{"id":1748,"date":"2025-11-04T23:30:42","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T22:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/?p=1748"},"modified":"2026-06-12T22:40:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:40:14","slug":"folic-acid-for-women-trying-to-get-pregnant-in-lagos-why-it-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/folic-acid-for-women-trying-to-get-pregnant-in-lagos-why-it-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Folic Acid for Women Trying to Get Pregnant in Lagos \u2013 Why It Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re a woman in Lagos planning to get pregnant soon, there\u2019s one simple supplement your body shouldn\u2019t go without \u2014 <strong>folic acid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At <strong>Mascot Healthcare<\/strong>, we regularly see women preparing for pregnancy who are unaware of how vital this nutrient is to their health and their baby\u2019s development. Here\u2019s why starting folic acid early is one of the best decisions you can make for your future pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Folic Acid?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Folic acid is the synthetic form of <strong>folate (vitamin B9)<\/strong> \u2014 a nutrient that helps your body form healthy new cells. It plays a major role in DNA production and red blood cell formation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you take folic acid before and during early pregnancy, it supports the growth of your baby\u2019s <strong>brain, spinal cord, and overall nervous system<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Folic Acid Is So Important Before Pregnancy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most powerful benefits of folic acid is its ability to <strong>prevent neural tube defects (NTDs)<\/strong>, a serious birth defects affecting the baby\u2019s brain and spine, such as <strong>spina bifida<\/strong> and <strong>anencephaly<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These defects develop in the <strong>first 28 days after conception<\/strong>, often before many women even realize they\u2019re pregnant. That\u2019s why we recommend starting folic acid <strong>before conception<\/strong>; not after pregnancy begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Folic Acid Do You Need?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most women trying to conceive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Take <strong>4mg)<\/strong> of folic acid daily.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Start <strong>at least one month before conception<\/strong> and continue through the <strong>first trimester<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have diabetes, obesity, epilepsy, or a family history of birth defects, your doctor may recommend a higher dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Natural Sources of Folate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While supplements are the best way to ensure the right dose, you can also boost your folate intake through foods like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Leafy greens (ugu, spinach)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Beans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avocado<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Orange<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, cooking and processing can destroy some folate, so supplements remain essential when planning pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preconception Care in Lagos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At <strong>Mascot Healthcare<\/strong>, we offer <strong>preconception and women\u2019s health consultations<\/strong> for those planning pregnancy. Our medical team can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recommend the right folic acid dose for you<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check your overall reproductive health<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guide you through lifestyle and nutrition choices for a healthy start<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udccd <strong>Visit us:<\/strong> 52 Sholanke Street, Akoka, Lagos<br>\ud83d\udcf2 <strong>Book an appointment:<\/strong> Chat with us on WhatsApp<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udca1 Takeaway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting folic acid early is one of the <strong>simplest and most effective steps<\/strong> you can take for a healthy pregnancy and baby.<br>If you live in <strong>Akoka, Yaba, Bariga, Shomolu, or anywhere in Lagos<\/strong>, Mascot Healthcare is here to support you every step of the way \u2014 from <strong>pre-pregnancy to antenatal checkup<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Planning a Pregnancy? Start Here in Lagos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Preparing for pregnancy? Mascot Healthcare Clinic in Akoka (Yaba), Lagos offers preconception checks, folic acid guidance, and fertility support to give your baby the best start. Walk-ins welcome, Mon&ndash;Sat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/female.php\">Book a Preconception Visit<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Medically reviewed by <strong>Dr. Ibiloye Iretioluwa (MB.ChB, Ife)<\/strong> &mdash; Mascot Healthcare Clinic, Akoka, Lagos.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re a woman in Lagos planning to get pregnant soon, there\u2019s one simple supplement your body shouldn\u2019t go without \u2014 folic acid. At Mascot Healthcare, we regularly see women preparing for pregnancy who are unaware of how vital this nutrient is to their health and their baby\u2019s development. Here\u2019s why starting folic acid early [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1251,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[348,472,81],"class_list":["post-1748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-womens-health","tag-antenatal","tag-folic-acid","tag-pregnancy"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-16-2025-04_55_51-PM-150x150.png","medium":"https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-16-2025-04_55_51-PM-200x300.png","medium_large":"https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-16-2025-04_55_51-PM-768x1152.png","large":"https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-16-2025-04_55_51-PM-683x1024.png","1536x1536":"https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-16-2025-04_55_51-PM.png","2048x2048":"https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-16-2025-04_55_51-PM.png"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"mascothealthcare","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6245491479ada5c011d746103e188e52935679f353558c771f24bdf2eb1c016?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":false,"magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"If you\u2019re a woman in Lagos planning to get pregnant soon, there\u2019s one simple supplement your body shouldn\u2019t go without \u2014 folic acid. At Mascot Healthcare, we regularly see women preparing for pregnancy who are unaware of how vital this nutrient is to their health and their baby\u2019s development. Here\u2019s why starting folic acid early [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["Women's Health"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":750,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-16-2025-04_55_51-PM.png",1024,1536,false],"medium":["https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-16-2025-04_55_51-PM-200x300.png",200,300,true],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-16-2025-04_55_51-PM-150x150.png",150,150,true]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"mascothealthcare","author_link":"https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/author\/mascothealthcare\/"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6245491479ada5c011d746103e188e52935679f353558c771f24bdf2eb1c016?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/mascothealthcare.com\/blog\/category\/womens-health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Women's Health<\/a>","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Folic Acid for Women Trying to Conceive | Lagos<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Folic acid before conception protects against neural tube defects. 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