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Folic Acid, All Women, Every Day!

Folic
Acid

Folic
acid is a
B vitamin
that can be
found in some
enriched foods and
vitamin pills. If women
have enough of it in their
bodies before pregnancy, this
vitamin can prevent most birth
defects of the brain and spine
in their bodies. Getting
enough folic acid takes a
small effort. But it
makes a big
difference.

Eat Right . . .
Folic acid has been added to some foods such as
enriched breads, pastas, rice, and cereals. Check
the labels. Some cereals have 100 percent of
the folic acid you need. In addition, it is always
important to eat a well-balanced diet with
plenty of fruits and vegetables.

…and Take a Vitamin
An easy way to be sure you're getting enough
folic acid is to take a vitamin with folic acid
in it. Almost every multivitamin
has all the folic acid you need.

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Even If You're
Not Planning To
Have a Baby Yet
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About half of all
pregnancies are
not planned. That's
why you should get
enough folic acid
every day if there's any
chance you could get
pregnant. Because by the time
you know you're pregnant, your baby's
brain and spine are already formed.

Folic Acid (400 micrograms)
All Women who can get pregnant
Every Day!
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid
1-800-232-4636 (CDC-INFO)
01/2009 CS124502

099-5141