My Doctor Told Me to Start Folic Acid Tablets Before I Even Got Pregnant
My husband and I decided we want to try for a baby next year. I went for a pre pregnancy checkup. The doctor asked if I was taking folic acid tablets. I said no. She explained that folic acid is crucial in the first weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant. It helps prevent neural tube defects in the baby’s brain and spine. She told me to start taking folic acid tablets immediately. That is when I started researching folic acid tablet price in Pakistan.
What Is Folic Acid and Why Is It Important
Folic acid is a B vitamin. It helps the body make new cells. During early pregnancy, the baby’s neural tube closes within the first 28 days. That is often before a woman misses her period. If the neural tube does not close properly, the baby can have serious birth defects like spina bifida. Taking folic acid tablets before and during early pregnancy reduces this risk by up to seventy percent.
The doctor said I should take four hundred to eight hundred micrograms of folic acid every day, starting at least one month before trying to conceive and continuing through the first trimester.
The Folic Acid Tablet Price in Pakistan
When I went to a pharmacy, I was surprised. Folic acid tablets are very affordable. The folic acid tablet price in Pakistan for a one month supply of a standard brand is between one hundred fifty and three hundred rupees. That is less than the price of a pizza. Some imported brands cost more, up to five hundred rupees per month, but the basic local brands work just fine.
I bought a local brand that cost two hundred ten rupees for thirty tablets. Each tablet had four hundred micrograms of folic acid, which is exactly what the doctor recommended.
What I Tell My Friends
Many of my friends are also planning families. I tell them all the same thing. Do not wait until you see a positive pregnancy test to start folic acid tablets. By then, the most critical window may have passed. Start taking them now. The folic acid tablet price in Pakistan is so low that there is no excuse not to take them.
Also, read the label. Some multivitamins contain folic acid, but often not enough. A dedicated folic acid tablet is better. And do not take more than the recommended dose unless a doctor tells you to.
I have been taking my folic acid tablets every morning for three months now. It has become a habit. I feel good knowing I am doing something to protect my future baby. If you are thinking about pregnancy, please talk to your doctor about folic acid tablets. It is a small step that makes a huge difference.
Also, read the label. Some multivitamins contain folic acid, but often not enough. A dedicated folic acid tablet is better. And do not take more than the recommended dose unless a doctor tells you to.
