The Healthy Baby Resource
Nutrition and Vitamins
Folic Acid
Folic acid is a B vitamin occurring naturally in foods like dark leafy greens, beans and peas. It can also be found in most multivitamins and in many of the fortified foods like cereal and bread. Scientists have reported a 50-75% decrease in the occurrence of a serious category of birth defects called Neural tube defects (NTDs) when the mother received the recommended dose of folic acid during her pregnancy. NTDs include spina bifida, anencephaly and encephalocele. It is important to get enough folic acid as early as possible in the pregnancy since NTDs occur very early in the first trimester when the brain and spine are developing. To learn more see below:
