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Folic Acid Reduces Birth Defects
The March of Dimes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many other health organizations urge all women of childbearing age to take folic acid every day. A woman needs to take folic acid every day before and during pregnancy.
It is easy to get the recommended amount by taking a multi-vitamin and eating a healthy diet rich in folic acid like:
Did You Know All women capable of becoming pregnant are at risk of having a child born with spina bifida? Half of all U.S. pregnancies are unplanned? Every year in the United States, 2,500 babies are born with "neural tube defects" (NTDs) — birth defects of the brain and spine. The most common type of NTD is spina bifida. Spina bifida occurs when the spinal cord fails to close properly in the developing baby at about 28 days after conception and is the leading form of childhood paralysis. Anencephaly (when the brain is underdeveloped) is a lethal form of NTD.
Did You Know
All women capable of becoming pregnant are at risk of having a child born with spina bifida?
Half of all U.S. pregnancies are unplanned?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates if all women of child-bearing age took 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, in addition to eating a healthy diet, 50 to 70 percent of neural tube defects (NTDs) could be prevented in the United States. Women who have diabetes, epilepsy, or a family history of NTDs should talk with their doctors about additional recommendations concerning folic acid.
Even if you are not planning a pregnancy, folic acid is good for your health! Some studies suggest that it may help fight heart disease and certain forms of cancer.
March of Dimes Checklist for a Healthier Pregnancy
Preparing for pregnancy can increase your chances of having a healthy baby. See your doctor before you get pregnant. You may wish to discuss:
For more information, visit the March of Dimes or contact the March of Dimes Resource Center.
Printed materials are available for health care professionals and organizations to provide to their employees and clients by contacting the National March of Dimes or the Idaho State March of Dimes. Contact Lynn Kammermeyer by e-mail or call 1-800-336-5421.
Article by K. Lynn Kammermeyer, Ph.D., Director of Program Services, Idaho State March of Dimes
(Note: You'll find these articles at different web sites. Use the "back" button when you're done to return to this page.)
The March of Dimes — Mission, goals, research for which it provides funding, advocacy activities, and educational materials and resources (English and Spanish). The March of Dimes Resource Center contains numerous articles on pregnancy, pre-pregnancy and genetics, and birth defects. Access this information online at March of Dimes Resource Center; call toll-free 1-888-MODIMES (1-888-663-4637) (English and Spanish spoken), TTY: 914-997-4764; fax: 914-997-4763; e-mail Resourcecenter@modimes.org.
Genetic Services in Idaho — Describes who could benefit from a genetic evaluation or from genetic counseling. It also explains what to expect during a genetic evaluation and provides links to resources for information on specific genetic conditions and genetic specialists in Idaho and around the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a variety of information on Birth Defects. Additional information about this can be obtained by calling 770-448-7190; e-mail: Flo@cdc.gov. They also have an article entitled Why Folic Acid is Important.
Spina Bifida Association of America — Promotes prevention of spina bifida.
The Pacific Northwest Regional Genetics Group (PacNoRGG) — Genetic information for individuals and health care providers to use with families. Most resource materials are available in English, Spanish, and selected other languages.
Additional Resources
Everyone wants to have a healthy baby.
Although, it may only take nine months to have a baby, it takes 12 months to have a healthy baby. What a woman does before she gets pregnant can make all the difference in the world!
Healthy behaviors in the three months prior to pregnancy can make the difference between a healthy baby and a baby born with a serious birth defect. Since more than half of all pregnancies in this country are unplanned, women who are capable of becoming pregnant should consider adopting healthy habits now.