Folic acid factfile

Folic acid factfile

Before women even know they’re pregnant, the baby’s brain, heart and spine have already begun to form.

The spine develops from a part of the embryo called the ‘neural tube.’ If it does not form properly, babies are born with ‘neural tube defects’ such as spina bifida (‘split spine’). Children with spina bifida may be unable to walk or take care of themselves.

Folic acid, one of the B vitamins, will help your baby’s spine to develop properly. It’s important to:

1. Eat more food containing folic acid.   Follow our tips below to keep your levels topped up.
2. Eat foods with added folic acid such as breakfast cereals.
3. Take a daily folic acid supplement designed for pregnant women.

How much do I need to take?

Take a daily tablet containing 400 micrograms (sometimes shown as 400 mcg or 0.4 mg) from the time you start trying for a baby and for the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy. This will make sure you have enough when your baby is developing most rapidly – even before you realise you’re pregnant.

Where can I get it?

You can get folic acid from chemists, health food shops and some supermarkets. If you get free prescriptions, ask your doctor for it. If you have had a previous pregnancy affected by spina bifida, or are taking medication for epilepsy, talk to your doctor as your needs may be different.

To top up your folic acid levels, eat these:

  • Brussel sprouts, spinach, asparagus, spring greens, broccoli, curly kale or beetroot; don't overcook as it destroys the folic acid.
  • Blackberries, raspberries and satsumas.
  • Black-eyed beans, brown rice.
  • Yeast and meat extract spread.Peanuts, hazelnuts, cashews, walnuts and sesame seeds. 
  • Bread and breakfast cereals often have added folic acid too; check the label.

Comments

Submitted by mumy1505 on Tue, 03/04/2012 - 13:49.
As far as I know youre only meant to have one supplement of folic acid a day..if in tablet form then to take one table and if one is missed then not to take two the following day. They do say eat plenty of veg to keep vitamins going though but folic acid is vitamin B and to contain more vitamin B its best to eat things like bread and cereal and spinach etc rather than have more than one supplement of folic acid.
Submitted by Dannydel on Mon, 02/04/2012 - 15:15.
I have been taking 3 tablets of the Folic acid PLUS at once with my breafast, is this harmful to the baby? It states you can take 3 times a day or all at once with a meal. Many thanks
Submitted by lyndsey040388 on Wed, 22/02/2012 - 14:36.
i have changed to taking my folic acid tablets before bed as taking them in the morning is making my morning sickness worse...i have felt a huge difference in doing this as i did not want to miss out on taking the tablet x
Submitted by Smith1992 on Wed, 25/01/2012 - 14:55.
i have been given some tablets called pregaday from my doctor these are suposed to be my folic acid tablets im 6weeks pregnant but it says on the leaflet of these not to take until after 13 weeks pregnants, im so confused because your suposed to aparently take your folic acid as soon as possible!! Help!!
Submitted by mandyb999 on Mon, 23/01/2012 - 10:11.
NICE guidelines recommend anyone with BMI over 30 should be taking 5mg of folic acid - over 12x the amount stated above and found in pregnancy supplements. This has to be prescribed, as this strength is not available to buy. (ps I am a student midwife & came across this while studying obesity in pregnancy)
Submitted by Mummyzoe24 on Fri, 20/01/2012 - 23:54.
Ive been taking folic acid since the summer and i believe it helped increase my fertility , i was on depo injection for 3 yrs and was expecting it to take years to fall pregnant , but after just 8 months after stopping it i got pregnant , i think im around 6 wks very excited xxx
Submitted by louiseear on Tue, 08/11/2011 - 22:28.
i started taking folic acid tablets at 10weeks is that ok?
Submitted by anidiva on Thu, 25/08/2011 - 23:29.
very helpful, i am enjoying the tips.
Submitted by alwaysgoodenough on Tue, 12/07/2011 - 10:05.
Other Neural tube defects can be hydrocephalus(water on the brain) and anencephaly which is a cephalic disorder that results when the cephalic (head) end of the neural tube fails to close, usually between the 23rd and 26th day of pregnancy, resulting in the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp. Information on anencepahly can be found at www.anencephaly.co.uk this website is dedicated to my daughter Brooke who died from having anencephaly.
Submitted by rsmidmore03892 on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 16:53.
I didn't find out I was pregnant until 12 weeks and I had a bad diet. When my son was born he had a lump on his spine and we later found out that he had a milder form of Spina Bifida. He now has bladder and bowel problems but he walks well. I am now taking a high dose of Folic acid in preparation for trying for baby number 2. Folic acid is very important and shouldn't be ignored.
Submitted by m0nika88 on Wed, 20/04/2011 - 10:35.
it dosen't matter wen you start taking the flolic acid but the sooner the better. it's never too late.i'm seven weeks and just sarted taking.
Submitted by ain3mini on Sat, 08/01/2011 - 15:47.
i didnt find out was expecting till i was 11weeks (im very irregular) so i wasnt taken any folic acid until then...we found out then at our 20wk scan that our wee beautiful princess had very bad spina bifida...:( ...alhough i knw many women who havent taken any folic acid at all and had healthy preg we turn out to be that 1/1000 that our child did have SB...im currently taken the higer dose folic acid..spina bifida occurs in the usually around 2weeks after conception...so therefore recommended at least 3months before...but for women who havent babies are usually fine and beautiful...enjoy preg
Submitted by bijal1 on Sat, 08/01/2011 - 12:50.
hia, i'm 8 week pregnat and i havnt start taking any folic acid ye. i m quite worried now
Submitted by messymoo31 on Thu, 06/01/2011 - 09:02.
Hi everyone! I'm 13 weeks pregnant and have been taking folic acid every day. do you need to continue taking it after 12 weeks or does it not make any difference after then? x
Submitted by minikerry on Wed, 05/01/2011 - 09:58.
If you know your pregnant you should start taking them if you go to your GP they normally prescribe them although they dont completely eliminate the risks, they do reduce them by alot. Dont panic yourself too much, people have gone on to have healthy babies without taking them
Submitted by kaycrisell on Thu, 23/12/2010 - 13:19.
i am 4 weeks pregnant do i start taking follic acid now?
Submitted by ellsum09 on Tue, 23/11/2010 - 12:02.
Im 9 weeks pregnant and hasnt started taking folic acid as ive had to get my head around being pregnant and never really thought of them, i feel really bad for not been taking them is it to late to start now????
Submitted by gemini79 on Mon, 22/11/2010 - 15:43.
Just started taking FOLIC ACID at 6 weeks pregnant is this ok?? or am i just worrying over nothing...???
Submitted by gemini79 on Mon, 22/11/2010 - 15:41.
Im 6 weeks pregnant and just started taking folic acid,am worried i could be late taking them or is it just me being paranoid...
Submitted by princess0 on Sun, 14/11/2010 - 11:34.
Marmite has folic acid in it so you either love it or hate it :)
Submitted by bethybump on Wed, 27/10/2010 - 19:14.
If your diabetic then you need stronger dose of folic acid (as higher risk) which is only availible on perscription. don't let them tell you you don't need it like they did me the first time.
Submitted by missymum83 on Tue, 28/09/2010 - 21:40.
You can eat nuts just not by the kg!! They are very good for a developing baby in small amounts.
Submitted by mazzymaz on Tue, 07/09/2010 - 14:02.
don't eat nuts?! Sorry, my auntie didn't eat nuts during her pregnancy, and my cousin is severly allergic to nuts anyway! Surely eating a food, and letting it go through the baby's system is going to make it less likely to be allergic to a food group, not avoiding it like the plague!
Submitted by emmavad on Wed, 19/05/2010 - 10:45.
does anyone else struggle to keep folic acid tablets down? i had to stop taking mine because every time i did i threw up until my stomach was empty. i'm trying to eat the right types of foods but that isnt working either because i feel so sick. does anyone have any tips? Emz
Submitted by KittyKisses on Wed, 07/04/2010 - 21:06.
If You Have Tablets Left After 12Weeks Do You Still Carry On Taking Them Or Do You Stop?? x
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 12/04/2010 - 20:21.
just over 1 1/2 cm
Submitted by ladykaye on Tue, 06/04/2010 - 19:14.
how big is the baby at 8 weks
Submitted by rajgogi on Tue, 30/03/2010 - 09:57.
is peanuts safe to eat in pregnacy?
Submitted by AntisociaL on Fri, 20/08/2010 - 13:40.
dont eat nuts .. can cause the child to have a reaction to nuts when he/she is born x
Submitted by foxytazowelch on Tue, 23/03/2010 - 19:01.
brought a load of fruit in, i mean a lot as i am getting a taste for them and nothing i brought is on this list lol typical!
Submitted by lchapman84 on Tue, 20/04/2010 - 18:25.
i've just brought davinas dvd pre and post pregnancy although shes maybe 6/7+ in this dvd i think its a good start, im also gona start body balance and yoga but have been advised not too start this till 2nd trimester.. so i asume too much exercise is not advised, swimming is fantastic tho. hope this helps
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 19/03/2010 - 20:06.
which exercise is suitable for 7 weeks pregnancy
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 19/03/2010 - 19:58.
which exercise i can do in my 7weeks of pregnancy