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- Knowledgebase: First Time Parenting 101
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- 4. Get Folic Acid BEFORE getting pregnant - Top
- From the March of Dimes
http://www.modimes.org/Programs2/FolicAcid/Palmcard.htm
Folic Acid
Good News for Women and Babies
What is folic acid?
It is a B vitamin that women should take every day if they might become pregnant.
Why should I take it?
Folic acid may help reduce the risk of having a baby with certain birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. It's most important to have enough folic acid in your system right before and early in pregnancy. So, if you start now to take it every day, you'll have the amount you need should you become pregnant. Remember, most pregnancies are unplanned.
How much folic acid do I need?
The recommended daily intake is 400 micrograms of folic acid every day. You should not take more than 1,000 micrograms unless your health care provider recommends it.
Where do I get folic acid?
The March of Dimes recommends that you eat a healthy diet, including foods rich in folic acid, and take a multivitamin every day. This is the only sure way to get all the folic acid and other vitamins and minerals you need. Foods that contain natural folic acid include orange juice, green leafy vegetables and beans. Fortified breakfast cereals, enriched grain products, and vitamins contain a synthetic form of folic acid. It is more easily absorbed by your body than the natural form.
What else can I do to ensure a healthy baby?
Think ahead. See your doctor or health care provider for a pre-pregnancy checkup. Adopt healthy behaviors before you become pregnant. For more information, contact the March of Dimes Resource Center toll-free, 888-MODIMES, or by e-mail, at resourcecenter@modimes.org. You can also visit our Home Page, http://www.modimes.org.
Other Information from the March of Dimes about Folic Acid:
Press Releases
Few Women Taking Folic Acid in Time to Prevent Serious Birth Defects, March of Dimes Survey Finds--12/8/98
New "Baby in Traffic" Ads on Folic Acid to Prevent Birth Defects Released by March of Dimes--12/8/98
$10 Million Campaign to Reduce Brain and Spine Disorders by Year 2001 Announced by March of Dimes--12/8/98
March of Dimes Heads National Task Force on Folic Acid Education--8/27/98
Chain Reaction--Youth volunteers of the March of Dimes advocate and educate their peers on the significance of thinking ahead for a healthy pregnancy.
Spina Bifida--Spina bifida is one of a group of birth defects called neural tube defects (NTDs) that affects the backbone and sometimes the spinal cord.
- Updated: July 3, 2001
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- Knowledgebase: First Time Parenting 101
James L Horwitz, MD
David C. Thomas, MD
Barbara Lindberg, PNP