Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Folic Acid. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. Information For… Media Policy Makers. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Research shows that taking folic acid before you get pregnant may help prevent birth defects including serious neural tube defects such as spina bifida , encephalocele rarely , and anencephaly.
Approximately 3, babies are born with neural tube defects in the United States each year. Normally, the neural tube develops into the spinal cord and brain by 28 days after conception. Babies born with anencephaly cannot survive. Babies born with spina bifida or encephalocele may face multiple surgeries, paralysis, and long-term disability.
According to a review of studies , maternal folic acid supplementation significantly decreases the risk of congenital heart defects. These defects occur in 8 out of every 1, births in the United States. They may impact the interior walls of the heart, the heart valves, or the arteries and veins of the heart. Research also shows folic acid supplementation in early pregnancy may help prevent cleft lip and cleft palate.
These birth defects occur if parts of the mouth and lip do not merge together properly during the first 6 to 10 weeks of pregnancy. One or more surgeries are usually needed to correct the condition. All pregnant women should take get at least micrograms mcg of folic acid daily, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Most prenatal vitamins contain this amount of folic acid. To make sure you have enough folic acid in your body to prevent neural tube defects, the CDC recommends women who plan to become pregnant or who are of childbearing age take mcg of folic acid daily.
If you do not have enough iron, you'll probably get very tired and may suffer from anaemia. If you'd like to eat peanuts or foods that contain peanuts such as peanut butter during pregnancy, you can do so as part of a healthy, balanced diet unless you're allergic to them or your health professional advises you not to.
Many breakfast cereals have iron added to them. If the iron level in your blood becomes low, a GP or midwife will advise you to take iron supplements. It's found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, and a balanced diet can provide all the vitamin C you need.
A varied and balanced vegetarian diet should provide enough nutrients for you and your baby during pregnancy. Talk to a midwife or doctor about how to make sure you're getting enough of these important nutrients. If you're vegan or you follow a restricted diet because of a food intolerance for example, a gluten-free diet for coeliac disease or for religious reasons, talk to a midwife or GP.
Ask to be referred to a dietitian for advice on how to make sure you're getting all the nutrients you need for you and your baby. Find out more about healthy eating if you're pregnant and vegetarian or vegan. You may be eligible for the Healthy Start scheme , which provides vouchers to buy milk and plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables at local shops. You can also get coupons that can be exchanged for free vitamins. If you're not eligible for the Healthy Start scheme, some NHS organisations still offer the vitamins for free, or sell them.
Ask a midwife about what's available in your area. Find out more about the Healthy Start scheme or call to get an application form. Food and Drug Administration FDA requires food-makers to add folic acid to their enriched grain products. Check the product's label for this information. But for most women, eating fortified foods isn't enough. To reach the recommended daily level, you'll probably need a vitamin supplement.
During pregnancy, you need more of all of the essential nutrients than you did before you became pregnant. Prenatal vitamins shouldn't replace a well-balanced diet. But taking them can give your body — and your baby — an added boost of vitamins and minerals. Some health care providers recommend taking a folic acid supplement in addition to a prenatal vitamin.
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