| What is folic acid and why is folic acid required for | | | | baby’s spinal cord is malformed. This is called Spina |
| pre-pregnancy days? Folic Acid is a B vitamin that the | | | | Bifida. |
| body uses to make new cells. This is always in short | | | | The Right Dosage |
| supply in the body; the body does not store much of it. | | | | Usually, doctors recommend 400 micrograms a day |
| But you need it to stay healthy. Pregnant women need | | | | for pre-pregnancy care. It could be 500 micrograms |
| this vitamin even more than others. Diet and nutrition | | | | for those women, who have a higher risk of having a |
| planning are necessary during pregnancy period. Foods | | | | baby with a spinal cord defect. A higher risk could be |
| that contain folic acid or are fortified with it are green | | | | because of a previous birth of a baby with a spinal |
| leafy vegetables, such as peas, French beans, | | | | cord defect. It could also be because, you are taking |
| legumes, broccoli and spinach. Citrus fruits, peanuts, | | | | medicine for epilepsy, you have sickle cell anemia, |
| whole grains, white flour, nuts, bananas, grapefruit and | | | | diabetes or thalasemia or your partner or a close |
| some fortified cereals also contain folic acid. It’s | | | | relative has a spinal cord defect. That’s when your |
| very important that during pregnancy planning folic acid | | | | baby has more chances of developing NTD or neural |
| supplements are taken. As soon as you begin planning | | | | tube defects. Its supplements during conception |
| your pregnancy, start taking its tablets, if you have an | | | | planning and once you conceive can bring down the |
| unplanned pregnancy, take them as soon as you | | | | chances of having a defective baby by 70%. It is |
| realize you are pregnant. Folic acid tablets should be | | | | important to note here that, folic acid is not a drug, but |
| continued till the 12th week of your pregnancy. | | | | only a natural supplement that the body requires and is |
| Why Take Folic Acid? | | | | usually short off. There are no side effects involved. |
| This is because; the unborn baby’s spinal cord, brain | | | | So don’t forget to take folic acid for pre-pregnancy |
| and skull require folic acid for them to form properly. | | | | days, to ensure that you have a safe and healthy nine |
| When folic acid is not enough in the system, the | | | | months. |