Folic acid, also known as folate, is an essential nutrient during pregnancy. It helps contribute to the health and growth of you and your developing baby. It is important to understand how much folic acid you need during pregnancy, how you can be sure to get enough and when to start watching your intake.
Neural Tube Defects
Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida, which occurs when the spinal column does not close to protect the spinal cord. Neural tube defects can lead to lifelong disabilities and death. These defects often occur in early pregnancy, before you even know you are pregnant, and Babycenter states that they affect around 3,000 pregnancies a year in the United States. It is important to take folic acid if you plan to conceive and throughout your entire pregnancy.
Other Needs
Folic acid can help prevent other defects like cleft palate, cleft lip and some heart defects. It also helps your body make red blood cells, which is important for your increasing blood supply. Folic acid is also needed for the growth of the placenta, which nourishes your unborn baby.
Recommended Amount and Sources
You need 400 to 800mcg of folic acid a day before and during pregnancy, but no more than 1,000mcg a day. Food sources include lentils, citrus fruit, citrus juice and leafy greens like spinach and kale. It is hard to get the folic acid you need from food alone, so check your prenatal vitamin to make sure that it contains folic acid.
Considerations
You may need more than 400 to 800mcg of folic acid a day if you are pregnant with multiples or if you have spina bifida, diabetes, epilepsy or celiac disease. If you are unsure how much folic acid you need, talk to your doctor so you can be sure to get the amount you and your baby need.
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