Folic Acid

Folic acid is a B vitamin also known as folate. To reduce the risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, you should take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before pregnancy and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Neural tube defects occur when the spinal cord coverings don’t close completely during prenatal development. If you have a child with one of these defects, take certain medications, such as antiseizure medication, or have certain health conditions, such as sickle cell disease, you need to take 10 times this amount — 4 milligrams daily — as a separate vitamin supplement. Your health care provider will base this decision on your health history.

Although folic acid is found in many foods and is added as a supplement to breads, cereals and pastas, it is difficult to get the recommended amount from diet alone. For this reason, all women of childbearing age should take a daily vitamin supplement with folic acid. Taking folic acid before pregnancy ensures that you get the recommended amount even if an unplanned pregnancy occurs. Prenatal vitamin supplements usually contain 600 to 800 micrograms of folic acid, so if you are taking a prenatal vitamin before pregnancy, you don’t need to take an extra vitamin supplement.