Newly pregnant women may experience morning sickness, which may inhibit their intake of minerals and vitamins, one of which includes folic acid. Folic acid is an essential vitamin that supports the growth and development of the fetus. Consult with your health-care provider regarding your condition and for diet recommendations.
Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is most common during the first trimester and usually subsides by the second trimester. However, some women continue to experience it well past the first trimester. If it persists beyond the fourth month of pregnancy, speak with your medical adviser to ensure a smooth pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of morning sickness, but National Institutes of Health online medical encyclopedia Medline Plus reports that if you vomit blood, exhibit weight loss greater than 2 lbs. or are unable to keep foods or liquids down, seek advice from your medical adviser.
Folic Acid
An adequate intake of folic acid is crucial during pregnancy because a deficiency may result in neural tube birth defects, such as spina bifida, cleft palate or anencephaly. Since neural tube development occurs during the first trimester, it is crucial to ingest 600 mcg of folic acid daily throughout the pregnancy, but especially during the first trimester, and 400 mcg before conception. Folic acid deficiency may also lead to anemia, which is classified as a reduction of red blood cells. Pregnant women require a greater supply of blood to support the growing fetus and to prevent against miscarriage.
Considerations
A daily folic acid intake of 600 mcg is a general guideline for most pregnant women; however, women who previously birthed a child diagnosed with a neural tube defect may require a higher dose of folic acid. The March of Dimes reports that a daily intake of 4,000 mcg before conception and throughout the first trimester may reduce the risk of conceiving another child with a birth defect by up to 70 percent.
Remedy
Vitamin B-6, which is found in many prenatal supplements, may reduce feelings of queasiness often associated with morning sickness; however, experts are unsure as to why this happens. Although pregnant women require a vitamin B-6 intake of 1,900 mcg daily for a healthy pregnancy, BabyCenter.com recommends an intake of between 10,000 to 25,000 mcg three times daily to effectively reduce morning sickness. While vitamin B-6 is available in many food products, to reach this amount, supplements are necessary. Consult with your health-care provider regarding additional amounts of vitamin B-6. The American Pregnancy Association also suggests eating small meals frequently, drinking fluids throughout the day to prevent dehydration and consuming soda crackers in the morning to remedy morning sickness.
