Whether a pregnancy is planned or unplanned, it’s important for every woman of childbearing age to take folic acid, even if they aren’t trying to conceive. Birth defects occur within the first three to four weeks of pregnancy, so it’s important to have folic acid in your system during those early stages when your baby’s brain, heart and spinal cord are developing.
Folic acid, a B vitamin, can reduce neural tube defects by as much as 70 percent when taken before pregnancy, and in the early weeks of pregnancy.
Neural tube defects occur in the first month of pregnancy during the first four weeks, or 28 days. The two major kinds of these defects are Anencephaly and Spina Bifida. Anencephaly is the partial or complete absence of the baby’s brain. Most anencephalic babies are stillborn or die soon after birth. Spina Bifida, the most common type of NTD, occurs when part of the spine does not close. In more severe forms of this disease, the baby is born with its spinal cord and coverings protruding through the unclosed spine causing nerve damage and usually some degree of paralysis.
Folic acid is needed for DNA synthesis. DNA allows cells—including cells in the fetus when a woman is pregnant—to replicate normally. Adequate intake of folic acid early in pregnancy is important for preventing most neural tube birth defects, as well as some birth defects of the arms, legs, and heart. It also appears to protect against cleft palate and cleft lip formation in most, though not all, studies.
A number of factors place a fetus at risk of neural tube defects. A well-documented correlation has been established between lack of daily dietary folic acid (440 micrograms) and birth defects. Studies also show that cigarette smoking, excessive drinking of alcohol, and long use of birth control pills drastically lower the amount of folic acid in a person’s body.
If you fall into any of these categories, it is even more important that you take a multivitamin with folic acid every day. All women who are or who could become pregnant should take 400-800 mcg per day in order to reduce the risk of birth defects. If you are deficient in Vitamin B12, you may need to increase your intake of folic acid.
If you suspect you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, the time to take folic acid is now. If you currently take any medication for anxiety (PAXIL), depression, or to control a chronic condition, it is important that you consult with your physician right away to discuss the best treatment options for you and your unborn child.
Source: Webmd.com