Folic acid intake in the first trimester of pregnancy. Dosage of folic acid during pregnancy in different trimesters. What does folate deficiency lead to?

Folic acid or vitamin B9 is always prescribed during pregnancy and to people diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. This trace element is involved in various processes in the body, and especially during development.

The folic compound belongs to the group of B vitamins and is found in many foods: rice, beans, etc. It is necessary for the proper functioning of the circulatory and immune systems.

Vitamin B9, when ingested, passes into tetrahydrofolate. This enzyme is involved in various biochemical processes. Against this background, the necessary amino acids and nucleotides are produced.

This micronutrient affects reproductive function. It also has a cytostatic effect - it slows down the pathological cell division. In addition, vitamin B9 affects the functioning of the digestive system.

This compound is involved in DNA replication.

Folic acid normalizes the functions of the digestive tract.In the first trimester of pregnancy, since the development of the neural tube, vitamin B9 is essential. It is important for the growth and proper functioning of the placenta. It is recommended to use the vitamin for hypovitaminosis, anemia.

Appointment and deficiency of vitamin B9 in a pregnant woman


If a couple is planning a child, then you should definitely consult a gynecologist. The doctor will recommend the use of vitamin B9 in preventive purposes. He appoints in the first trimester. The production of folic acid in the body is not produced. Replenishment of stocks occurs through food or when using vitamin-mineral complexes.

Taking vitamin B9 during pregnancy significantly reduces the likelihood of developing diseases of the central nervous system. Therefore, taking a vitamin is very important both when planning and when carrying a fetus, in order to avoid possible complications The child has.

Most pregnant women are often diagnosed. Folic acid is also taken to treat this disease. Vitamin deficiency can cause miscarriage or preterm labor.Folic acid is believed to help a woman get pregnant. The use of vitamin B9 when planning a child avoids many risks during the gestation period, as well as various congenital pathologies.

Vitamin B9 deficiency can lead to disorders in the formation of the neural tube, as well as provoke the development of various defects.

This can cause the development of cleft lip, cerebral hernia, wolf palate, spina bifida, etc.The fetal neural tube is subsequently the baby's nervous system. If in the body future mother the amount of folic acid is supplied in insufficient quantities, then in the future this can lead to a delay in development, deformities, etc.Neural tube pathologies can occur for various reasons, so a deficiency of this vitamin is not the root cause.

Daily allowance for pregnant women

Calculating the amount of vitamin that enters the body with food is quite difficult. Normally, the daily dose is 400 mcg, provided there is no trace element deficiency.With a deficiency, the dosage is increased to 500 mcg. This is all decided by the doctor, based on the results of the analysis.

The need for acid increases during pregnancy. When planning a baby, it is necessary to consume vitamin B9 for a certain time so that it accumulates in the body in the right amount. Gynecologists recommend using vitamin complexes with vitamin B9 six months before the intended conception.

It should be remembered that in many preparations for pregnant women the folic compound is already present, so it is not necessary to take additional vitamin B9. Such drugs are: Pregnavit, Materna, Vitrum prental, etc.

The main preparations containing folic acid:

  • Folio
  • Folacin
  • Apofolic

If a woman who has given birth has already recorded a case of a congenital anomaly in a child, then the dosage is increased per day up to 2 g.

Useful video - What foods contain folic acid.

Folic acid preparations are recommended for use by all women who are in an interesting position or those who are planning a pregnancy. Often from food products it is not possible to get the right amount of vitamins and minerals, so experts prescribe vitamin medications as its additional source.

Vitamin B9 is indispensable for the health of a pregnant woman, it is also important for the fetus. Folic acid is actively involved in the formation of the neural tube of the embryo.

It is also necessary for the placenta, its correct operation, the lack of this vitamin can cause placental insufficiency, which is fraught with premature birth or abortion.

Vitamin B9 helps fight anemia, which is common in expectant mothers. The presence of folic acid in the body reduces the risk of miscarriage and premature birth.

Folic acid is involved in the process of hematopoiesis, contributes to the normal formation of white blood cells. Promotes iron absorption reduces the concentration of vitamin B12, therefore, along with it, cyanocobalamin is often prescribed.

Folic acid is involved in the process of cell division. This process accompanies the entire development and growth of the embryo.

In the absence of folic acid or its insufficiency in large quantities, develop such ailments in a child:

  • hydrocephalus;
  • delayed development of brain activity;
  • delayed muscle development;
  • defects of any kind, etc.

Dosage

Experts recommend using folic acid during pregnancy planning, it should start 1-2 months in advance. But if the pregnancy was not planned, then vitamin B9 should be taken as soon as a woman finds out about her situation. The importance of taking vitamins in the initial stages is explained by the formation of the embryo.

How much to drink folic acid during pregnancy in different trimesters, how to take it correctly and at what time of day?

Instructions for use in the first trimester

The first weeks of pregnancy include the birth and development of the fetus. The process is very important, since almost the entire pregnancy and the condition of the fetus depend on it.

During this period, you need to make sure that the body receives a sufficient amount of all vitamins and minerals.

This is especially true of folic acid, which is often called the "female" vitamin.

Only a part is absorbed from food, so you should take folic acid pharmacy preparations.

Often it is included in vitamin and mineral complexes, but it is better to take everything in pure form without other vitamins.

Doses of folic acid during pregnancy are different, in the first period you need to take 400 mcg twice a day (morning and evening).

Vitamins should be taken at the same time before meals. You need to drink clean non-carbonated water. Try not to drink vitamins with tea, coffee or packaged juices.

In the second trimester

In the second trimester, consuming vitamins and minerals is just as important as it was at the beginning of pregnancy.

During this period, the active growth of the baby begins, all organs develop, the nervous system, the immunity of the child are formed.

In order for all processes to proceed correctly, the expectant mother needs to consume enough vitamin B9.

In the second trimester, the dose of folic acid is increased to 600 mcg per day.

Take vitamins 2-3 times a day(depending on dosage).

Application in the third trimester

The last trimester seems to the expectant mother no longer so difficult, toxicosis is passing, she already has time to get used to her condition, but you should not relax.

In the last trimester, vitamin B9 and other vitamins are important not only for the child, but also for the mother.

Therefore, on recent weeks pregnancy, the rate of folic acid is doubled from the original (800 mcg per day).

Take vitamins 2-3 times a day (depending on the dosage of the tablets).

Factors in which the dose is increased

  1. If there are reasons due to which the removal of acid from the body is accelerated.
  2. If the ultrasound shows high risk development of any fetal defects.
  3. Any ailments or defects in parents that are transmitted genetically.
  4. Diseases of the stomach, intestines or urinary tract (folic acid is poorly absorbed or quickly excreted).
  5. constant vomiting in pregnant women also contributes to the removal of vitamin B9 from the body.

Overdose

Most women get scared when they hear about the right amount of folic acid intake, but there is no reason to be nervous and worried. Pregnant women have a high need for vitamin B9. Cases of overdose have not been recorded.

In order for the body to have an excess of this vitamin, the recommended doses must be increased by 20-30 times, which is almost impossible. Excess amounts of acid are excreted by the body on their own.

Vitamin B9 Facts Every Woman Should Know

  1. During pregnancy, the body removes vitamin B9 faster.
  2. Tea and coffee speed up the process of acid loss.
  3. With certain medications, the acid is excreted faster. Check the compatibility of B9 with the drugs you are taking with your doctor.
  4. Allergic reactions are possible, after all, this is a medical drug.
  5. To get the maximum amount of folic acid from food, you need to eat fresh, thermally unprocessed vegetables and fruits.

What expectant mothers need early dates? Love, care and a suitable complex.

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For women planning a child, or already in a position, doctors prescribe vitamin B9 (folate, folacin) to drink. What is it, what does it give, what does it look like in the photo and why is it useful to take folic acid during pregnancy?

Folacin is a water-soluble vitamin that is actively involved in the fundamental processes of the body. It is synthesized by bacteria that live in the intestines in small quantities. Therefore, the basic need can only be satisfied from the outside.

Prescribe acid with a shortage in the body. With a deficiency, the processes of hematopoiesis, the formation of leukocytes, platelets, erythrocytes, and the absorption of iron are disrupted. The substance is involved in the synthesis of RNA and DNA amino acids, helps the egg to mature, and maintains the optimal level of homocysteine, which is responsible for heart health.

At the beginning of gestation, acid is prescribed to prevent the development of defects in the fetal nervous system; in the later stages, it helps the expectant mother to normalize the functioning of the body. Such is the valuable effect of this vitamin.

The benefits and harms of folic acid during pregnancy

If prescribed, then it is not enough

At the beginning of gestation, an intensive division of the neural tube of the embryo occurs, and the spinal cord and brain are formed. A woman may not know that she has conceived, but important processes of the birth of a new life are already taking place in her body.

At the beginning of gestation, acid is especially useful. Its intake prevents a child from spinal fissures, congenital absence of the spinal cord or brain, cerebral hernia.

Lack of vitamin B9 is harmful because:

  • increases the likelihood of mental retardation in a child;
  • violates the formation of the placenta, provokes detachment, causes spontaneous abortion;
  • leads to congenital defects, fetal deformities, pathologies of cardio-vascular system, the formation of a cleft lip and a cleft palate (cleft palate).

It is necessary to take folacin at later dates. A sufficient amount of it prevents the development of postpartum depression, reduces apathy, improves lactation.

Problems can be minimized even when planning pregnancy and during the period of bearing a baby, if you take acid preparations. After all, it is impossible to create its stock, and it is difficult to get it from food.

According to statistics, folate deficiency is observed in 50% of women. Studies have shown that their regular intake during planning and at the beginning of pregnancy reduces the risk of fetal defects by 80%. In large doses, acid is harmful. Therefore, it should be taken according to the doctor's recommendations.

Symptoms of excess and lack of folic acid during pregnancy

B9 deficiency is developing rapidly. The first symptoms appear within a week, and a monthly lack of acid leads to a critical condition:

  • pallor of the skin;
  • irritability;
  • nervousness;
  • fatigue;
  • low performance;
  • impaired memory, attention;
  • the appearance on the skin of age spots, acne;
  • drastic weight loss.

These signs are nonspecific and may indicate stress or be a variant of the norm during pregnancy. But if you do not make up for the lack of acid, this is fraught with dangerous consequences for the fetus and the expectant mother.

You can accurately determine the level of folacin in the body by passing a blood test. Normal values ​​range from 7–45 nmol/l.

Very useful for the child

Instructions for use of folic acid

Vitamin B9 in tablets is the same drug as the rest. Therefore, it should not be taken without a doctor's prescription. The instructions of official manufacturers contain recommended daily and single doses, methods of taking acid, how long to use, how to use it correctly. Therefore, it is a must read for all women.

According to clinical guidelines by order of 572n, the daily intake of folacin is 0.4 mg. According to other sources, in order to maintain pregnancy in the first months, it is necessary to take 0.8 mg per day. The doctor decides whether it is a lot or a little.

The medication is started 6 months before the planned conception, and the optimal duration is up to 12 weeks of gestation. In the last trimester, doctors also often advise you to consume acid.

Usually, the entire dose is given at one time. This should be done in the morning a quarter of an hour after breakfast, drinking water. Do not take folacin before meals, as it increases acidity on an empty stomach, causing problems with the gastrointestinal tract. And in pregnant women with toxicosis, it can lead to nausea, vomiting.

Doses higher than prophylactic, the doctor prescribes to pregnant women with an established deficiency of vitamin B9, as well as in the following cases:

  • the presence of factors that increase folate intake or accelerate its excretion;
  • high risk of anomalies of the nervous system (epilepsy, diabetes mellitus in a pregnant woman);
  • the presence of malformations in a family history;
  • violation of the stomach, intestines.

Reception strictly according to the prescription

What is the dosage of folic acid for pregnant women

Folacin deficiency is especially critical in the earliest stages, in the first 2 weeks. Therefore, doctors recommend starting taking it at the planning stage. But there is no definite answer for how long you need to drink the drug. Some prescribe it even in the later months of pregnancy.

Doctors insist that a woman drink vitamin B9 in the first trimester. During this period, it has a maximum value, even a small lack of it can adversely affect the fetus.

Many pregnant women are advised not to stop taking all 9 months. This is especially true for women with pathologies or twins. Here, folacin in the second and even last trimester will not hurt.

Prophylactic doses according to the instructions:

  • minimum - 400 mcg (0.4 mg) / day;
  • maximum - 800 mcg (0.8 mg) / day.

If the deficiency is pronounced, a dosage of 5 mg is needed. Unauthorized use of such an amount of vitamin is contraindicated, as it can be dangerous.

Can be prescribed for prevention

Acid tablets are available in 100, 400, 1000, 5000 mcg. For the prevention of deficiency, capsules containing 400–1000 mcg are prescribed in the amount of 1 piece daily. The dose of 0.5 mg is therapeutic. Often folacin is prescribed with vitamin E. Substances potentiate each other's action during gestation.

When to stop taking folic acid

The question, until what week they drink folacin, is individual. The term of cancellation is decided by the doctor.

Consultations with a doctor are required

What is the best folic acid to drink during pregnancy

Most often, women are prescribed complexes. These are preparations containing prophylactic doses of vitamins, minerals (E, folacin, ascorbic acid, iodine, iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium). Here are their names and photos:

  • Folio;
  • Elevit;
  • Pregnavit;
  • Spirulina;
  • Multitabs;
  • Centrum.

When taking any of these drugs, the body is replenished with the necessary daily intake of vitamin B9, as well as other trace elements. The advantage of complex remedies is that you do not need to purchase different medicines, since all substances are contained in one tablet.

Folacin monopreparations are often prescribed in conjunction with other drugs: Omega-3, Iodomarin, Vitamin E. The patient and the doctor decide which method and regimen to choose.

Rich in vitamin B9

List of folic acid foods for pregnant women

If a woman prefers to use natural sources of folate instead of drugs, you need to know which foods are high in folate. This:

  • cereals: rice, buckwheat, oatmeal;
  • vegetables: carrots, tomatoes, asparagus, beets;
  • walnuts;
  • cottage cheese;
  • powdered milk;
  • beans;
  • green pea;
  • egg yolk;
  • wholemeal bread;
  • beef liver.

These foods must be included in the daily diet to prevent folate deficiency.

Folic acid has no analogues

Folic acid analogues

Those who are allergic to folacin are interested in how to replace it in order to ensure the health of the unborn baby? There are no analogues of vitamin B9. The only way out is to give up drugs based on it and get the required daily amount with food.

Allergy to folic acid during pregnancy: symptoms and treatment

Signs:

  • widespread rash, accompanied by itching, burning, urticaria;
  • Quincke's edema - mucous, skin or fiber, poses a threat to life if it spreads to the larynx;
  • anaphylactic shock;
  • eczema;
  • bronchial asthma.

If a woman notices symptoms, as in the photo, while taking vitamin B9, what should I do? You must stop taking the medicine and consult a doctor. Usually prescribed for the treatment of allergies antihistamines, enterosorbents.

Causes allergies in the form of acne and swelling

What is dangerous overdose

An overabundance of the vitamin can lead to:

  • increased excitability: a woman becomes irritated, prone to insomnia, frequent mood swings;
  • digestive disorders: nausea, a bitter or metallic taste in the mouth, stool disorders appear;
  • functional changes in the kidneys;
  • allergic reactions: skin rash, itching, urticaria.

In pregnant women, an overdose can be recognized by an excessive increase in fetal weight. There is a risk of obesity diabetes, asthma, a tendency to allergies in a child.

To achieve an excess of acid is difficult, since its excess is excreted in the urine. Usually a lot of it happens with pathologies of the kidneys, liver.

Adverse reactions are rare, folacin preparations are well tolerated, with the exception of people prone to allergies. For them, the remedy can be dangerous.

Beware of an overdose

Should I take folic acid after a missed pregnancy?

In case of fetal death, it is necessary to observe balanced diet and take vitamins, including folacin, to ensure normal next pregnancy. This will help improve the body, restore immunity and hormonal levels.

How much does folic acid cost for pregnant women: price in pharmacies

You can buy vitamins with folate content at the following cost:

  • Acid in tablets - 38 rubles;
  • Folacin - 130 rubles;
  • Folio - 690 rubles;
  • Elevit - 580 rubles;
  • Spirulina - 1115 rubles;
  • Centrum - 514 rubles.

Folic acid throughout pregnancy: reviews

Xenia Sumskaya.

I took Elevit. It contains folk too. The gynecologist canceled at 20 weeks. Said it was good for the baby.

Oksana Surova.

I don't trust doctors. They gave birth before without all these dietary supplements and vitamins. And nothing. And in order for the folk to be in the body, you need to eat buckwheat, eggs and beef liver.

Thank you 0

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