It is recommended to take 1 tablet of folic acid daily, at least 3 months prior to pregnancy and during the first 3 months of pregnancy, to prevent severe genetic changes in the baby and decrease the risk of preeclampsia or premature delivery.
Folic acid is a type of vitamin B, which when ingested in adequate doses helps prevent some health problems such as heart disease, anemia, Alzheimer's disease or infarction, as well as malformations in the fetus.
Folic acid can be taken daily in the form of tablets, but also through the ingestion of vegetables, fruits and cereals, such as spinach, broccoli, lentils or cereals, for example. See other foods in: Foods rich in folic acid.
Taking Folic Acid Helps You Get Pregnant?
Taking folic acid does not help you get pregnant, however, it reduces the risk of malformations in the spinal cord and baby's brain, such as spina bifida or anencephaly, as well as pregnancy problems such as pre-eclampsia and preterm delivery.
Doctors recommend starting folic acid before getting pregnant because many women are deficient in this vitamin and it is necessary to start supplementation before conception. This is because normally foods are not sufficient to provide the required amounts of folic acid in pregnancy and therefore the pregnant woman should take multivitamins such as DTN-Fol or Femme Folic which contain at least 400-600 mcg of folic acid per day.
Recommended doses of folic acid
The recommended doses of folic acid vary according to age and the period of life, as shown in the table:
| Age | Recommended daily allowance | Recommended maximum dose (per day) |
| 0 to 6 months | 65 mcg | 100 mcg |
| 7 to 12 months | 80 mcg | 100 mcg |
| 1 to 3 years | 150 mcg | 300 mcg |
| 4 to 8 years | 200 mcg | 400 mcg |
| 9 to 13 years | 300 mcg | 600 mcg |
| 14 to 18 years | 400 mcg | 800 mcg |
| More than 19 years | 400 mcg | 1000 mcg |
| Pregnant women | 600 mcg | 1000 mcg |
When recommended daily doses of folic acid are exceeded, some symptoms such as constant nausea, abdominal swelling, excessive gas or insomnia may arise and it is therefore recommended to consult a general practitioner to measure folic acid levels through a blood test specific.
In addition, some women may have folic acid deficiency even if they eat foods rich in this substance, especially if they suffer from malnutrition, malabsorption syndrome, irritable bowel, anorexia or prolonged diarrhea, with symptoms such as excessive tiredness, headaches, loss of appetite or heart palpitations.
In addition to maintaining the health of the fetus, folic acid prevents problems such as anemia, cancer and depression, and can be used properly, even from pregnancy. See all the benefits of folic acid.
How long before getting pregnant should you take folic acid?
The pregnant woman should start taking folic acid supplementation for at least 1 month before becoming pregnant because the formation of the baby's spinal cord and brain begins within the first 3 weeks of gestation, when usually before the woman knows she is pregnant .
Thus, the Ministry of Health recommends that all women of childbearing age between the ages of 14 and 35 take folic acid supplements to avoid problems in an unplanned pregnancy, for example.
When to take folic acid in pregnancy?
Folic acid supplementation should be maintained during pregnancy until the 3rd trimester, or as indicated by the obstetrician following gestation.
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