美国试管婴儿科学解读：孕妇为何需要补充叶酸？叶酸有哪些益处？

Folic acid, a special nutrient, plays a key role in the health care of pregnant women. It is considered a magical element designed to provide additional protection to pregnant women, ensuring the healthy development of the fetus. This water-soluble vitamin, also known as pteroylglutamate, gets its name because it is abundant in leafy greens. Originally, folic acid was isolated from the liver, but it was later discovered that it was also very abundant in the green leaves of plants, hence the name folic acid. So, what exactly are the benefits of taking folic acid for pregnant women? Let’s demystify folic acid and find out. Effects and benefits of folic acid in pregnant women:

Preventing anemia: During pregnancy, some pregnant women may suffer from malnutrition due to excessive pregnancy reactions and loss of appetite, which may lead to anemia. Folic acid plays a crucial role at this time, participating in the process of red blood cell production, helping to synthesize hemoglobin, promote red blood cell division and proliferation, thereby maintaining normal hemoglobin levels and preventing the occurrence of megaloblastic anemia.

Preventing hypertension: Folic acid has the effect of softening blood vessels, and taking folic acid tablets appropriately can effectively prevent cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and arteriosclerosis.

Preventing fetal malformations: Folic acid is an important nutrient for fetal neural tube development, which can prevent the occurrence of fetal neural tube defects. It participates in the synthesis of DNA and RNA, playing a crucial role in the normal development of the fetal spine and brain.

Promoting placental development: Pregnant women taking folic acid can promote placental development, thereby allowing the fetus to obtain more nutrients.

Enhance immunity: Folic acid can promote the development and function of immune cells, improve the body’s immunity, and enhance the defense ability against pathogenic microorganisms.

Preventing digestive system diseases: Folic acid helps to enhance appetite, promote digestion, and strengthen spleen and stomach function. Lack of folic acid may lead to chronic atrophic gastritis, colitis, and even increase the occurrence and development of digestive system tumors.

Folic acid supplementation should start 3 months before preparing for pregnancy and continue throughout the entire pregnancy without interruption. According to the data from the Chinese Nutrition Society, pregnant women usually need to supplement 400 micrograms of folic acid per day to meet their needs, and it needs to be continued throughout the entire pregnancy. However, it should be noted that long-term use of folic acid may interfere with the zinc metabolism of pregnant mothers. If the intake of zinc is insufficient, it may affect the development of the fetus. Therefore, the amount of folic acid taken is not necessarily better, it is best to take it under the guidance of a doctor.

As for how American IVF technology can help with pregnancy:

1. Obtaining eggs through ovulation induction technology:

During ovulation induction, Little Monster IVF experts in the United States will conduct real-time follicle monitoring and medication tracking to ensure that medication does not cause discomfort or side effects. Medication begins on the second day of menstruation, following a strict medication plan to ensure that estrogen and FSH levels are within appropriate ranges. After the follicle diameter reaches a certain size, an ovum puncture needle is injected, and finally the egg is retrieved at the appropriate time.

2. In vitro fertilization of sperm and egg:

Egg retrieval can be performed before or after sperm retrieval. Experts will select high-quality sperm from male semen and inject one of them into the egg to complete the process of sperm egg fusion. This helps to improve the fertilization rate.

3. Third generation IVF technology testing:

The fertilized egg is cultured in a culture dish and develops into a blastocyst on the fifth day. Experts will extract cells from blastocysts for screening of chromosomes and genes. This technology can effectively detect nearly 300 genetic diseases, avoiding the transplantation of unhealthy embryos and reducing the risk of miscarriage.