If you are planning to become pregnant you should take folic acid supplements – even if you are healthy and have a good diet. Once pregnant, continue to take the supplements for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you take folic acid supplements it reduces the risk of having a baby born with a defect of their spinal cord, such as spina bifida.
Source: Patient.co.uk
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- Why do I need folic acid? @ NHS Choices
Excerpt: The Department of Health recommends that women should take a daily supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid while they are trying to conceive, and should continue taking this dose for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the baby’s spine is developing. You can get folic acid tablets from pharmacies, large supermarkets, health food stores or on prescription from your GP. One daily tablet contains exactly the amount of folic acid that you need.
- Vitamins & minerals health centre: Folic acid (folate) @ WebMD
Excerpt: Folic acid supplements are recommended for pregnant women and women who plan to become pregnant. Folic acid can lower the risk of pre-eclampsia and early labour. It can also reduce the risk of some birth defects, such as neural tube defects, by 50% to 70%, and for this reason the Department of Health recommends that any woman who may be or may become pregnant should take a daily supplement of 400mcg (0.4mg) of folic acid whilst trying to conceive and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
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