for pregnant women, or rather their composition. Usually, all such drugs contain the right dose of folic acid in the composition. For example, in the preparation Folio"contains 400 micrograms of folacin and 200 micrograms of iodine, preparations" Elevit" And " materna"contain 1000 mcg (1 mg), in" Multi-tabs"- 400 mcg of folic acid, in " Pregnavite"- 750 mcg, and vitamin tablets" Vitrum prenatal» contain 800 micrograms of vitamin B9.

As a rule, if a pregnant woman takes any of these drugs, or another similar one, then additional folic acid is not required. Provided there is no deficiency of folacin in the body, of course. But, if folic acid tablets are prescribed during pregnancy in addition to vitamins, then the content of this vitamin in them must be taken into account so that the daily dosage of folic acid is correctly calculated.

And, of course, one cannot ignore the question: is an overdose of folic acid during pregnancy possible and what is its danger for the baby and expectant mother? We hasten to reassure you: folic acid is completely non-toxic to humans. An overdose of folic acid during pregnancy can only occur if you take a dose of the drug hundreds of times higher than the need - this is about 25-30 tablets per day. Other excesses of the daily requirement, excesses of the vitamin, are simply excreted from the female body without any consequences. However, the dosage of folic acid during pregnancy should be adequate, that is, one that satisfies the body's need for it.

An excess of vitamin B9 is excreted from the body on its own, but still, long-term use of high doses of folacin can be fraught with a threat to both: the content of vitamin B12 in the blood decreases, which can lead to anemia in a pregnant woman, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, changes in kidney function may occur , increased nervous excitability. This can happen if you take 10-15 mg of the drug daily for 3 months or longer. It is unlikely that any adequate woman will swallow 15 tablets in one day. Simply put, an accidental overdose of folic acid during pregnancy is not possible.

Norwegian scientists conducted a scientific experiment, as a result of which the following fact was established: in pregnant women, in whom blood plasma was observed elevated level vitamin B9, children were born one and a half times more often, prone to asthmatic diseases. But, unfortunately, scientists have not named any specific doses that give an overabundance, an overdose of folic acid during pregnancy.

Therefore, if you are worried that the dosage you have been prescribed is too high, consult some other doctor about this. But, as already mentioned, if a slight excess, an overdose of folic acid during pregnancy is not dangerous.

· Folic acid during pregnancy in products

Well, for those who still firmly insist on a “drug-free” pregnancy, we can offer a set of products for the daily diet during the period of bearing a baby, containing a large amount of vitamin B9 in their composition:

1. any vegetables that have dark green leaves ( green pea, lentils, beans, spinach, parsley, broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, green onions, carrots, beets, tomatoes, soy),
2. some fruits (peaches, watermelon, melon),
3. walnuts, sunflower seeds,
4. bakery products made from wholemeal flour,
5. buckwheat, oatmeal and rice cereals,
6. wheat germ,
7. milk powder, kefir, cheese, cottage cheese,
8. egg yolk,
9. beef liver,
10. caviar.

It's no secret that a balanced, nutritious diet can make up for the deficiency of any vitamins in the body. But if your doctor says you need extra folic acid because you're deficient, don't argue. Filinic acid does not accumulate in the body, it does not have such a property, the excess is excreted, and the deficiency must be replenished with foods and vitamins. Therefore, first get rid of the deficit, and only then adhere to the “drug-free philosophy”. And vice versa: let everyone around say “necessary” - do not take ANY pills without consulting a doctor!

Health to you and your little belly belly!

Yana Lagidna, especially for the site

And a little more on the topic of pregnancy, folic acid per day, video:

Folic acid intake during pregnancy in the conditions of modern nutrition, unfortunately, is a necessity. The body cannot do without it, especially in conditions of growth and development, and every second pregnant woman is deficient in this vitamin.

Since folic acid during pregnancy is necessary for the formation of organs and systems of the child, primarily for its nervous system, a deficiency leads to malformations and other irreversible consequences.

What is folic acid and why does the fetus need it?

Cell division in our body occurs constantly and continuously, even if a person is an adult and has not been growing for a long time. There is a renewal of skin cells and the gastrointestinal tract, constantly destroyed and new blood cells are formed. In order for a cell to divide, the DNA chains in its nucleus must be doubled, each cell must get the complete human genome. This process is not possible without the participation of folates, that is, we need folic acid simply to maintain life and constantly renew body cells.

Its deficiency is manifested by symptoms characteristic of impaired cell division. The intestinal mucosa ceases to regenerate - the patient suffers from nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the skin and mucous membranes do not regenerate - ulcers appear in the mouth, the skin becomes painful and irritated, seizures are disturbing. There is no regeneration of blood cells - anemia develops ...

A growing organism, in a child, a teenager, needs folic acid to an even greater extent, and imagine what the needs of a fetus growing in the womb are if it increases the number of cells in its body exponentially every week, and if you count the entire pregnancy, this billions of new cell divisions.

In the early stages of pregnancy, any error in cell division leads to fatal consequences, malformations are formed. The worst thing is that the baby’s nervous system is especially sensitive, and those defects that are possible with a folate deficiency during pregnancy can never be compensated for later, a newborn without a brain (anencephaly, lack of cerebral hemispheres) is incurable.

Folic acid has a second name, vitamin B9, nature has tried to protect the body from its possible deficiency. It is found in many foods, and even intestinal microorganisms are able to produce it on their own, supplying a person with this vital vitamin. In addition, our body knows how to store it in reserve, in the liver there may be an amount of folic acid sufficient to cover its deficiency for six months.

But, despite this, every fifth person on earth lacks it.

If the expectant mother does not have enough folic acid during pregnancy, this can lead to the following consequences:

Malformations of the child’s nervous system, underdevelopment of the brain, “open back”, when the vertebral arches do not fuse and the spinal cord of the newborn is not covered by anything, spinal and cranial hernias, in the absence of gross defects, a lag in neuropsychic development is possible.

The risk of miscarriage and premature birth, hypoxia and intrauterine death of the child due to the imperfection of the formed placenta.

It is possible to form any other malformations, depending on which particular organ system was most actively formed at the time of folic acid deficiency during pregnancy.

Why do we lack folic acid?

If folic acid is so widely available and can be produced in the body, why do we lack it?

The problem arises due to the fact that human nutrition is almost devoid of fresh greens, we heat all our food, and heat destroys folic acid. The use of antibiotics and dietary habits kill the beneficial intestinal microflora, and now there is no one to produce endogenous folic acid, and common chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract lead to impaired absorption.

What foods contain folic acid?

Folic acid is found in almost all foods, some are especially high in it. Almost all vegetables with dark green foliage are very rich in folic acid, which is why it is called "folic acid", in Latin it means "leaf". Spinach, asparagus, lettuce, carrots are excellent sources. There is a lot of it in melon and apricots, strawberries and peaches, avocados and pumpkins, beans and hazelnuts, dark rye flour and whole wheat.

By the way, in the US, ordinary flour for sale is enriched with folic acid to prevent this vitamin deficiency on a global scale.

There is folic acid in many meat products, for example, in eggs, liver, cheese.

If we had not subjected vegetables to long-term storage and heat treatment, such a problem as a lack of vitamin B9 simply could not have arisen.

folic acid during pregnancy

The norm of folic acid for an adult is only from 200 to 400 micrograms, according to various experts. This is quite a bit, 100 grams of asparagus cover this need completely. Naturally, the rate of folic acid during pregnancy increases significantly, now the developing fetus uses it in large quantities. For the development of all tissues of the child, the formation of his placenta, folic acid is necessary, the norm during pregnancy for this vitamin is from 600 to 800 mg for different women.

Folic acid intake during pregnancy

From the above, it becomes clear that taking folic acid during pregnancy is a vital necessity, and even the most ardent opponents of drugs agree with this. Folic acid during pregnancy cannot harm, with an excess of its intake, it will simply be excreted in the urine, and the metabolism of this vitamin during gestation is significantly accelerated, and the excretion of excess too.

The use of folic acid during pregnancy, even from its very first days, is not always a sufficient measure to prevent the complications of vitamin deficiency, if it is really present in a woman. The fact is that we learn about the pregnancy only at the 5th week, or at the life of the embryo 16-18 days. And by this week, the baby is already laying the foundation for the future nervous system, which means that if there is no folic acid, malformations are possible. Yes, and the placenta is also beginning to form, therefore, if it cannot develop properly, this can cause an abortion. This means that the best thing to do is to start taking folic acid before conception, when planning a pregnancy.

There is a group of women for whom folic acid is especially needed during pregnancy, the use must be started when planning:

If you have a laboratory-confirmed vitamin B9 deficiency.
- If you have had miscarriages in the past.
- If in the family or you personally had a birth with a child with malformations or stillbirths, miscarriages.

If folic acid is prescribed during pregnancy, how much should I take and for how long?

It is optimal to drink it throughout pregnancy until childbirth in a prophylactic dosage. Of course, it is most important to take it in the early stages, however, even later, the baby continues to grow and develop, and of course, folic acid is needed for the successful process of cell division.

Dosage of folic acid during pregnancy

The dose of folic acid during pregnancy is selected for each woman individually. If you do not have its deficiency, you are not at risk, 1 tablet of folic acid per day, 1 mg will be enough for you. She will more than cover all your needs and the needs of the child.

Moreover, if you are taking multivitamin preparations for pregnant women, for example, Materna or Pregnavit, then there is no need for an additional intake of folic acid at all, because it is part of these vitamin complexes in the optimal preventive dose.

However, doctors prefer to play it safe and prescribe not 1 mg of folic acid, but 2-3 mg, that is, 2-3 tablets per day. Vitamin deficiencies can be hidden, and, knowing the possible risks and safety of taking high doses, it is better to get more of this vitamin than necessary than not to cover a possible deficiency.

If there is a confirmed vitamin deficiency or you are at risk for miscarriage, congenital malformations in a child, you must be prescribed folic acid during pregnancy, the dosage is very high, more than 5 mg per day. These pregnant women are prescribed Folacin, this is already a therapeutic, not a prophylactic drug, the dose in it exceeds the needs many times over.

Taking folic acid during pregnancy according to the scheme recommended by your doctor reduces the risk of miscarriage and miscarriage by several times, it is your doctor who will tell you how to take it in your case, and not you yourself.

Since the dosage of folic acid during pregnancy is an individual matter, the preparations are produced differently to meet the needs of different women. Their price is also different.

Folic acid during pregnancy, price:

Folic acid, 1 mg tablets - cost about 30 rubles for 50 tablets.
Folacin, 5 mg - price 125 rubles. 30 tablets.
Folio, 0.4 mg folic acid and 0.2 mg iodine - price 320 rubles 150 tablets.

What are the drugs and how to take folic acid during pregnancy?

Folic acid tablets

Folic acid in tablets is the most widely prescribed, cheap drug that fully satisfies the needs of the expectant mother under normal conditions. How to take folic acid is prescribed by a doctor, there are different regimens. For example, with an irregular menstrual cycle, folic acid, when planning a pregnancy, can be prescribed only in the first half of the cycle, but more often it is still prescribed at a dose of 1-3 tablets 1-3 times a day. If you look at the documentation, folic acid can be prescribed according to the characteristics of a particular pregnant woman. Vegetarian primiparous woman receiving folic acid in in large numbers, is unlikely to need such a high dosage as an ordinary pregnant woman who does not have the opportunity to constantly consume fresh leafy vegetables.

Folacin

Folacin is a folic acid preparation, one tablet of which contains 5 mg of the vitamin. This dose is huge, it covers the daily requirement several times, which is why the drug is not preventive, but therapeutic. When administered in such huge doses, even during pregnancy, the vitamin does not harm, its excess is simply excreted by the body.

Folacin is taken only if there really is a laboratory-confirmed vitamin B6 deficiency, in all other cases it is money thrown away, the excess is simply excreted, the child will not be healthier from this.

Folio

Folio is one of the most successful preparations for expectant mothers in early pregnancy. This is a complex preparation containing iodine (200 mg) and folic acid (400 mg). These are prophylactic doses of both one and the second drug, and this eliminates the need to swallow extra pills.

Multivitamins for pregnant women

All multivitamins for pregnant women contain folic acid in an amount that covers the needs of the mother and fetus. Elevit and Materna contain 1 mg of the substance, Pregnavit 750 mcg, Vitrum prenatal 800 mg, Multitabs-prenatal 400 mg. These are preventive, not at all high, but sufficient doses.

Folic acid during pregnancy, the instructions for the preparations of which are taken into account by the doctor, but are not mandatory, are prescribed to each woman in the dose and according to the scheme that is right for her, so do not be surprised that you were prescribed the wrong drug and not like your friend . How to take it may also differ. In any case, folic acid should be taken during pregnancy, it will help you bear and give birth to a healthy baby.

Folic acid overdose during pregnancy

An overdose of folic acid during pregnancy is virtually impossible, because at least some clinical manifestations of its excess will appear only if you use 20-30 tablets at a time. Sane people do not use drugs in such doses.

However, still controversial and requiring evidence is the result of studies conducted on the intake of folic acid by pregnant women in high doses in Britain.

British scientists argue that if folic acid is taken in too much of a woman's body during pregnancy, an overdose can contribute to ... the birth of twins. Excess folic acid during pregnancy and at the planning stage contributes to multiple pregnancy. The fact is not proven, and requires confirmation.

Any woman planning a pregnancy is obliged to take care of the health of her own and future baby in advance. For example, drink folic acid during pregnancy, as a vitamin preparation that helps reduce the possibility of developing pathologies in the fetus.

The benefits of the drug

Vitamin B9 or folate is found in many foods, such as yeast, liver, cottage cheese, green vegetables, cereals, and some fruits. But, in order to get the daily norm, it is necessary to use all of them in very large quantities and raw or undercooked, since during heat treatment the vitamin is practically destroyed.

Why take folic acid during pregnancy? At the very beginning of pregnancy, in the first twelve weeks, folates are prescribed. Starting from the second week, the neural tube is formed in the embryo, and acid is needed for its normal formation. Vitamin is required for the formation of red blood cells, and reduce the risk of developing pathologies in the fetus.

Vitamin B9 is needed by the expectant mother to prevent the occurrence of anemia, pain in the legs, and toxicosis. Its intake in the first trimester minimizes the risk of developing anomalies of the nervous system by almost 70%.

At the time of cell division, with the help of folates, the structure of DNA and RNA molecules is formed and develops without mutations and damage. Acid is involved in the development of organs and tissues of the fetus, reduces the possibility of a delay in the mental development of the child, physical defects.

When telling women at a consultation what folic acid is prescribed for, doctors advise starting to drink it, even at the planning stage, at least 90 days before pregnancy.

Dosage and rules of admission

Folic acid intake for an average person per day is at least 50 micrograms. But, when carrying a child, the need for it increases repeatedly, and for expectant mothers, the norm is 400 mcg. The vitamin is available in the form of tablets or capsules.

What is the dosage of folic acid for pregnant women? Many women are interested in how much folic acid a pregnant woman should drink per day. The rate is determined by the attending physician. It is taken as an independent drug, or as part of a multivitamin. Doctors recommend drinking one tablet per day, containing from 400 micrograms to 1000 micrograms. This dose of folic acid is recommended for pregnant women without fear of overdose. If a woman is taking any prenatal vitamins and is not deficient in vitamin B9, then a separate folate intake is not needed.

With a pronounced deficiency of the vitamin in the body, or if there have been cases of the birth of babies with neural tube pathology, the doctor increases the daily dose of folic acid, sometimes up to 4 mg, which is four tablets that you need to drink once or several times during the day. Tablets are taken at the same time, before meals or with meals. Except medicines You can also eat foods that contain folate.

How much folic acid should you take during pregnancy? The most important period in which you can not do without vitamin B9 is the first trimester. The whole pregnancy depends on how the fetus develops at this time. Starting from the second trimester, the required amount of acid is supplied in sufficient quantities with the intake of multivitamins.

folate deficiency

Vitamin deficiency during pregnancy can lead to sad consequences not only for the fetus, but also for the mother. With a lack of the drug, the process of formation of the placenta and its nutrition is disrupted, which provokes an early termination of pregnancy or the birth of a premature baby. Causes abnormalities in the development of the infant, the occurrence of mental disorders in newborns.

Deficiency also affects women's well-being. Especially, the need for vitamin B9 arises when its absorption by the body is impaired, or when there is an increased need for it, for example, during breastfeeding.

Symptoms that indicate a lack of acid are:

• chronic fatigue;
• loss of appetite;
• decreased immunity;
• irritability;
• insomnia.

Folate deficiency also occurs when a pregnant woman has severe toxicosis, accompanied by vomiting, which interferes with the absorption of the drug. In order to determine the presence or absence of a vitamin deficiency, a blood test is prescribed to determine its concentration. According to the results obtained, the attending physician will prescribe the optimal dose that should be taken, up to childbirth. The lack of the drug can complicate the onset of pregnancy.

Side effects and overdose

Despite the fact that folates dissolve in water and their excess is excreted from the body, in some cases, with prolonged and uncontrolled intake, an overdose is possible. Its symptoms are manifested by the appearance of a bitter or metallic taste in the mouth, gastrointestinal imbalance, sleep disturbance, and kidney failure. Rarely, an allergic reaction occurs.

In the presence of cardiovascular disease, an overdose can cause heart failure. Caution should also be taken with existing pathologies of the liver or kidneys, with a defect in the gene responsible for folate metabolism.

Sometimes, with an excess of vitamin B9, the birth of children prone to colds, bronchial asthma, and impaired immunity is associated. To get rid of side effects- bloating, nausea, insomnia, it is enough to reduce the prescribed rate. An excess of acid does not cause serious health problems, but it is recommended to call an ambulance.

Accelerates the process of removing acid from the body drinking strong tea. When taking vitamin B9 as an independent drug, its quantitative content in the complex of multivitamins taken is also taken into account to minimize side effects and overdose.

In a healthy woman who is fully nourished, the lack of folic acid practically does not affect her well-being. But, it will negatively affect the embryo and placenta, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, taking vitamin B9, the expectant mother takes care of the health of the child from the moment of conception.

Future mothers begin to take care of their baby even before his birth. Correct, Fresh air, giving up bad habits - everything is aimed at ensuring that he appears on time and is healthy. A prerequisite for this is the intake of folic acid during pregnancy.

Mandatory set for all nutrients would be incomplete without folic acid or vitamin B9. Women were convinced that it provides beauty and health to hair, skin, nails. Many products contain derivatives of this substance - folates. But during pregnancy there are too few of them. Therefore, folic acid preparations are useful for all expectant mothers.

Artificial vitamin B9 takes an important part in the creation of blood cells. In the body, it is also absorbed with the formation of folate. Its deficiency means the occurrence of anemia, in which there is a lack of red blood cells, or they do not function. And this is a reason not only for poor health, but also serious problems with other body systems, which will experience oxygen starvation, and many metabolic processes are disturbed.

Another important role of folates is to stimulate the formation of DNA and RNA, which are present in all cells of the body, being their main component. That is, their normal division and tissue renewal without vitamin B9 are excluded. Therefore, its importance during pregnancy, especially on her early stage, it is difficult to overestimate.

Why folic acid for pregnant women

Folic acid in early pregnancy is involved in many processes. It plays the most important role in the formation of the embryo and the tissues that ensure its viability, therefore, at this stage, a lot of substances are consumed for:

• Bookmarks and development of the nervous system of the baby;
• Growth of vessels of the placenta;
• Formation of bone and connective tissues;
• Sufficient mental development of the child;
• Restoration of muscle tissue in the mother's body and blocking their degeneration into cancer;
• Normal pregnancy.

The most significant amount of folic acid is required in the construction of the fetal nervous system. Cell division occurs with doubling of DNA chains in the nucleus of each. For it to be complete, anyone must receive a complete human genome. And this is only able to provide folic acid. Such a division continuously occurs not only in the nervous, but in all systems of the fetus. The number of cells in the early period increases weekly. It is possible to ensure the quality of the process only with sufficient blood supply to the embryo and surrounding tissues.

If she's missing

Any failure caused by a lack of folic acid responds with irreparable defects in the baby, the most likely of which are:

• Defects of the brain, in particular, the absence of some of its lobes. This forces the woman to terminate the pregnancy, because such a newborn would not be viable. A defect in the bones of the skull is also possible, in which the membrane of the brain or its section extend beyond their limits;
• Anomalies in the formation of the spine, when many of its components are simply not there. The spinal cord remains fully or partially open. The viability of the newborn depends on the degree of the defect. Most of the babies die, others remain disabled, have problems with the urinary system and independent movement when growing up;
• Uncompensated intellectual and mental underdevelopment. And the reason for this is oxygen starvation of the brain due to a lack of folic acid at the initial stage of fetal development. Due to its involvement in cell division, it takes part in the formation of the placenta that provides it with nutrition.

A lack of vitamin B9 in a woman makes it more possible for premature birth and early termination, the death of the fetus in the womb due to oxygen deficiency. So the answer to the question of whether folic acid can be ignored in early pregnancy is obvious. There is no substitute for this substance. And most importantly, not all fetal defects that occur due to vitamin B9 deficiency can be tracked at an early stage of its development.

In a pregnant woman at the initial stage of the situation, a lack of folic acid provokes:

• A noticeable decrease in immunity, which is fraught with viral diseases, problems with the skin and mucous membranes;
• Increased toxicosis;
• Depression or increased anxiety.

What leads to deficiency

Seriously, the volume of folic acid can be affected by the diet of a woman and her inherent bad habits. Absence or small amount in the diet fresh vegetables and fruits, excess sugar, do not contribute to the filling of cells with it. In heat-treated foods, vitamin B9 is practically absent, as it does not tolerate high temperatures and is destroyed.

The medicines used by the woman that interfere with her absorption contribute their share:

• Antibiotics. The drugs, together with the pathogenic flora, destroy beneficial bacteria in the intestines, which prevents the absorption of beneficial elements, including vitamin B9. Sulfonamides do not allow the intestinal mucosa to synthesize folic acid, which is normal for the body;
• Hormonal drugs, including contraceptives, lower its concentration;
• Antiepileptic drugs, since most of them are potentially toxic.

There are also genetic features that are quite rare, but interfere with the formation of folates. We are talking about the absence in the body of enzymes required for this, which provokes heart problems, the development of tumors and miscarriage. Then the intake of folic acid preparations in large quantities will not help either. But even in this almost unique case, the situation is not hopeless, because there are agents that can replenish the amount of folate in the tissues.

How to make up for a vitamin deficiency

It is advisable to find out how much folic acid is needed during pregnancy in the early stages even before conception. Then the woman will have the opportunity to prepare for everything that awaits her, that is, include in the diet:

• Spinach, other fresh herbs;
• Carrots, beets;
• Rye bread;
• Nutritional yeast;
• Eggs;
• Cottage cheese, cheeses;
• Green vegetables;
• beef liver;
• Citrus.

And do not use in large quantities, which reduce the concentration of B9 in body tissues. Another enemy is smoking. Largely due to the effect on folic acid volume, experts urge not to become pregnant immediately after stopping use. birth control pills and antibiotics. This will be a good prevention of a deficiency of a substance, will restore its synthesis by the intestines. This preparation will take at least 3 months. But even with adequate nutrition of the amount of folic acid received with it, with early pregnancy not enough. It is necessary to continue the use of products containing it, supplement them with appropriate drugs. And do this immediately after the establishment of pregnancy, since the nervous system of the embryo is formed very early.

Folic acid preparations and how to take them

The use of synthesized vitamin B9 is mandatory due to the 50% increase in the need of the pregnant woman's body for it. With all the desire to get an adequate amount from food, it will not work.

How to drink folic acid in the early stages is largely determined by the presence of diseases in the expectant mother. Serious neurological ailments and elevated blood sugar dictate the need to increase the daily amount to 1 mg and 4 mg, respectively. Diseases of the liver and urinary system in the mother are forced to reduce the volume of the vitamin and monitor the condition of the woman by specialists. In such circumstances, exceeding a safe amount of a substance can cause the same negative effect as deficiency.

The dosage of folic acid in early pregnancy in healthy women is usually 400-800 micrograms per day. This does not include the amount that the expectant mother should receive with food. There are several pharmaceuticals that are used to replenish the supply of a substance:

• Valens;
• Blagomin B9;
• Solgar;
• Naches Bounty.

There are also many preparations of domestic and Belarusian manufacturers, produced under the general name Folic acid. The difference between them is only in the amount of substance in each tablet. It has already been mentioned how important the dosage of folic acid is in the early stages under various circumstances, so it is very important to monitor this in the mentioned diseases.

If a woman has a genetic indigestibility of vitamin B9, drugs are prescribed that contain its derivatives, in particular metafolin. This is a well-known drug Fembion, manufactured in capsules and tablets. With the above features of the body, the dose of folic acid in early pregnancy cannot exceed one piece per day in the morning meal. There are 400 micrograms of folate per tablet and there are other B vitamins.

Who needs loading doses of folic acid

In addition to the already mentioned problems with blood glucose, neurological ailments, an increased dose of vitamin B9 is required by the body of those expectant mothers who previously had:

• miscarriages;
• premature birth;
• Not the only one;
• Children with previously described malformations.

All of the above are signs of a persistent deficiency of a substance in the body. With it, folic acid during early pregnancy needs significantly more than other women. You can detect a deficiency using a blood test (the norm of the substance is 3-17 ng / ml). Then it will become clear that you should start replenishing vitamin B9 at least 12 weeks before the expected pregnancy. Women with this history are prescribed:

• Folacin, which has an increased volume of the substance. There is a packaging in which 1 tablet contains 5 mg of folic acid. Taking Folacin significantly reduces the risk of abortion and premature resolution from it;
• Folio. In addition to vitamin B9, the drug contains iodine, which is no less important for a pregnant woman with a deficiency of nutrients.

Can folic acid harm?

The likely risk of folic acid overdose in early pregnancy has been studied many times, but in each case the results are controversial. It was believed, and some experts continue to be confident, that the regular excess of the accepted amount entails risks diabetes and obesity for the newborn, as well as the likelihood of developing allergic and asthmatic manifestations in him.

Currently, it is indisputable only that folic acid is soluble in water, therefore, excreted in the urine. Therefore, women who have problems in this area should be especially attentive to the dosage of vitamin preparations.

Some also need to drink other medicines at the initial stage of pregnancy and later. Therefore, the amount of funds with folic acid in specific circumstances is selected by a specialist, and may exceed the average values ​​even in the absence of its deficiency. But those who are prescribed vitamin B9 in prophylactic doses should not increase them arbitrarily. The body will absorb exactly as much as it needs. The rest, if it does not bring noticeable harm, will turn into money thrown to the wind and will make you feel unpleasant symptoms:

• Taste of metal in the mouth and bitterness;
• Increased irritability, insomnia;
• Strengthening the manifestations of toxicosis;
• Skin rashes;
• Difficulty breathing due to bronchospasm.

Carrying a child is hard and responsible work. He has not yet been born, and so much is already needed: micro and macro elements, minerals, a lot of organic acids. Folic during early pregnancy can generally decide his fate. But in fact, taking vitamins and managing your health are not such big sacrifices for the opportunity to have a healthy baby.

Before using any drugs, you should consult a specialist doctor. There are contraindications.

Folic acid (or vitamin B9) is involved in the synthesis of proteins, amino acids necessary for the formation of DNA. The lack of folic acid during pregnancy negatively affects the formation of the fetus, increases the risk of miscarriages in the early stages, the birth of premature babies.

Lack of vitamin B9 can be assumed by the deterioration of health, decreased performance, lack of appetite, increased irritability.

In the event of the appearance of these symptoms in an adult woman, it is enough to consume 400 micrograms of vitamin per day in addition to the usual diet. During pregnancy, the dosage of folic acid should be increased to 600 micrograms, but not more than 1000 micrograms (1 mg) per day.

Folate deficiency occurs when:

• deficiency needed for the absorption of folate;
• violations of the absorption of vitamins from incoming food;
• a genetic defect in the folate cycle - the absence of the MTHFR enzyme, due to which folic acid is not converted into an active form;
• taking antiepileptic drugs;
• treatment with hormonal drugs;
• alcohol abuse.

The maximum need for pregnant women in an increased dosage of folic acid is noted in the first trimester when laying the fetal organ systems.

If a woman does not suffer from megaloblastic anemia, and there is no folate deficiency in the body, then during pregnancy it is enough to take 400 micrograms of folic acid in tablets.

How to take folic acid tablets correctly, how much to drink during pregnancy, so as not to cause an overdose, is described in detail in separate articles:

Benefits for a woman

In the first 4 weeks, folic acid is especially needed for a pregnant woman. During this period, new cells are actively formed and the consumption of vitamin for DNA synthesis increases. But the main thing for which folic acid is needed for pregnant women at this time is the formation of the nervous system at 3-4 weeks of the first trimester.

In addition to the formation of the nervous system, fetal organ systems develop in this period, the kidneys and heart are laid. Increased consumption of folic acid and the formation of placental tissue.

If in the first three months a woman’s body lacks vitamin B9, then the consequences of this may be congenital malformations of the fetal nervous system, miscarriage at an early date.

In the second half of pregnancy, folate deficiency can provoke preeclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure with swelling of the extremities.

With preeclampsia, blood flow through the placenta is disturbed, which worsens the conditions for the development of the fetus, and the child may be born with a lag in physical development. Preeclampsia is one of the causes of premature birth, the development of eclampsia, a condition that is dangerous for both the pregnant woman and the fetus.

In late pregnancy, folic acid is needed to prevent early rupture of the amniotic membrane, premature birth.

Fetal benefits of folate

In the early stages, the need for folates is especially high for the formation of the neural tube - the rudiment of the baby's nervous system. As a result of the non-closure of the anterior part of the neural tube at the 4th week of pregnancy, a defect such as anencephaly is formed - a malformation in which there are partially or completely absent large hemispheres brain.

In the second half of pregnancy, the lack of folates negatively affects the state of the circulatory system, and through it indirectly negatively affects all the organs of the fetus. This is due to the fact that vitamin B9 deficiency causes an increase in the concentration of homocysteine ​​in the child's blood, which damages the endothelium of blood vessels and provokes the formation of blood clots in small vessels.

The death of the fetus when the endothelium of the blood vessels is damaged does not occur, but the child develops malformations:

• neural tube defects - anencephaly, brain herniation;
• heart defects;
• impaired maturation of erythrocytes;
• violation of the formation of the kidneys;
• cleft palate - cleft of the upper palate;
• limb deformity.

Additional use of folates in the second trimester prevents the appearance of developmental defects, reduces the likelihood of an umbilical hernia, Down syndrome, and contributes to normal weight gain and development of the baby.

The level of homocysteine ​​in the blood is one way to determine the folate status of a pregnant woman. It can be determined by direct measurements of the folate content in the blood, as well as by the analysis of existing mutations in the MTHFR genes responsible for the folate cycle in a woman.

When such mutations are detected for a pregnant woman, they individually select how to take it, determine how much folic acid she needs to drink every day in the first, second, third trimesters.

Possible harm

Active use of folates for the prevention of a neural tube defect in the fetus during pregnancy began in the 70s of the last century, and over the past years a lot of data has accumulated that indicate not only the benefits, but also the possible negative consequences of taking synthetic vitamin B9 in tablets.

This is due to the fact that at high dosages of folic acid, the need for ascorbic acid and vitamin B12. In the event of a shortage of these nutrients, part of the folic acid will not be absorbed and will be excreted from the body in the urine.

And to improve the absorption of folates, it is necessary not only to increase the dosage of vitamin B9, but to combine the drug with the necessary amount of vitamins C and B12.

Large doses of the free form in the bloodstream can adversely affect health. So, with a high concentration of folic acid, there is a decrease in the number of T-lymphocytes, which reduces the activity of specific immunity, reduces the body's ability to resist infection.

Uncontrolled intake of folic acid in large doses during pregnancy is also dangerous for the fetus:

• at high doses, the risk (by 25%) of asthma in children increases;
• increased risk of respiratory tract infections at an early age.

An excess of folate over a long period of time can cause:

• allergic reactions - angioedema, urticaria;
• a decrease in the concentration of vitamin B12 in the body and the development of pernicious anemia;
• changes in the epithelium of the renal tubules;
• side effects from the digestive tract - diarrhea, nausea, flatulence;
• neurological disorders - insomnia, convulsions, irritability.

An excess of the vitamin may be associated with the genetic characteristics of a woman. If a woman during pregnancy has a high content of folic acid, caused by genetic mutation, then it is possible to drink pills in addition, in what dosage and how much, the doctor decides, based on the state of her health.

Additional vitamin intake in this case is dangerous for the fetus and can cause retinoblastoma in an infant - a tumor of the retina.