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Folic acid and birth defect prevention
Prevention of birth defects with folic acid (folate)
Information
Taking folic acid before and during pregnancy can reduce the risk of certain birth defects. These include spina bifida, anencephaly, and some heart defects.
Experts recommend women who can become pregnant or who plan to become pregnant take at least 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day.
This is because many pregnancies are unplanned. Also, birth defects often occur in the early days before you may know you are pregnant.
If you become pregnant, you should take a multivitamin with 600 mcg of folic acid. Taking a multivitamin with folic acid helps ensure that you get all the nutrients you need during pregnancy.
Women who have had a baby with a neural tube defect may need a higher dose of folic acid. If you have had a baby with a neural tube defect, you should take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, even when you are not planning to become pregnant. If you plan to become pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about whether you should increase your folic acid intake to 4 milligrams (mg) each day during the month before you become pregnant until at least the 12th week of pregnancy.
References
Hark L, Catalano PM. Nutritional management during pregnancy. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, et al, eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 7.
Neural tube defects. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 44. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol . 2003;102:203-213. PMID: 12850637 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12850637 .
Preconceptional counseling. In: Cunningham FG, Leveno KL, Bloom SL, Hoffman B, Spong SL, Dashe J, eds. Williams Obstetrics . 24th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2014:chap 8.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Ann Intern Med . 2009;150:626-31. PMID: 19414842 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19414842 .
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First trimester of pregnancy - illustration
The first trimester of pregnancy is the first three months after conception. Signs of early pregnancy are missed menstrual periods, fatigue, breast enlargement, abdominal distention, and nausea. During this period of time all organ development takes place so the fetus is most susceptible to damage from toxins, drugs, and infections.
First trimester of pregnancy
illustration
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Folic acid - illustration
Studies show that an increase in the mother's dietary folic acid before conception and during the first month of pregnancy reduces the risk of having a child with a neural tube defect. The recommendation is that women of childbearing years take a daily folic acid supplement.
Folic acid
illustration
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Early weeks of pregnancy - illustration
The first trimester of a pregnancy is a time of incredible growth and development. A 7-week fetus will have begun to develop all essential organs.
Early weeks of pregnancy
illustration
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First trimester of pregnancy - illustration
The first trimester of pregnancy is the first three months after conception. Signs of early pregnancy are missed menstrual periods, fatigue, breast enlargement, abdominal distention, and nausea. During this period of time all organ development takes place so the fetus is most susceptible to damage from toxins, drugs, and infections.
First trimester of pregnancy
illustration
-
Folic acid - illustration
Studies show that an increase in the mother's dietary folic acid before conception and during the first month of pregnancy reduces the risk of having a child with a neural tube defect. The recommendation is that women of childbearing years take a daily folic acid supplement.
Folic acid
illustration
-
Early weeks of pregnancy - illustration
The first trimester of a pregnancy is a time of incredible growth and development. A 7-week fetus will have begun to develop all essential organs.
Early weeks of pregnancy
illustration
-
Vitamins
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Diabetes - type 2
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Review Date: 4/15/2015
Reviewed By: Irina Burd, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
