The role of folic acid in preventing birth defects

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Tran Thi Mai Huong - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital. The doctor has 25 years of experience in examination and treatment in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, lower line surgery, laparoscopic surgery.
Learn how to stay healthy before and during pregnancy to increase your chances of having a healthy baby. One of the top priorities for women planning to have children is to supplement with 400 micrograms of folic acid per day.

1. The role of Folic Acid in the prevention of birth defects

Folic acid (Vitamin B9) is an important ingredient in protecting the health of pregnant women. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommends that all women of childbearing age get 400 micrograms of folic acid per day.
Consuming a variety of folate-rich foods from a varied diet may help prevent some birth defects in the baby's brain (cerebral defects) and in the spine (spina bifida). Anencephaly is a serious birth defect in which parts of the brain and skull are not fully developed. Babies born with this defect cannot survive. Spina bifida is another serious disability. Babies born with this defect cannot develop normally and may have certain bone deformities.

2. When should the folic acid supplement plan start?

Brain birth defects and spina bifida are neural tube defects. These abnormalities are formed during the first 2 weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman discovers she is pregnant. Therefore, it is very important to take folic acid supplementation early before planning a pregnancy. In addition, statistically, nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended. By the time a woman realizes she is pregnant, it may be too late to prevent these birth defects. Therefore, whether planning or not planning to become pregnant, women of childbearing age should still provide adequate amounts of folic acid daily.

3. How to supplement with Folic Acid?

An easy way to get enough folic acid every day is to take a daily vitamin, with an adequate amount of 400mcg folic acid in it (most vitamins contain the right amount of folic acid). . The best time to take vitamins is with a meal or right before bed. Take a chewable vitamin if you have problems swallowing. Folic acid is also found in foods like bread, pasta, rice and cereals. Users should check the nutrition facts on the packaging to make sure the product you buy contains folic acid.

You can also eat it with a folate-rich diet. Folate is found in foods like peas, oranges and orange juice, bamboo shoots, broccoli and dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and mustard.
If only through food, it is difficult for women to get the required amount of folic acid. Be flexible in changing your daily diet, especially providing plenty of green vegetables and whole grains and an appropriate amount of vitamins to improve the health of yourself and your unborn baby.
Currently, Taking vitamins and folic acid (vitamin B9) is part of the pre-pregnancy health care and counseling program of Vinmec hospital. Here, health experts will advise you on taking folic acid and other vitamins effectively to support your health and reduce the risk of having a baby with autism spectrum disorders and tube defects. nerves in the fetus.
In addition, Vinmec's pre-pregnancy health care and counseling program has other important contents that provide comprehensive information to help prevent diseases for the fetus such as:
Support for pregnancy problems related to family genetics Screening for healthy gene carriers Preparing for assisted reproductive services Medication use and pregnancy Vaccinations Vaccines Food use and pregnancy Prevention of exposure to chemicals Toxic, hazardous physical agents Other health problems for you and your husband (wife). For more information and to register for Vinmec's pre-pregnancy health care and counseling program, please contact the hospitals and clinics of Vinmec Health system nationwide

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.