Folic Acid Vitamin

Folic acid is a vitamin that is needed for the formation of blood cells and new tissue. During pregnancy, your need for folic acid is higher. Lack of folic acid has been linked with neural tube birth defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida. The risk of having a child with these birth defects is low and can be reduced by taking a folic acid tablet.

Spina bifida is a serious, lifelong condition that affects babies from birth, causing walking, bladder and bowel problems. Spinal bifida is the most common type of Neural Tube Defect (NTD). More than half of the babies born with NTDs are either stillborn of die shortly after birth. Women can reduce, though not entirely prevent the risk of NTDs by taking the vitamin folic acid as a daily tablet.

• Take a folic acid tablet (0.8 mg) daily for four weeks (one month) before you might become pregnant through to 12 weeks (three months) after actually becoming pregnant. If you find out you are pregnant and haven’t been taking a folic acid tablet, start taking tablets straight away and continue until the 12th week of your pregnancy. This recommended registered tablet can be purchased at pharmacies.
• A higher dose folic acid tablet is also available for women with a higher risk of NTD pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about which folic acid tablet is best for you.
• Choose foods naturally high in folate or fortified with folic acid, such as:-
  • Well-washed, fresh, raw or lightly cooked vegetables
  • Raw fruit, well-washed or peeled (citrus is especially high in folate)
  • Bread and cereals, especially wholegrain
  • Cooked dried beans and peas
  • Yeast extracts
  • Freshly cooked liver and kidney (no more than one serving a week)
  • Folic acid-fortified breakfast cereals, bread or fruit juice