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CFSAN/Office of Food Safety, Defense, and Outreach
August 24, 2005
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Before You're Pregnant Methylmercury | Toxoplasma | Folic Acid  Folic Acid: A Healthy Start for Unborn BabiesYour baby's health not only depends on what you eat or don't eat during your pregnancy. It also depends on eating nutritiously before you become pregnant. If you're thinking about becoming pregnant, make sure you're getting enough folic acid in your diet. Folic acid is an essential nutrient that helps prevent common birth defects. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about folic acid. "What is folic acid?" It's a B vitamin that can help prevent neural tube defects in the fetus when taken before and during pregnancy. "What are neural tube defects?" Neural tube defects are common birth defects, which include:
Taking folic acid before you're pregnant is essential in reducing the risk of birth defects. It's important to absorb folic acid in your blood so that when you do become pregnant, your baby will have a healthy start. Since neural tube defects develop 18 to 30 days after conception - often before you even know you're pregnant - taking folic acid is important both before conception and throughout your pregnancy. "How can I get folic acid in my diet?" You can get adequate levels of folic acid by eating the following foods:
In addition, women can get this essential vitamin by taking dietary supplements containing folic acid. See your doctor or health-care provider for advice. Follow these precautions before you become pregnant to give your baby a healthy start! For more information about folic acid, see www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/wh-folic.html Note: See your doctor or health-care provider if you have questions about folic acid. For information about food safety, call the FDA's Food Information Line at: 1-888-SAFE-FOOD. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
