The role of folic acid is to help prevent birth defects of the baby’s brain and spinal cord. Folic acid is a B vitamin that is used to help with the production of red blood cells and also helps iron work, as it should in the blood. It is especially important when cells and tissues are growing rapidly, such as in infancy. This helps the baby’s neural tube develop into the brain and spinal cord.
It is better if the B vitamin folic acid is taken before pregnancy so that it is already in the mothers body which helps in the early stages such as the first 3 to 4 weeks of the babies growth as this can cut the chances of neural tube disorders. This is because the baby’s brain and neural cord are developing quickly during this time.
It is quite common for women to have low levels of folic acid, which is why it is important for them to take it before and during pregnancy to prevent any neural tube disorders.
Infections and genetic disorders on the foetus can be caused by smoking, alcohol and substance abuse.
Smoking can cause babies to be born prematurely, babies born too small and babies who may die before being born. The reason for this is that cigarette smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals. The toxins get into your bloodstream when you smoke which is your baby’s only source of oxygen and nutrients. If the baby then does not receive enough oxygen it will affect the baby’s growth and development.
If the baby has not grown enough it may have undeveloped bodies which could mean that their lungs could not be capable of working on their own, children whose mothers that smoked during pregnancy are vulnerable to asthma, they can also have the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Smoking during pregnancy can have long life effects on the baby’s brain. Children are more likely to have learning disorders or behavioral problems and low IQs from pregnant smokers.