Do I still need to take folic acid after three months?

Folic acid is very important for pregnant women, but many pregnant women do not know how to supplement folic acid. In fact, pregnant women must pay attention to several issues when taking folic acid. The first is to start supplementing folic acid in the first three months of pregnancy. The first three months of pregnancy is the period of vigorous development of the human body's nerves and blood vessels. Supplementing folic acid at this time can prevent yourself and the baby from causing deformities during the growth and development process.

What should pregnant women pay attention to when taking folic acid?

(1) Start taking folic acid supplements three months before pregnancy

During the first three months of pregnancy, the human body's neural tube begins to develop and nerve cells begin to divide. If folic acid is deficient at this time, the neural tube will not develop completely and deformed babies may easily occur. If folic acid is supplemented at this critical time, the risk of neural tube disease in the fetus can be reduced by 50% to 70%. Therefore, women should start taking folic acid supplements in the first three months of pregnancy preparation; in the early stages of pregnancy, take folic acid for another three months; in the late stages of pregnancy, folic acid can be taken appropriately depending on the situation.

(2) Take one small tablet daily

There are currently two folic acid formulations on the market, one containing 5 mg per tablet and the other containing 0.4 mg per tablet. Pregnant women should take a small dose, one tablet a day is enough. Excessive intake of folic acid not only fails to prevent fetal malformations, but may also mask the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, interfere with zinc metabolism, and cause adverse consequences such as zinc deficiency or nerve damage in pregnant women. If you do not conceive after taking folic acid for three months, you should continue to take folic acid supplements until three months after pregnancy.

(3) Folic acid should not be taken together with vitamin C

Folic acid is easily destroyed in an acidic environment and is relatively stable in alkaline and neutral environments; while vitamin C and vitamins B2 and B6 are relatively stable in an acidic environment. If you take vitamin C, vitamin B2 and vitamin B6 while supplementing folic acid, the absorption rate will be affected because their stable environments conflict with each other. In view of this, it is best to take the two drugs at least half an hour apart.

(4) What are the side effects of folic acid?

1. Taking folic acid tablets can mask the early symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency and cause damage to the nervous system;

2. Taking 350mg of folic acid tablets may affect the absorption of zinc, leading to zinc deficiency, slowing fetal growth and increasing the number of low birth weight babies;

3. Taking folic acid tablets can interfere with the effects of anticonvulsant drugs and induce convulsions in patients;

4. Some patients may experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia, nausea, and abdominal distension after taking folic acid for a long time.

5. When taking large amounts of folic acid, yellow urine may appear.