If you are unsure for any reason ask your GP for advice. Safefood: Folic acid. Page last reviewed: 15 March Next review due: 15 March Read our cookies policy to find out more about our cookies and how we use them. Home Wellbeing Pregnancy and birth Trying for a baby Food and supplements for a healthy pregnancy Back to Food and supplements for a healthy pregnancy. Folic acid when planning a pregnancy. Why you need it Folic acid helps support your baby's spine and brain development.
How long to take it Start taking folic acid at least 3 months before you become pregnant. Your body uses folic acid to make DNA. The neural tube is one of the first things your baby will grow. The neural tube is formed in the first four to six weeks of pregnancy. This can cause a range of disabilities including loss of bladder and bowel control, and paralysis of the legs. In some cases, the effects can be more severe. It is unclear what causes spina bifida but it can be linked to a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors, for example a family history of neural tube defects and folate deficiency.
Signs and symptoms of spina bifida vary by type and severity and can also differ per person. The best way to reduce the risk of your baby developing a neural tube defect is to take daily folic acid supplements from 12 weeks before conception until at least 12 weeks of pregnancy. Adding a folic acid supplement to your diet when pregnant reduces the risk of your baby being born with a neural tube defect.
You should take a supplement with micrograms of folic acid per day from 12 weeks before you become pregnant through to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Folic acid supplements are available over the counter from pharmacies at varying doses.
Look for supplements that contain at least micrograms of folic acid. Multi-vitamin supplements generally contain less. It is also important to eat healthy foods that contain folate including green leafy vegetables, broccoli, oranges, avocado, or fortified breads and cereals.
You can read more about what foods to eat when pregnant here. You should talk to your doctor, pharmacist or a dietitian before starting to take any new supplements.
You can get vitamin supplements containing vitamin D free of charge if you're pregnant or breastfeeding and qualify for the Healthy Start scheme. If you're still spending more time indoors than usual this spring and summer, you should take 10 micrograms IU of vitamin D a day to keep your bones and muscles healthy. But there is currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely to prevent or treat coronavirus.
You may need to consider taking a daily supplement of vitamin D all year. Talk to a midwife or doctor for advice. If you do not have enough iron, you'll probably get very tired and may suffer from anaemia.
If you'd like to eat peanuts or foods that contain peanuts such as peanut butter during pregnancy, you can do so as part of a healthy, balanced diet unless you're allergic to them or your health professional advises you not to.
Many breakfast cereals have iron added to them. If the iron level in your blood becomes low, a GP or midwife will advise you to take iron supplements. It's found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, and a balanced diet can provide all the vitamin C you need. A varied and balanced vegetarian diet should provide enough nutrients for you and your baby during pregnancy.
Talk to a midwife or doctor about how to make sure you're getting enough of these important nutrients. If you're vegan or you follow a restricted diet because of a food intolerance for example, a gluten-free diet for coeliac disease or for religious reasons, talk to a midwife or GP. Ask to be referred to a dietitian for advice on how to make sure you're getting all the nutrients you need for you and your baby. Find out more about healthy eating if you're pregnant and vegetarian or vegan.
You may be eligible for the Healthy Start scheme , which provides vouchers to buy milk and plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables at local shops. You can also get coupons that can be exchanged for free vitamins. If you're not eligible for the Healthy Start scheme, some NHS organisations still offer the vitamins for free, or sell them. Ask a midwife about what's available in your area. Find out more about the Healthy Start scheme or call to get an application form.
0コメント