Why is it important to take a multivitamin and folic acid (vitamin B9) before getting pregnant?

The article is professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

To have a healthy pregnancy, before becoming pregnant, women need to supplement with many nutrients to ensure the health of mother and baby. In which multivitamins and folic acid are nutrients that cannot be ignored.

1.1. What is the role of folic acid for pregnant women? Folic acid (folate) plays a very important role in the growth and division of cells in humans, animals, plants, and bacteria. This is an essential nutrient for blood cell formation. If the fetus does not have enough folic acid, the development and division of blood cells of the fetus will be affected. Folic acid is extremely important for pregnant women, helping the fetus reduce the risk of birth defects related to the brain and spinal cord.
Pregnant women with folic acid deficiency can have megaloblastic anemia, which greatly affects the health of mother and fetus. In addition, the deficiency of a large amount of folic acid also increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, fetal malnutrition, low birth weight. The most dangerous consequence when pregnant women lack folic acid is the increased chance of the fetus having birth defects, cardiovascular diseases, cleft palate...
1.2. Why should take folic acid before pregnancy? Neural tube defects are a phenomenon in which a few neural tubes do not close completely, causing spina bifida, anencephaly... This is one of the malformations related to the central nervous system, so it has a great impact. to many parts and organs in the child's body. Spina bifida exposes a segment of the spinal cord, which can lead to paralysis of the legs, hydrocephalus, urinary incontinence...
Neural tube not closing occurs in the 7th week of pregnancy . Adequate intake of folic acid can prevent the risk of neural tube defects. Because this process takes place early in pregnancy, most pregnant women at this stage do not know they are pregnant, so folic acid supplementation before pregnancy is essential. Many large research projects in developed countries such as the UK, Hungary... have also demonstrated the important role of folic acid in preventing birth defects related to the brain and spinal cord.
1.3. How much folic acid should pregnant women take?

An average person needs about 180-200mcg of folic acid a day. During pregnancy, the process of cell division and the size of the uterus increases, the need for folic acid increases to about 400 mcg - 600 mcg / day. Pregnant women need folic acid to meet the growth of the fetus, form the placenta, increase the number of red blood cells, serve the synthesis of cell nucleus and proteins... After giving birth, during pregnancy Breastfeeding women also need about 400-500mcg folic acid/day.
Before pregnancy, women should supplement about 400mcg folic acid. Adequate folic acid supplementation for at least 3 consecutive months before conception reduces the risk of fetal neural tube defects by 70%.
1.4. How to get enough folic acid? Women can take folic acid 400mcg dose with daily multivitamins or eat foods rich in folic acid such as:
Dark green vegetables, broccoli, asparagus... One plant Asparagus contains about 200mcg folic acid Animal liver: chicken liver, duck liver, brackish liver... An avocado contains about 180mcg folic acid and a lot of omega 3 fatty acids good for pregnant women and fetuses Drink lots of milk Eat plenty of grains cups, legumes, especially soybeans. Eat a lot of fruit, drink a lot of juice, especially orange juice. See also: The role of folic acid in preventing birth defects

2.1. The role of vitamins for pregnant women Vitamins and minerals play a very important role in the development of the fetus and in the prevention of many dangerous diseases. Pregnant women need a lot of vitamins to meet the growth of the fetus. The process of changing the mother's body itself also needs to provide many nutrients such as: the uterus increases in size, the amount of blood increases, the breast gradually enlarges... If it is not provided with enough vitamins and nutrients, substances, pregnant women may experience anemia, constipation, rashes, kidney stones, abdominal pain... The fetus in the abdomen may suffer from malnutrition, low birth weight, premature birth, even stillbirth and miscarriage. pregnancy...
Thus, multivitamins will help women have a healthy pregnancy, support the fetus' comprehensive development of both body and brain, prevent fetal malformations, and ensure the health of the fetus. pregnant mother...
2.2. Why should you take a multivitamin before pregnancy? Vitamins and minerals are found in many natural foods, but the content is not enough, some are difficult to absorb or the content is reduced during processing. Therefore, in addition to a varied diet, pregnant women and women of reproductive age should take multivitamins to meet the body's needs.
Women before pregnancy, if fully supplemented with multivitamins, can reduce morning sickness, have good health, eat well, sleep well, create conditions for the healthy development of the fetus .
Important ingredients in multivitamins for pregnant women include: folic acid, iron, calcium, iodine, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin D, DHA...

Many women are only interested in supplementing the necessary nutrients during pregnancy without knowing that their own health before pregnancy also greatly determines the development of the fetus. In order to help women better understand the importance of taking care of their health before pregnancy, understand what supplements need to be taken before pregnancy, what medicine should be taken before pregnancy?... Vinmec has implemented a program Pre-pregnancy health and counseling program with services:
Support for you and your family when you need important information about problems related to family genetics Screening healthy carriers Preparing for assisted reproductive services Pharmaceutical use and pregnancy Vaccinations Vaccinations Oral Vitamins and Folic Acid (vitamin B9) Food use and pregnancy Prevention of exposure to harmful chemicals, hazardous physical agents Other health problems for you and your husband (wife). Vinmec's pre-pregnancy counseling and health care program is methodically and scientifically built, implemented by a team of leading nutritionists, obstetricians and gynecologists from major hospitals across the country. water, help you have complete knowledge about nutrition and health during before and after pregnancy to have the healthiest pregnancy.