| Ideally, preparing for pregnancy requires a woman to | | | | after these measures were put in place show that |
| make nutritional and lifestyle changes. Often, such | | | | the incidence of NTDs has decreased by 30 - 59%. |
| preparation is necessary to protect her health and | | | | If a woman is not planning to become pregnant, why |
| the health of her fetus throughout the pregnancy. | | | | does she need to get at least 400 micrograms of |
| Part of this preparation is making sure that she gets | | | | folic acid each day? The reason is simple: NTDs occur |
| enough folic acid before she becomes pregnant. | | | | as early in a pregnancy as 3 - 4 weeks after |
| Why? Well, scientists recently found that, if a woman | | | | conception, a period when most women do not |
| gets enough folic acid before and during pregnancy, | | | | know that they are pregnant. Furthermore, about |
| her baby is unlikely to be born with a form of birth | | | | half of all pregnancies in U.S. are not planned. So, if a |
| defect known as Neural Tube Defects (or NTDs). | | | | woman waits until she confirms her pregnancy |
| NTDs are birth defects of the brain and spine, and it | | | | before increasing her folic acid intake, it may be too |
| occurs in two forms namely spina bifida and | | | | late for her baby. |
| anencephaly. Spina bifida refers to a condition in | | | | A woman can get enough folic acid by eating foods |
| which a baby's spinal cord is partially exposed due to | | | | rich in folic acid. But, how can she be certain that she |
| incomplete closing of the spinal column. Anencephaly, | | | | is getting the right amount of folic acid each day? |
| on the other hand, is caused by incomplete closing of | | | | The simple answer is that she can't be sure of the |
| the skull, thus leaving part of the brain exposed. In | | | | amount of folic acid she is getting from food each |
| United States, 2,500 to 3,000 babies are born with | | | | day. Rather than taking a chance, the Center for |
| NTDs each year, and an estimated 1,500 pregnancies | | | | Disease Control (CDC) came up with a solution. The |
| are terminated because of these defects. | | | | CDC made a recommendation that women should |
| All infants with anencephaly die before or shortly | | | | take a supplement that provides 400 micrograms of |
| after birth, whereas most babies born with spina | | | | folic acid per serving per day, in addition to the |
| bifida grow to adulthood with varying degrees of | | | | amount they get from food. This way, women can |
| paralysis and disability. The annual medical and surgical | | | | be absolutely sure that they are getting at least the |
| costs for persons with spina bifida in the United | | | | minimum amount of folic acid they need each day. |
| States exceed $200 million. Even worse, caring for | | | | There is no harm in getting extra folic acid from food |
| these individuals for the rest of their lives often | | | | because dietary folic acid is nontoxic. |
| places families under enormous financial and emotional | | | | Before you buy folic acid supplement though, take a |
| stress. | | | | minute to read the "supplement facts" label on the |
| To help women protect their babies, the U. S. Public | | | | supplement bottle. First, locate folic acid on the label |
| Health Service (USPHS) published a recommendation | | | | and then read across. If it is the right one, you will |
| in 1992 requiring all women of childbearing age to | | | | see 400 mcg under "amount per serving" and 100% |
| consume 0.4 mg (or 400 micrograms) of folic acid | | | | under "%DV". |
| EVERYDAY, even when they are not planning to | | | | A woman's preparation for pregnancy should include |
| become pregnant. Additionally, in 1998, the Food and | | | | taking a folic acid supplement or multivitamins that |
| Drug Administration (FDA) implemented the | | | | provides 400 micrograms of folic acid per serving per |
| Fortification Program, which requires all enriched grain | | | | day. This intake level will help protect her fetus |
| products to be fortified with folic acid. The purpose | | | | against Neural tube defects (or NTDs). NTDs can be |
| of these measures is to prevent folic acid deficiency, | | | | fatal. A baby born with the nonfatal form will grow |
| and maximize the benefits of folic acid for all women. | | | | up with serious disabilities and unlikely to lead a normal |
| For example, the results of studies done before and | | | | life. |