Before brochure

Why Folic Acid
Is So Important
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 birth
defects of the
baby’s brain or
spine. Spina
bifida, a birth
defect of the
spine, can
cause paralysis
of the lower
body, with no
control of
bowel or
bladder, and
learning
disabilities.
Another type
of birth defect affects the brain and causes
babies to die within a few days.
But now the message about these birth defects
is one of hope—many of them can be prevented
if women get enough folic acid every day.
Folic acid can help form a baby’s brain and
spine. Getting enough takes a small effort. But
it makes a big difference.

Eat Right...
Most of us get some folic acid in our diet every
day. Folic acid has been added to some foods
such as enriched breads, pastas, rice, and cereals.
Check the labels on your breakfast cereals; a few
have 100 percent of the folic acid you need. A
well-balanced diet with fruits and vegetables is
always important. You can get your folic acid
through food alone, but it takes careful planning
to make sure you get enough every day.

...and Take a Vitamin
For many women, 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 you can buy has all the folic acid
you need. If you get an upset stomach from
multivitamins, try taking them with meals or just
before bed. You can also buy vitamin pills made
with only folic acid—
they are small and
easy to swallow.

Even If You’re Not
Planning To Have a
Baby Yet
No one expects an unplanned pregnancy. But
they happen — every day. In fact, 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.

Before
you
know
you’re
pregnant

The first moment you
look into your baby’s
eyes, you will
probably feel both
love and fear for your
new responsibility. It
is one of the strongest
instincts of life, to
protect your baby.
But you don’t have to
wait until you see your baby for the first time.
You can start taking care of your baby today.
Even before you’re pregnant.

Folic acid could
prevent up to 70 percent
of some types of
serious birth defects.

Information
1-800-232-4636 (CDC-INFO)
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid

Or, ask your own doctor,
pharmacist, nurse, or dietitian
for more information. But don’t
wait until you’re pregnant.
Your baby needs you now—
before you know it.

Before you
know you’re
pregnant

The U.S. Public Health Service recommends
that all women who could become pregnant
get 400 micrograms (or 0.4 milligram) of
folic acid every day. This could prevent up to
70 percent of some types of serious birth
defects. But to do this, women need folic
acid a month before they get pregnant through
the first few weeks the baby is growing.
That’s why you should always get enough
folic acid every day...even if you’re not
planning a baby until next month, next
year, or later.

01/2009 CS124501

099-5968