Folic Acid & TTC: Why you should take the supplement when trying for a baby

When it comes to preparing for pregnancy, and indeed the pregnancy itself if successful, there are many factors to consider. One crucial element that is often talked about in the TTC community is the importance of folic acid. There's lots of noise out there, so let us break it down for you. Read on to find out why pregnant and TTC women should take the supplement, what type we should be taking and the foods that contain it naturally.

Why do pregnant people need to take folic acid in the first place? 

It’s recommended to take folic acid as soon as you start trying for a baby (the NHS says ideally 3 months before ) and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy as it can reduce the risk of birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida. While the risk of developing neural tube problems cannot be eliminated completely, it can be greatly reduced (by up to 70%) by taking folic acid. 

What type of folic acid should we take?

Folic acid can be taken as a supplement of 400 micrograms daily. Some people are advised to take a higher dose if they have a higher risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect (spina bifida).

Methylfolate is a bioavailable form of folic acid - which means it’s well absorbed by the body and doesn’t need interactions with other vitamins for quick uptake. There are a lot of brands out here, but if you’re looking for a recommendation from us, we’d go with the Ovum Time to Conceive® supplement – it has the right amount of methylfolate.

Methylfolate supplements can be expensive, much more so than normal folic acid supplements. If this is a concern, don’t worry – normal folic acid is also recommended by the NHS and is just fine for getting the job done. Pregnancare before conception has the right amount of folic acid you need when trying to conceive and is often recommended by doctors, so is effective and affordable. 

What foods contain the most folic acid? 

The natural form of folic acid is folate, and it’s found in many foods. Good sources of folate include dark, leafy green vegetables (think kale and spinach), broccoli, chickpeas, lentils and kidney beans. However, it's difficult to get the amount of folate recommended for a healthy pregnancy from food alone, which is why it's important to take a supplement. 

Looking for more tips on how to optimise your preconception health and boost your chances of getting pregnant? 

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