Pregnancy affects a woman's body, causing an increased level of hormones and volume of blood, which in turn increases the need for certain nutrients. Although eating a healthy diet helps a woman meet vitamin and mineral needs, some women might experience deficiencies from the increased demands on the body. Women facing a high-risk pregnancy need to pay special attention to their nutrient intake to help prevent complications. Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, supports the production and maintenance of new cells, making it vital to a new pregnancy.
High-Risk Pregnancy
A high-risk pregnancy can occur in the young or old, overweight or underweight, those with pre-existing health problems and those who developed complications in previous pregnancies. Conditions that can develop to make a pregnancy high risk include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and preterm labor -- labor that begins prior to 37 weeks. If you suffer from HIV, doctors also consider your pregnancy high-risk. A folic acid deficiency also contributes to a high-risk pregnancy.
Folic Acid Function
Consuming sufficient amounts of folic acid is vital during periods of rapid cell division, such as during pregnancy. New cells need folic acid to make deoxyribose nucleic acid and ribose nucleic acid, the two building blocks of cells.
Recommended Intake
Folic acid deficiencies can cause problems in the very early weeks of pregnancy, when many women are not yet aware of their pregnancy. Therefore, the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements recommends that all women of child-bearing age consume at least 400 mcg of folic acid per day. Once a woman knows of her pregnancy, she should increase her intake to 600 mcg per day. Lactating women need to consume 500 mcg per day.
Folic Acid Deficiency
A folic acid deficiency can cause subtle symptoms, including diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness, headache, heart palpitations, irritability and behavioral changes. For pregnant women, experiencing a folic acid deficiency during the early weeks of pregnancy increases the risk of low birth rate and premature birth. Insufficient amounts of folic acid also can cause neural tube defects, malformations of the spine, skull or brain, such as spina bifida.
Prevention
To reduce the possibility of high-risk pregnancies, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development recommends women intake at least 400 mcg of folic acid, receive the proper immunizations, maintain a healthy weight and diet, get plenty of exercise, avoid smoking, refrain from alcohol and drug use and receive prenatal care throughout their pregnancy. Taking folic acid supplements in addition to eating foods high in folate, the natural form of folic acid, helps a woman reach her daily intake. Folate-rich foods include fortified foods such as breakfast cereals, breads and pastas, as well as green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, citrus fruits and dried beans and peas.
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