How to take folic acid to get pregnant. Does folic acid help with conception?

Vitamin B9: features and functions

To understand whether folic acid helps you get pregnant, it is enough to study its characteristics, its effect on the body and the processes occurring in it. It is a B-group vitamin – B9. It is necessary for the development of the circulatory and immune systems. Found primarily in plant leaves, some vegetables, nuts and fruits. The amount of vitamin in them can vary significantly.

Products containing vitamins

For example, 100 g of product contains:

• Beans: 300 mcg acid;
• Brussels sprouts, walnuts: 130-150 mcg;
• melon, broccoli, hazelnuts: 100-110 mcg;
• strawberry: 60 mcg;
• grapes, oranges: 30-40 mcg.

• improves the body's absorption of proteins;
• promotes the absorption of sugars and amino acids;
• promotes cell division;
• ensures normal hematopoiesis (promotes the formation of leukocytes, platelets, erythrocytes);
• participates in the formation of DNA and RNA, which carry hereditary information;
• prevents the development of atherosclerosis;
• improves the functioning of the digestive tract;
• reduces the possibility of food poisoning, improves appetite.

When figuring out whether it is possible to get pregnant from folic acid, the answer is clear. It has nothing to do with fertilization. That is, if you have problems with conception, it will not be able to help with the problem of infertility or lack of ovulation. It is prescribed to strengthen the body and prepare it for such a complex process of gestation, when the mother’s energy reserves are spent on the development of the baby.

Reviews about taking folic acid when planning pregnancy

Reducing the risks is quite simple - both parents should take vitamins. And you shouldn’t limit yourself to just folic acid. Vitamin E is no less important to get pregnant with a healthy baby. It participates in metabolic processes, strengthens capillary walls, prevents the formation of blood clots, and improves immunity. And its most important influence is seen in reproductive function. A lack of vitamin E can even lead to infertility. Therefore, at the planning stage, both parents should take a complex of vitamins in order to improve the processes occurring in the body, improve immunity and increase the chances of having a new, healthy family member.

Many girls write in reviews that it was with the start of taking folic acid that the long-awaited pregnancy began

In reviews there is an opinion that folic acid allows you to conceive several fruits. This statement has no scientific basis, but it is known that girls who took vitamin B9 at the time of planning were 40% more likely to become pregnant with twins than without taking pills.

Reviews have not found any negative effects when trying to get pregnant with folic acid. Even allergic reactions do not occur.

Does folic acid help you get pregnant?

Some believe that folic acid helps to get pregnant and that is why it is prescribed to almost all girls who want to conceive a baby. But by asking a doctor, you can get a comprehensive answer.

The vitamin is prescribed to strengthen the immune system and overall health of the body so that the unborn baby does not get birth defects due to the adverse effects of the environment, parents’ lifestyle and similar problems.

Folic acid when planning pregnancy

Vitamin B9 prevents the development of anemia, which was discovered almost a hundred years ago. After some studies, it was confirmed that the risk of fetal neural tube diseases decreased by 70% when taking folic acid. And due to the absence of the development of certain dangerous diseases that are incompatible with the vital activity of embryos, the vitamin helped to significantly reduce the number of miscarriages.

Complications in the absence of folic acid in a pregnant woman

For the proper course of pregnancy and fetal development, a girl must receive all types of vitamins in normal quantities, incl. and folic acid. Is it possible to get pregnant if you lack it? It’s not a question. Of course, this is a fairly common occurrence. But with a lack of this vitamin, the risk of certain dangerous conditions significantly increases:

• miscarriage at short stages of development;
• frozen pregnancy;
• placental abruption;
• formation of congenital defects in the fetus.

It is the increased risk of defects in the embryo that requires taking folic acid in order to become pregnant, bear and give birth to a healthy baby. The most common newborn problems include:

• neural tube defect;
• anencephaly;
• malnutrition;
• developmental delay (mental and physical).

Of course, this does not mean at all that if there is a deficiency or absence of folic acid in the diet, you can become pregnant and get a lot of problems. Everything is very individual. Simply, with a small amount of vitamin in the body, the risk of these defects increases.

When considering how to take folic acid to get pregnant, it is worth remembering the individuality of each organism. The level of immunity, the normal development of processes, the production of blood cells, and digestive characteristics are very different for each girl. Therefore, the development of the fetus and the possibility of problems arising are also individual. As far as we remember, even with a lack of vitamin, it is possible to give birth to a completely healthy baby. If there is a desire to minimize the risk of the above defects, then take acid. Experts have confirmed that when consuming the pills, there are no developmental problems in the fetus.

Does folic acid help you conceive twins?

Experts from different countries have divided opinions on this topic, but an indirect relationship still exists.
Researchers have experimentally established in pairs of twins that if you drink folic acid, you can get pregnant faster - ovarian productivity increases. Indirectly, it can be argued that with vitamin B9 the chances of having twins or twins increase. Let us clarify that twins are the result of the division of one fertilized egg; twins are born from different eggs emerging from the right and left ovaries.

Australian doctors found that a group of women who wanted to become mothers drank folic acid at the pregnancy planning stage in order to become pregnant with twins. According to the results of the experiment, the number of multiple pregnant women is 40% more. But this does not mean that when taking multivitamins there will necessarily be “multiple offspring.” Not at all! The study included couples who had twins or triplets at birth on either the father's or mother's side.

Swedish experts have confirmed that taking folic acid increases the chances of having twins, but does not provide great guarantees. If the ovaries are prone to “multiple pregnancy,” this probability doubles; in other cases, no one gives guarantees.

Domestic medicine is not ready to unambiguously confirm the direct effect of vitamins on the appearance of twins. And yet, doctors clarify how to take folic acid in order to get pregnant - in dosage, everything is clearly stated in the instructions for the drugs. These medications are not prescribed for the birth of twins, but to prevent severe fetal malformations. And then how lucky is anyone!

Even after conceiving one, instead of two babies, or vice versa, long-awaited twins, there will be no harm from vitamin B9! But still, first consult with your gynecologist on how to take folic acid to get pregnant; the dosage should be prescribed by a specialist, depending on the condition of your body and the overall load. And it’s better to quit bad habits, switch to taking multivitamins and adjust the diet of both spouses.

Vitamin dosage

It is best to check with your doctor about how to take folic acid in order to become pregnant and give birth to a healthy baby. He will prescribe an individual dose. If a girl decides to take the pills on her own, you should read the instructions and choose the optimal regimen. Typically, the norm is 0.4 mg per day. Often, the doctor can increase this standard, almost twice, after successful conception.

When asked how to take folic acid to get pregnant, doctors answer that the recommended intake is 0.4 mg tablets per day

It is worth remembering that excessive intake does not give a positive result. In particular, taking more than 0.8 mg per day is not recommended. But the absorption of the vitamin does not occur 100%, and therefore it will not be possible to overdo it.

How much folic acid to take to get pregnant with a healthy baby depends on your doctor’s instructions. But this vitamin is not accumulated. If you stop taking it, then its content in the body will decrease.

It is recommended to start drinking it 3 months before the expected time of conception. But couples do not always manage to get pregnant in a short time. In this case, girls continue to take pills until conception and after. But if fertilization is delayed, the dose is usually reduced. The main thing is to ensure sufficient vitamin content.

If you don’t want to take pills for so long, you can do without them. The vitamin can be obtained from foods and vegetables that contain it. The effectiveness of the acid is difficult to confirm, because it is simply impossible to find out whether the newborn could have had defects if the mother had not received the vitamin. But it is known that folic acid helps to get pregnant (reviews from girls confirm) and reproduce healthy babies on time.

Doctors prescribe folic acid for women to get pregnant with a healthy baby, but men are often advised to take it as well. This is explained quite simply. The lack of vitamin in the male body affects the motility, quality and quantity of sperm. Men are prescribed pills, of course, only when such problems are detected. But if you wish, you can take pills during the planning period.

Do not forget about environmental degradation, not always a healthy lifestyle, problems with the stomach or intestines, and congenital diseases. All this can lead to problems with conception.

For many young (and not so young) couples, the question of procreation today is very pressing. It is much more difficult for a modern woman to get pregnant, carry and give birth to a healthy baby than, say, her grandmother. The situation can be improved in reproductive health clinics, but women resort to IVF only as a last resort. Many people believe in folk remedies, go on special “fertility diets,” measure their basal temperature and take folic acid to get pregnant. The latter method is recommended today even by gynecologists. Let's see if folic acid really helps you get pregnant.

The effect of folic acid on conception

Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, or folacin, is essential for the normal functioning of the body. It is involved in protein metabolism, supports the immune system, improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, promotes the production of “happiness hormones” and normal hematopoiesis. But the main thing is that folic acid plays a vital role in the synthesis of DNA, which, as is known, is the carrier of hereditary information. Folacin is necessary for the formation of healthy eggs in a woman’s body and motile sperm in a man’s body.

Scientists have also proven another interesting fact: the effect of vitamin B9 is very similar to the effect of the female sex hormones estrogen. Therefore, folic acid is often prescribed in the absence of menstruation.

Folic acid when planning pregnancy

Doctors cannot yet explain how folic acid affects conception and helps with infertility. And they recommend taking folic acid not because it helps you get pregnant. It's all about the ability of folacin to prevent severe fetal malformations (hydro- and anencephaly, brain hernia, spina bifida and cleft lip). These deviations occur in the very early stages of pregnancy (16-28 days after conception), when the expectant mother may not be aware of her new position. Meanwhile, almost every second woman suffers from a deficiency of vitamin B9, so gynecologists recommend starting to take folic acid already at the stage of preparation for pregnancy, at least 2-3 months before the expected conception.

In addition, the body's need for folic acid before pregnancy increases if you:

• are taking oral contraceptives;
• suffer from epilepsy, diabetes or problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• follow a protein diet or are deficient in plant foods;
• drink alcohol.

How much folic acid do you need to conceive?
Despite the fact that folic acid enters the body with food and is also synthesized in small quantities in the intestines, we almost always experience a lack of it. This is why doctors recommend taking at least 0.8 mg of folic acid per day during the period before conception. This dose covers the daily requirement of the expectant mother’s body for vitamin B9.

To increase your chances of success, you can and should include foods rich in folic acid in your diet: wholemeal bread, spinach, parsley, lettuce, green peas, beans, liver, citrus fruits, broccoli, nuts, pumpkin. However, most (up to 90%) of vitamin B9 is destroyed during heat treatment, so you additionally need to take medications containing folic acid. This could be a prenatal multivitamin or regular folic acid tablets.

Do not be afraid of an overdose: to seriously harm the body, you need to take at least 30 folacin tablets at a time. Even if you slightly exceed the dose, the vitamin will be excreted from the body without any consequences. However, if you suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency, be careful and follow the dosage accurately.

Folic acid tablets and products containing vitamin B9 should become an integral part of a woman’s diet and lifestyle already at the planning stage, like many other things. To date, no direct connection between the drug and pregnancy has been found, but vitamin B9 has a good effect on the body during this period.

Medicines are included in proper pregnancy planning, but their use should be supervised by a doctor. The doctor conducts an examination and prescribes tests to determine what exactly needs to be done to create favorable conditions inside the female body for conceiving a child. Independent and uncontrolled use of medications can harm both the expectant mother and her child.

Consumption of vitamin B9 in preparation for pregnancy

Folic acid is extremely important when planning pregnancy, since not only conception and pregnancy itself, but also the birth of a healthy baby depends on its stable levels. Vitamin deficiency in the mother's body can lead to the following complications:

• decreased protective function of the immune system;
• development of infections and thrombosis;
• to negative changes in blood composition due to hematopoietic disorders;
• deterioration of general physical condition and mental abilities.

During the period of bearing a child, a threat also arises:

• miscarriage;
• stopping the development of the embryo;
• complete or partial detachment of the “baby place” (placenta);
• the occurrence of anatomical pathologies and congenital defects of the fetus, such as lack of body weight, hypoxia (oxygen starvation), hydrocele of the brain, neural tube defect, absence of bones of the cranial vault and cerebral hemispheres, cleft lip, abnormalities in mental development.

In this regard, it is necessary to check the level of folacin long before planned fertilization, which will help eliminate these terrible consequences. As a rule, along with its low content, iron deficiency and severe heart disorders are detected.

At the gestation stage, unfortunately, it can be difficult to detect low levels of folic acid. If the need for it is insignificant, deviations in the development of the embryo are also insignificant, and in the future a completely healthy child will be born. But, in any case, the lack of a sufficient amount of an important element, especially in the early stages, can negatively affect the baby’s central nervous system, which will subsequently lead to emotional instability, nervous and mental disorders.

Folic acid helps you get pregnant. Is it so?

There is no official confirmation that pregnancy occurs while taking this medication. But for many married couples, a happy event happened soon after starting to take folacin. Why then is there an opinion that if taken, it will help a married couple who has encountered difficulties in this matter have children?

The fact is that the drug is really prescribed to women planning a pregnancy, as well as those who are already pregnant, and nursing mothers, because vitamin B9 is one of the most necessary and beneficial components of the health of mother and baby. In some cases, the vitamin is prescribed to both future parents, because both men and women need it equally.

But the trick is that when an expectant mother is planning a pregnancy, she begins to take care of herself more than usual. A woman undergoes examinations with doctors, checks the health of all body systems, begins to take vitamins, including folic acid, or multivitamins, minerals, trace elements, etc., monitors her diet so that her diet includes more healthy foods, etc. .

Often during this period, a man becomes a “victim” of pregnancy planning, that is, he also begins to pay more attention to his lifestyle and makes adjustments to it.

As a result, if the father of the unborn child and the woman do not have serious health problems or chronic diseases, a long-awaited event occurs. Of course, in this case we can say that folacin helped the addition to the family, but its use was not the only factor.

Folic acid when planning pregnancy. Why is she prescribed?

Vitamin B9, which is needed by both adults and children, has an effect on the circulatory and immune systems. It does not guarantee 100% pregnancy, but it facilitates this with proper preparation and helps to avoid many problems during pregnancy.

How does folic acid affect conception? It is needed:

To form a healthy egg ready for fertilization: the participation of many components is necessary here, including important amino acids and nucleic acids. For their proper synthesis, B9 is also needed;

For the direct formation and development of the fetus already during pregnancy;

B9 stimulates the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow and has a positive effect on the central nervous system;

In addition, it helps other B vitamins be better absorbed.

These are just the main reasons why women need folic acid before conceiving.

What is the dosage and dosage regimen?

The justification for using folic acid in the form of medications should be determined by a doctor. Depending on whether the intake of vitamin B9 is preventive, or whether the body is experiencing an acute deficiency, the dosage will differ. Most often, folic acid deficiency occurs when:

• alcohol abuse, which increases the consumption of useful substances;
• problems with the digestive system that prevent the intake of valuable components from food;
• long-term use of oral hormonal contraceptives.

You can understand that the body is suffering from a lack of vitamin B9 by the following signs:

• unreasonable irritability;
• constant fatigue;
• digestive disorders;
• poor appetite;
• memory impairment;
• depression.

With prolonged deficiency, more serious symptoms will appear due to impaired red blood cell production, as well as other complications.

Traditionally, folic acid should be taken with or immediately after meals, once or twice a day. For a healthy man and woman who lead an active lifestyle and eat right, 1 - 2 mg of the substance in its pure form is enough. This is 1 - 2 tablets. If there are health problems or pregnancy has already occurred, the volume can be increased to 4 - 8 mg per day.

An indication for increasing the dosage when planning a baby is also a situation where the parents already have a child who was born with a pathology of the brain or spinal cord. In addition, there are defects in enzyme systems, which result in reduced absorption of the vitamin from food. These conditions are determined by a woman’s genetic passport.

The period of use of folic acid is determined by a specialist during a face-to-face consultation. Typically, men who do not experience signs of vitamin deficiency can stop taking it as soon as their wife’s pregnancy test shows two lines.

For women the situation is different. The fact is that vitamin B9 is very necessary during pregnancy, especially in the first three months for the full formation of the baby’s nervous tissue. Therefore, you should not follow the male example and immediately stop drinking it after confirmation of conception. However, the dosage needs to be adjusted. Perhaps, for this purpose, the doctor will advise changing the drug that contains the vitamin, or its form.

Watch the video about the importance of folic acid when planning pregnancy:

How to take folic acid to get pregnant?

The drug is prescribed by a doctor, along with the dosage (200–400 mg/day) and duration of use. But first, the doctor must make sure that there is not enough vitamin in the body of the expectant mother, and only on the basis of tests determine the parameters of intake.

When prescribing B9, the doctor also takes into account the individual characteristics of the patient’s body, intolerance to this component or allergic reactions. At the same time, if folic acid is prescribed when planning pregnancy, the patient also needs to monitor the body’s reaction in order to avoid unnecessary side effects.

Does folic acid help you get pregnant? When used correctly, it is definitely necessary and important. But regarding the benefits and necessity of vitamin B9, you need to consult a doctor, who will also tell you how to take folic acid for conception.

When planning pregnancy, it is very important to have a sufficient amount of folic acid in the body. This element is otherwise called vitamin B9 or folacin. It is necessary for productive conception and bearing a healthy child. Let's take a closer look at how to take folic acid when planning a pregnancy, how much is required, what it affects and whether it is really necessary.

Folic acid and alcohol

Scientists have found that alcohol impedes the absorption of vitamin B9 and increases its excretion through the kidneys. More than half of people who regularly drink alcohol suffer from folic acid deficiency.

One of the important functions of folacin is the removal of deposited fat from the liver and the complete absorption of B vitamins by the body. The presence of alcohol and breakdown products neutralizes this function. Alcohol negatively affects the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and prevents vitamin B9 from being fully absorbed, which contributes to an increase in deficiency.

Therefore, when planning pregnancy and taking folic acid, it is recommended to avoid alcoholic beverages.

Do not use with alcohol

Folic acid requirement

Future parents should definitely know why they need vitamins with folic acid when planning a pregnancy. At the same time, the vitamin is necessary for both males and females. The main functions of folic acid include:

• Activation of the absorption and decomposition of proteins;
• Important participation in cell division;
• Ability to improve appetite;
• Ability to normalize hematopoiesis;
• Participation in the formation of DNA and RNA;
• Prevention of atherosclerosis;
• Protecting the body from various poisonings;
• Immune system support;
• Improving the activity of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Helps in the good absorption of other elements that are necessary for the successful development of the fetus.

Now let’s take a closer look at what folic acid affects in the female and male body.

Necessity for the female gender

The female body requires folic acid both before and after conception.

. If this element is not enough during pregnancy, this can cause the following problems:

Necessity for males

Next, let's look at whether men need vitamin B9 and what the effects of a deficiency of this element are. Males also need folic acid during planning

future baby. After all, if they don’t have enough of it in their body, then the girl may not be able to get pregnant at all. What does vitamin B9 affect in men:

• reduces the number of defective, low-quality sperm
  . This reduces the risk of developing serious pathologies in the fetus;
• the chance of conceiving a baby without any abnormalities and in good health increases several times;
• the motile and penetrating function
  increases .

From the above, it is clear that folic acid is simply necessary during pregnancy planning for both the female and male body. Quite often, if there is a lack of vitamin B9, a couple cannot conceive a child. And also 80% of pathological abnormalities associated with the nervous system in unborn babies directly depend on the sufficient presence of this element.

Therefore, to avoid the risk of serious illnesses, expectant parents should saturate their bodies with the required amount of folacin long before conception. To do this, you can take either medications or more foods that are rich in this vitamin.

What kind of “fruit” is folic acid?

Folic acid

Folic acid is essentially a common B9 vitamin. In Latin, folic acid is a leaf. Its deficiency in the human body can cause malignant anemia.

And if it is absent in a woman carrying a child, then a neural tube defect in the fetus may develop. That is why at the beginning of pregnancy it is prescribed to be taken continuously until 12 weeks, just when the embryo is forming.

In addition to the above, insufficient vitamin B9 in the body of a woman carrying a child can cause the following complications:

• Miscarriage
• Detachment of a child's place;
• Mental retardation;
• Miscarriage;
• Cleft lip;
• Cleft palate;
• Vomiting in late pregnancy;
• Development with birth defects;
• Damage to a vertebra in a child;
• Damage to the circulatory system;
• Dropsy of the brain;
• Intrauterine malformation of the fetus;
• Brain herniation.

There is also the other side of the coin - an excess of this drug. If the body is oversaturated with this product, then the activity of the body’s natural helpers in the fight against viruses, tumor bacteria, etc. decreases.

Folic acid takes part in many processes. This:

• Metabolism;
• DNA production;
• Blood cell division;
• Normalization of the process in the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract);
• One of the main advantages of the product is the improvement of sperm production. So it doesn't just help women;
• Relatively recently, scientists have discovered that folic acid also helps regulate the female menstrual cycle. The answer lies in the component that this drug contains. It resembles the female sex hormone estrogen.

What foods contain B9?

Folic acid is found in most foods. A huge amount of it is found in almost all nuts.

. Green vegetables and leaves of various plants are also rich in vitamin B9. The following products are slightly inferior in the content of this element:

Folic acid also predominates in juices from apricots and oranges

, in egg grains and low-grade or coarse flour.

Vitamin B9 is also found in food of animal origin. It is rich in fish, liver, pork, beef, lamb and chicken meat, as well as eggs. This element is also found in all dairy products.

.

But almost all animal products can be cooked. As a result, 90% of folic acid disappears

. If a person rarely eats foods of plant origin, then the body begins to lack folacin. Therefore, it is recommended to use nutritional supplements or vitamin complexes.

Use it correctly

In the first 4 weeks of pregnancy, many organs begin to form in the baby. Most women during this period are not yet aware of conception, so it is very important to provide the nascent baby with vitamins. At this stage, the baby simply needs vitamin B9. The female body needs folic acid from the very first days of pregnancy. It is necessary to form a healthy placenta

.

It follows that pregnancy should always be planned and the body should be provided with all useful vitamins long before it. Folic acid is not a storage element, so it must be constantly replenished

. Doctors recommend taking folic acid to all women who want to have a healthy child in the future. At the same time, we should not forget that this vitamin is needed not only by the female body, but also by the male body. After all, its deficiency has a negative effect on sperm, namely on their motility.

If a couple is serious about pregnancy, they make an appointment with a specialist. He, in turn, prescribes both future parents to start drinking folic acid three months before the desired date of conception. Doctors believe that this is exactly the period the human body needs to make up for all the deficiencies in folacin.

Dosage

Let's take a closer look at how to take folic acid when planning pregnancy and how much it is required. The amount of the drug needed will depend on the individual characteristics of each person. People who like to abuse alcoholic beverages and have intestinal disorders

, rarely consume greens and vegetables, as well as women who constantly take hormonal medications.

It is advisable to have a specialist prescribe the dosage of vitamin B9. The average dose of this element for a planned pregnancy is about 400 mg. During immediate pregnancy, this dose is doubled.

. It is worth understanding that excess folic acid can lead to unpleasant consequences. True, an overdose of this vitamin practically does not occur. After all, to allow this to happen, a person will have to drink more than 30 folin tablets.

There are different types of tablets and vitamin complexes

, which contain folic acid in different dosages. It is important to take into account the percentage of vitamin B9 in other medications for pregnant women. The deficiency in this element should be accurately indicated by the attending physician.

In some cases, the woman’s prophylactic dose is increased. The usual dosage is 1 tablet 1 - 4 times a day, or 2 tablets can be prescribed twice a day. At the same time, a pregnant woman needs to drink vitamin B9 during the entire period of gestation or only in the first phase.

Usually a high dosage is prescribed in the first weeks of pregnancy. This vitamin is best absorbed when a person eats a heavy meal.

How much to drink

The dosage of taking such a vitamin is determined according to individual calculations for each person separately. Initially, future parents are prescribed a series of tests to accurately determine the level of vitamin B9 in the body. Based on the research results obtained, the specialist will select the required dosage of the drugs.

The doctor needs to carefully select the dosage of this vitamin in the following patient conditions:

1. The presence of severe chronic diseases of the liver, intestines, kidneys or heart.
2. Diseases of the circulatory system and blood vessels.
3. Hormonal imbalances in the body caused by various factors.
4. Individual intolerance to foods containing vitamin B9.
5. Concomitant treatment with antibiotics or hormonal drugs.
6. Cases where the first pregnancy ended in failure of fetal development, miscarriage, or the birth of a child with obvious pathologies associated with an acute lack of folic acid.
7. Depressive state of a woman.

In addition, the doctor must take into account the specific period of pregnancy: whether this process is still only at the planning stage or whether conception has already occurred and the woman is carrying the fetus. In both of these cases, the dosage of the vitamin should be different. Thus, when planning pregnancy, the daily dose should be no more than 400 mcg, and after conception - up to 800 mcg.

It is best to take folic acid in the form of medications and vitamin complexes after meals, since this is how the vitamin will be best absorbed. It is prohibited to take such drugs on an empty stomach.

It should be noted that already in the first weeks of pregnancy the foundations of the child’s future organs and systems are laid, so you should start taking vitamin B9 from the first days of gestation.

Moreover, if even before the moment of conception and in the first trimester of pregnancy a woman and a man did not take vitamin complexes, then the likelihood of improper formation of the nervous system in the fetus increases significantly. To prevent this, in addition to folic acid, it is also important to take additional vitamins, which will be prescribed by the supervising doctor.

As doctors’ observations show, if a woman’s body has enough vitamin B9, then she develops a healthy placenta, which significantly increases favorable conditions for the growth and development of the fetus.

Preparations containing folic acid

Let's look at which medications contain folic acid and which of them can be taken during pregnancy.

Does folic acid help with conception? B9 is often featured as a key nutrient when planning pregnancy. How does the vitamin affect the body of future parents and their child developing inside the womb? We invite you to read the instructions for using FC for planning families.

When planning a pregnancy, every expectant mother wants her child to be born healthy, and she cares no less about her health. To do this, there are a lot of various vitamin complexes designed to strengthen the organs and vital systems of the fetus, as well as stimulate its proper development.

Before we figure out why we need to drink folic acid (FA) before pregnancy, let’s figure out what this element is. So, this is a water-soluble vitamin belonging to group B. It is partially produced by the body, which is quite enough under normal conditions of life. It is also possible for FC to enter the body along with certain products.

Vitamin B9 deficiency is best compensated for by synthetic drugs. As a rule, FC is prescribed before and during pregnancy.

Why take folic acid:

• creates more favorable conditions for conception in a woman’s body;
• helps improve the health of the unborn child;
• improves memory;
• slows down the aging process;
• promotes rational and complete development of the fetus;
• smoothes symptoms during menopause;
• relieves irritability;
• prevents the formation of blood clots;
• relieves signs of anemia;
• normalizes the state of the nervous system;
• promotes the full development of the fetal neural tube, which in turn reduces the likelihood of miscarriages or the birth of a child with developmental pathologies.

As we can see, this component plays an important role both in the functioning of the adult body and contributes to the normal course of the pregnancy process, favorably influencing the development of the fetus.

Preparations with vitamin B9

Very often, even with a nutritious diet, the body of an adult does not have enough folic acid. To create normal conditions for conceiving a child, future parents may be prescribed a number of medications with this vitamin. The most effective and safe means of this focus are:

1. The drug "Folic acid". This remedy is considered the most accessible and popular when planning pregnancy. It has a low cost, and at the same time quite good quality. The dose of folic acid in one such tablet is 1 mg, so a woman will only need to take 1 tablet per day.
2. Folacin tablets. The dosage of folic acid in them is 5 mg. Such a remedy can be prescribed to future parents only if they have an acute lack of vitamin B9. You cannot take Folacin on your own without a doctor’s recommendation, since this drug is considered more therapeutic than preventive.
3. Drug Folio. It contains not only vitamin B9, but also iodine, so it will be doubly useful for future parents. Another advantage of this product is that it is available in different dosages, making it convenient for both women and men to take.

1. Combined multivitamin preparations. This could be Elevit, Vitrum or Prenatal Forte. These medications must be taken strictly according to the instructions, as they are available in different dosages. The duration of such therapy should also be determined by the doctor on an individual basis.

Many parents wonder how much folic acid should be taken before pregnancy and how best to take it - alone or in combination with other medications. At the same time, it must be said right away that the specifics of taking vitamin B9 should be decided by an observing specialist, depending on the specific condition of people who want to become parents.

How does B9 work?

Why is it common to drink FC before planning a pregnancy? Despite the fact that drugs based on this component have a low price, it is indispensable for the female body, taking an active part in the work of all systems. The vitamin has the following properties:

• participates in the process of cell division - promotes skin regeneration, growth and development of the fetus;
• takes part in the process of hematopoiesis;
• strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Why do they say that folic acid before conception helps to get pregnant and promotes the full development of the unborn child’s body:

• participates in the process of DNA formation - ensures better gene transfer;
• normalizes carbohydrate and fat metabolism;
• strengthens the immune system of both the expectant mother and the fetus;
• participates in the synthesis of amino acids at the cellular level;
• helps iron to be absorbed by the body;
• promotes the restoration of muscle tissue and their formation.

Important! 7 out of 10 women suffer from folate deficiency during their fertile age. A deficiency of this component can negatively affect both the general condition of the body and reproductive function in particular.

According to statistics, a woman suffering from a deficiency of this substance is much less likely to become pregnant and bear a child than one whose body has sufficient vitamin B9. In addition, folate deficiency has an extremely negative effect on the functioning of the ovaries and their production of reproductively healthy eggs.

Cervical dysplasia, oral contraceptives and folic acid deficiency

Abnormal changes in the surface cells of the cervix are known as cervical dysplasia. Cervical dysplasia is usually considered a precancerous condition and is determined by a Pap smear (or smear for oncocytology). Many practitioners agree that abnormal Pap smears reflect folic acid deficiency rather than true dysplasia, especially in pregnant women or women taking oral contraceptives. This is because estrogens antagonize folic acid.

Some researchers suggest that oral contraceptives may affect folic acid metabolism. Although serum folate levels may be normal, cervical tissue folate levels may actually be deficient. Clinical observations and testing have shown that cervical blood folate levels are usually reduced in women diagnosed with cervical dysplasia, whereas serum levels may be normal. Oral contraceptives may stimulate the synthesis of a molecule that inhibits the uptake of folic acid into cells.

Clinical studies show that supplementing with folic acid at 10 mg per day can improve and normalize Pap smear results in women diagnosed with mild to moderate cervical dysplasia. Studies have shown that supplementing with folic acid can prevent the progression of cervical dysplasia even with continued use of oral contraceptives.

Related articles:

• Vitamin B9 - use, symptoms of deficiency and excess
• 17 surprising facts about the dos and don'ts...

Why do we lack FC?

As mentioned earlier, folates are produced by the human body in sufficient quantities necessary for their full participation in the life process. But, not counting cases of pregnancy, sometimes there are situations when the body requires much more vitamin B9.

Not taking into account the fact that folacin is prescribed before pregnancy and in its first trimester, it should also be taken by those whose body needs this component. Moreover, it is equally bad to have a deficiency of this vitamin, as well as an excess.

What products contain FA?

So, we have already found out that folic acid is very beneficial for the body. It is prescribed both when planning to conceive a child and in case of deficiency. As mentioned earlier, vitamin B9 is produced in small quantities by the body and can also be obtained from certain foods. However, if there is a deficiency of this substance, it is unlikely that it will be possible to completely restore its norm by consuming these same products. But maintaining normal folate levels is a good idea.

What foods contain folic acid:

• beef;
• chicken offal;
• Brewer's yeast;
• red fish;
• leek;
• buckwheat and barley groats;
• wild garlic;
• beets, carrots, cucumber;
• broccoli;
• melon, banana, mushrooms;
• green tops;
• peas, beans;
• leaves of black currant, raspberry;
• orange, tangerine;
• leaves of mint, birch, nettle, yarrow;
• lettuce, parsley, dill;
• cabbage;
• horseradish;
• peaches;
• pumpkin;
• rose hip.

Most vitamin B9 is found in spinach, liver, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and black beans.

Attention! Heat treatment destroys up to 90% of folacins contained in raw foods.

Does folic supplement help you get pregnant?

Why vitamin B9 is needed, we have already figured it out. Now let's talk about whether folic acid really helps you get pregnant.

I would like to immediately make it clear that pregnancy does not occur precisely because of the intake of this component. However, the fact that soon after starting to take FC many married couples became happy parents is confirmed by statistics.

The whole secret is that when planning the desired pregnancy, a woman begins to pay a lot of attention to her health: she undergoes a lot of examinations, takes vitamin complexes, which, in fact, include folacins, controls the quality of the products she eats, etc.

Often during pregnancy and preparation for it, a man becomes a “victim” of all health-improving activities and procedures. He also has to monitor his lifestyle, eat only proper and healthy food, and also give up bad habits.

According to statistics, every third man is forced to quit smoking when his other half is preparing to become a mother or is already in an “interesting” situation.

Ultimately, if both partners do not have serious health problems or chronic diseases, then the long-awaited pregnancy occurs. Of course, in this case it can be argued that folacin played an important role in this process. But in fact, its reception is not the only factor in the event.

What vitamins contain folic acid?

Nowadays, not everyone enjoys good health. Therefore, multivitamins are prescribed to the expectant mother to prevent problems in her and the fetus. They can also be prescribed for medicinal purposes - if a woman has had complications during previous pregnancies or suffers from gynecological, endocrine diseases, has been on weight loss diets for a long time, or has suffered from cycle disorders.

• Folic acid contains 1 mg. During the period of conception and pregnancy planning, as well as in the first trimester, jn 1 to 3 tablets per day are prescribed.
• Foliber. These pills are most often prescribed to pregnant women. Contains only folic acid and vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin). Each tablet contains 400 mcg = 0.4 g of vitamin. Prescribe 3 tablets per day. This amount cannot cause an overdose; it serves as a prevention of vitamin deficiency for the expectant mother.
• Folic acid with B6 and B12 from Evalar contains folic acid - 600 mcg, vitamin B12 - 5 mcg, vitamin B6 - 6 mg. Is a dietary supplement.
• Folic acid "9 months" consists only of folic acid - 400 mcg.
• Folacin. Unlike the previous ones, it has a higher price and dosage of the active substance - 5000 mcg = 5 mg. This dose is excessive for the body. This does not pose any danger, but it is also of great benefit - excess folic acid is excreted in the urine.
• Folio. The drug contains B9 in the amount of 400 mcg and iodine - 200 mcg. The product has a preventive purpose and cannot be used for vitamin deficiency.
• Complex vitamin preparations that contain folic acid in different quantities: Multi-tabs perinatal (400 mcg), Vitrum Prenatal (800 mcg), Pregnavit (750 mcg), Elevit (1000 mcg), Materna (1000 mcg).

Special complexes for pregnant women contain carefully selected dosages of various vitamins. They provide the expectant mother’s body with useful substances that the fetus needs. Multivitamins for pregnant women contain a loading dose of foline. The fact is that if there is a lack of it in the female body, serious complications in the fetus can develop:

• developmental defects;
• anemia;
• neuropathy.

Such conditions put pregnancy at risk. The child may simply not be born if he does not receive the required amount of vitamin B9.

How to take FC when planning pregnancy?

During the first trimester of pregnancy, many organs of the unborn child are formed, so support from vitamins is simply necessary.

Important! To ensure a full “start” of the development of the child’s body inside the womb, it is recommended to start taking the vitamin long before conception.

So, most doctors prescribe this drug approximately 3 months before the planned date of conception. Reproductologists consider this period sufficient to compensate for the deficiency of this substance in the body of future parents. As for the dosage, it is set exclusively on an individual basis. And how much FC to drink is also decided by the doctor, relying on the examination results.

Dosage

At the planning stage, folic acid is taken in a dosage of 400 mcg per day to women who do not have a history of miscarriages, stillborn children, or children with problems with underdevelopment of the neural tube. After conception, the course of taking folacin continues in the same dosage until the end of the first trimester of pregnancy - up to 12 weeks inclusive.

If there is a history of the above cases, the dosage of the vitamin is increased to 1000-4000 mcg per day. The volume of the drug taken depends on the severity of the problem and is controlled exclusively by a doctor.

If folacin is taken together with other drugs that reduce the absorption of the vitamin - antiepileptics, antimalarials, alcohol-based drugs - then the dosage is increased to 800-4000 mcg per day. Again, everything is decided by the doctor. In addition, in such cases the drug is taken not until the 12th week of pregnancy, but until the birth itself.

Important! Do not self-medicate by prescribing the amount of medications you take. A deficiency, as well as an excess of FA, may not have the best effect on the health of the expectant mother, not to mention the defective formation of the fetus.

Norm

Prophylactic dose limits are 400 mcg during planning and 800 mcg during pregnancy.

For folate deficiency:

• high fatigue;
• hair loss and brittle nails;
• development of anemia;
• increased risk of blood clots;
• in the body of women – symptoms worsen during menopause;
• in the body of men – sperm activity decreases;
• high risk of developing fetal pathologies.

An overdose of vitamin B9 is characterized by the following changes in the body:

• the appearance of bitterness in the mouth;
• frequent nausea;
• problems with stool accompanied by flatulence;
• irritability;
• increased risk of developing cancer cells;
• disruption of the adrenal glands and kidneys;
• development of adenocarcioma of the mammary glands.

How folic acid helps a woman’s body conceive and bear a healthy child

Folic acid supplements are necessary to prevent spina bifida. During the first 28 days of pregnancy, the spine (bone) must come together to cover the thin spinal cord and surrounding tissue. A baby with spina bifida has incomplete spinal growth and is born with the spinal cord protruding from the back. A child with any type of spina bifida is at risk for serious problems, including paralysis, infection and incontinence. Women planning pregnancy should eat foods rich in folic acid. You should also take a women's multivitamin or prenatal vitamin that contains 800 mg of folic acid. If your multivitamin or prenatal contains this amount, you do not need to take extra folic acid.