The daily requirement for folic acid (folate) doubles in pregnancy, increasing to 800 mcg. This well-researched nutrient plays a critical role in preventing birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, called neural tube defects (NTDs). The neural tube is the embryonic structure that develops into the brain and spinal cord. It begins as a tiny ribbon of tissue and by the twenty-eighth day of your pregnancy, a spinal cord begins to form. When this process goes awry, NTDs result. Studies show that seventy percent of NTDs could be prevented with folic acid supplementation, which is why the March of Dimes and other health organizations recommend it.
Defects of the spinal cord originate in the first month of pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. This is why all women of childbearing age should consume at least 400 mcg daily. Folic acid plays other important roles including helping you to produce additional blood cells, aiding in the growth of the placenta and fetus, and producing new DNA as cells multiply.
Food sources of folic acid include fortified breakfast cereals, dry beans, leafy greens and orange juice. A daily multivitamin can also help ensure you get the folic acid you and your baby need.
Rainbow Light’s Prenatal One™, Prenatal Petite™ Mini-Tabs and Complete Prenatal System™ multivitamins each provide the recommended 800 mcg or more of folic acid per day, along with a comprehensive range of nutrients you and your baby need. Choose the one that’s right for you at RainbowLight.com.