Is folic acide needed here for pregnant woman?

[tunkkari]

A healthy balanced diet would be the ideal thing but this isnt an ideal world unfortunately and therefore there may be many out there that for one reason or another cant or dont have a balanced diet , then these suppliments can play an important role. They recommend you take folic acid whilst trying to get pregnant and for the first 3 months of pregnancy,i think most people just start taking them when they realise they are pregnant for whatever reason, I also think that most women despite looking at their diet at this point would still rather be cautious and take supplements rather than the risk of anything happening to their baby, it doesnt hurt to take them and they are cheap, if it makes women feel more secure about helping thier babies developement then its not a bad thing and up to the individuals choice and beliefs.

[Idefix]

A healthy balanced diet would be the ideal thing but this isnt an ideal world unfortunately and therefore there may be many out there that for one reason or another cant or dont have a balanced diet

Also, some might sincerely think they eat a balanced diet, when in fact they really don't.

[AldenG]

Malabsorption is also a problem for many. Just because you consume an adequacy of some nutrient doesn't mean you properly digest and absorb an adequate amount. The obvious and classic case is celiac disease, which affects less than 1% of the population, but you don't have to have celiac disease to have poor nutrient absorption. The older you get, the less well you absorb some nutrients. Also if you are overweight or eat junk food, some experts think your absorption is likely to be compromised. The overweight case sounds illogical, but an ability to absorb calories is not the same thing as an ability to absorb all the minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and other types of nutrients you need. In some cases, the urge to overeat can be a response to malnutrition. Those who eat junk food (raises hand) are more likely to have unhealthy intestinal flora which may compete for the nutrients in question or may simply create conditions that make it harder for your gut to absorb all that it should.

[abraxasss]

Now I have been thinking about this issue for some time as in my country when you take a first visit to ginekologist you are basically informed that it is better if you start taking pre-natal vitamins right-away. This is due to the thing mentioned in here - the unwanted pregnancy possibility.
After a while I was informed that 6 months prior to pregnancy I should for sure supplement the diet.
I took it seriously as close member in my family was born with SB. I had time to watch couple of documentaries and get to know what is the cause of this disfunction. Everywhere the FA is advised.
Even two weeks ago when I visited my country there was a promotional action from ministry of health about the importance of pre-natal precaution steps - of which the most important is FA.

And then I came here and suddenly there was no mentioning about it and even the similar voices as in here, saying in Finland it is not necessary. I don't think that they should say so in neuvola and such places but rather discuss the eating habits with mothers to be and mothers. (Apparently there is no mandatory ginecologist visits so actually where would oen get to know about such problem?)
Frankly I came from a completely different country and started living in Finland. That however doesn't mean my food habits have changed dramatically. I eat what I ate at home, I very often make food shoppings in stores that have my nationality spread all over, etc. I am quite sure lots of foreigners do that too.
Example - I have never in my life eaten cereals before- first there was no such thing on the market, then I kind of wasn't really used to them. I don't care my boyfriend and his parents eat pourage every day because they ate it always. I didn't and I don't. The thing is, folic acid is not coming from the air - but from the diet and the easiest way to establish what kind of daily intake you have is to read labels and such. The consumer has a right to get interested and read and take a calculator and count. It turned out that from my daily diet I would miss approximately 50%. I started enriching my diet but still bought a supplement that supplies me with 50%.
But so that the consumer would know a discussion at the ginecologist, neuvola or sexual education classes should be established. To bring the topic up is very important - rest is actually up to you what you decide. Pushing the problem away just because we are in Finland isn't really going to work if we are not Finnish women.

[Tiwaz]

The thing is, folic acid is not coming from the air - but from the diet and the easiest way to establish what kind of daily intake you have is to read labels and such. The consumer has a right to get interested and read and take a calculator and count. It turned out that from my daily diet I would miss approximately 50%. I started enriching my diet but still bought a supplement that supplies me with 50%.

Correct. If you pay attention to your diet it is possible to get all required minerals, vitamins etc from your food unless you have some condition preventing eating some things.

Have you reconsidered porridge? It is actually quite good if not made into something resembling plaster.

But so that the consumer would know a discussion at the ginecologist, neuvola or sexual education classes should be established. To bring the topic up is very important - rest is actually up to you what you decide. Pushing the problem away just because we are in Finland isn't really going to work if we are not Finnish women.

What you forget is that you are presenting an issue which is irrelevant in Finland to huge majority. Either through genetics or traditional eating habits.

Would I for example in your country receive from doctor special attention based on my cultural and genetic background?
To prevent things like cardiovascular diseases or diabetes which are big thing in Finland, but quite possibly irrelevant in your home.
And which I have, due to dietary habits (not so much anymore though but in the past) and genetic condition, higher chance to get.

No? Well, there we have it.

It is unrealistic to expect medical professionals of country X to have information and knowledge on what particular issues might be pressing in country Y. Or country Z. Or rest of alphabets. They have enough in their hands trying to tackle all the common problems of country X.

People have to take more responsibility for themselves and their own health.
And I mean that in the sweaty, toiling and difficult way of exercise and dietary changes.
Not trusting magic pills or miracle solutions to get rid of extra fat.

Because actual lifestyle changes are ones, when successful, you are most likely to carry with you through your life and which have biggest impact on your overall health.

[Idefix]

Pushing the problem away just because we are in Finland isn't really going to work if we are not Finnish women.

Finland has historically been a very homogen people, but the more diverse the country becomes, the more these differences will be addressed. But it might not be there yet. As previous poster pointed out, until it does, it is your own responsibility to realize important factors due to these differences. It would not make sense for doctors and others to address every little different aspect, although some are very important, since it would become overwhelming. Also, for instance, no-one really addresses the issue of obesity, unless a pretty decent size of the population is becoming obese either. There might just be a general healthy diet guideline, just as there is a general diet guideline in place for pregnant/pre-pregnant women.