Folate Supplementation prior to pregnancy helps to decrease your chances of Birth Defects

GOOD NEWS!
Folic Acid Supplementation can decrease the incidence of some Birth Defects

What is Folic Acid?

It is a B-vitamin that all women should take in their reproductive years (15-45 years old) if:

1. They are capable of becoming pregnant
   
2. Planning a pregnancy – or in the early months of pregnancy
   

Why should I take Folic Acid Supplement?

Folic acid can help to protect your unborn baby against birth defects of the spine and the brain – such as spina bifida or "open spine" or anencephaly. Together, these birth defects are known as Neural Tube Defects (NTDs).

What are Neural Tube Defects (NTDs)?
NTDs affect about 1 to 2 per 1000 births in the United States. They include:

1. spina bifida – a condition in which there is an opening in the spinal column on the back, through which a piece of the spinal cord protrudes – causing paralysis of lower body parts
   
2. anencephaly – a condition in which the top of the skull does not form and in which most of the brain is missing.
   

How much Folic Acid do I need?

Low Risk Women - those at low risk of having a baby with a NTD:

1. No prior history of child or fetus affected by NTD
   
2. No Family History of NTD
   

The U.S. Public Health Service urges these low risk women to consume 0.4 milligrams of folic acid every day. Women should not take more than 1 milligram of folic acid per day unless their doctor or other health care provider instructs them to do so.

High Risk Women – those at high risk of having a baby with NTD:

1. Prior baby with NTD
   
2. Either parent affected by NTD
   
3. Family history of NTD

It is recommended that these high risk women should seek Genetic Counseling and Pre-conception risk assessment.

Where do I get Folic Acid?
Folic acid is found mainly in green leafy vegetables, beans, asparagus, citric fruits and juices, whole grains and liver. However, it is difficult to get enough folic acid through diet alone. Most health care authorities recommend supplemental folic acid by taking a multivitamin supplement. Prenatal vitamins are usually a good source of folic acid.

When should I take Folic Acid Supplement?
Because you never know when you might become pregnant and may not know that you are pregnant for weeks, we recommend that all women of childbearing years (ages 15-45), who are capable of becoming pregnant, take a folic acid supplement of 0.4 milligrams each day. Your developing baby needs folic acid most during the 1 month prior to conception through the first 3 months of pregnancy.

The U.S. Public Health Service has recommended:

"All women of childbearing age in the United States who are capable of becoming pregnant should consume 0.4 mg of folic acid per day for the purpose of reducing their risk of having a pregnancy affected with spina bifida or other NTDs. Because the effects of high intakes (of folic acid) are not well known but include complicating the diagnosis of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, care should be taken to keep the total folate consumption at less than 1 mg per day, except under the supervision of a physician."