In today's era where science is accessible to everyone, even men generally know that they need to take folic acid before pregnancy. The questions people have are mainly focused on:
Why take folic acid?
Is a 90-yuan multivitamin folic acid necessarily better than a 9-yuan pure folic acid?
How much folic acid should I take? From what time to what time?
OMG! What should I do if I'm unexpectedly pregnant and haven't taken folic acid?
Should men take folic acid?
Today we'll answer these questions together!
01
Why do we need to take folic acid?
Many young couples believe that folic acid is a panacea, as if taking folic acid during the preconception stage will give their child a head start from the moment of conception, thus saying goodbye to all kinds of congenital problems.
However, folic acid only prevents one type of malformation: neural tube defects (NTD).
What exactly is a neural tube defect?
It is a type of birth defect that can involve the vertebrae, spinal cord, skull, and brain. The most common are spina bifida, encephalocele, and anencephaly.
However, the most well-known trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18, and trisomy 13 are not included.
On the other hand, folic acid is also a very important raw material for the development of the baby's organs during pregnancy.
Therefore, it is necessary to maintain folic acid levels in the body even after becoming pregnant.
02
Is the high-end multivitamin folic acid better?
It's actually unnecessary.
Among the national maternal and child health service projects is a program to supplement folic acid to prevent neural tube defects. To demonstrate its convenience, Dr. Mou called her community in Beijing.
Key points
Everyone can get it for free at community hospitals/maternal and child health care institutions simply by bringing their ID card (regardless of whether they are registered residents of the area)!
Folic acid does not require any special quality or other added ingredients, nor does it require purchasing from high-end overseas brands.
03
How much folic acid should I take, and for how long?
For most women, it is recommended to take a folic acid supplement containing 0.4-0.8 mg of folic acid daily, starting at least one month before conception (three months is recommended) and continuing throughout the pregnancy.
To prevent neural tube defects, the recommended time to take the medication is from before pregnancy to within 5-6 weeks of pregnancy.
From the perspective of organ growth and development, although organs are mainly formed in early pregnancy, they may also be formed in late pregnancy.
Therefore, the international community still recommends folic acid supplementation from preconception to the entire pregnancy.
This provides a more secure duration of administration for both expectant mothers and babies.
In addition, for women whose offspring are at higher risk of NTD, it is recommended to supplement with a higher dose of folic acid, and supplementation should begin 1-3 months before conception, and the dosage should be reduced after the first trimester.
How are high-risk groups defined?
include:
1. For those with a history of NTD pregnancy or a parent with a history of NTD, it is recommended to take 4 mg/day.
2. If you are currently taking antiepileptic medication related to NTD, it is recommended to take 4 mg/day.
3. If a second- or third-degree relative has a family history of NTD, it is recommended to take 1 mg/day.
4. If you are taking other medications or have other medical conditions, it is recommended to consult your doctor to see if you need to increase your folic acid dosage.
04
I'm unexpectedly pregnant. Is it too late to start taking folic acid?
Because the neural tube closes around 5-6 weeks of pregnancy, and folic acid needs time to accumulate to reach the required level.
Generally, people discover they are unexpectedly pregnant at around 5 weeks of gestation, so from a neurological perspective, it's too late to start taking folic acid.
However, organs still need folic acid to grow and develop, so it's important to take it regularly.
Some expectant mothers are extremely distressed about not being able to take folic acid, as if they owe their babies a huge debt, which is unnecessary.
The incidence of neural tube defects is only about 1 in 1000, and most malformations can be detected through prenatal examinations.
If you haven't taken folic acid, just make sure to have regular prenatal checkups later on. There's no need to terminate your pregnancy simply because "I didn't plan to get pregnant".
05
Should the husband take folic acid during the preconception period?
Finally, when it comes to such a big event as pregnancy, the husband's involvement has always been very low. So, should we include him in the folic acid regimen?
There is currently no conclusive evidence that folic acid is beneficial for men during the preconception period, but it is perfectly acceptable for both men and women to take it.
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