Folic Acid
Did you know?
Your baby's brain, skull and spine form during the first few weeks of pregnancy, before you even know you are expecting! For the brain and spinal cord to form properly, you must have enough of a B vitamin called Folic Acid.
If you don't have enough Folic Acid in your diet, it can result in serious birth defects of the baby's brain, skull and spine called neural tube defects (NTDs). The most common NTD is a serious birth defect called spina bifida, which is a failure of the spine to close properly.
Good or excellent sources of Folic Acid include dark green vegetables (broccoli, spinach, peas and brussels sprouts), corn, dried peas, beans, lentils, oranges and orange juice. You can also get Folic Acid from enriched breads and pasta and fortified breakfast cereals.
Women who are or could become pregnant need 0.4 mg of Folic Acid daily. But it's hard to get enough every day through food alone. You and your baby need a Folic Acid supplement too. All women who could become pregnant should take a multivitamin containing 0.4 mg of Folic Acid every day. To help reduce the risk of NTDs, you should start taking a supplement at least three months before getting pregnant and continue throughout the first three months of your pregnancy.
Planning on getting pregnant? Be prepared!
If you have had a previous NTD-affected pregnancy, or have a family history of this problem, talk to your doctor. You may need a higher dosage of Folic Acid to ensure the best health for you and your baby. If you have diabetes, are obese or have epilepsy, you may be at higher risk of having a baby with NTD, and you should see your doctor before planning your pregnancy.
For more information:
Search results for folic acid on the Canadian
Health Network  - A consumer health information service brought
to you by the Public Health Agency of Canada and major health
organizations across Canada.
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