At what stage do I need to take folic acid when I'm trying for a baby?
We're trying for a baby - should I start taking folic acid now, or can it wait till I get pregnant?
If you're trying for a baby, this is the time to start taking folic acid, rather than once you're pregnant, as it can take time for the body to build up the levels of folic acid needed to support a healthy pregnancy.
Folic acid is needed in early pregnancy to help support the growth of the baby whose cells are rapidly dividing. Among women with folic acid deficiency, medical conditions such as spina bifida and cleft lip are more common.
'You would need to eat about seven plates of spinach to get the same levels found in a folic acid supplement'
It's recommended that women take 400 micrograms of folic acid before and in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, as this is when the baby's spinal cord forms.
It's also important to take folic acid every day when trying for a baby, as missing supplements means it can take longer for the body to build up levels of folic acid that help to protect against these conditions.
While we can get folate from the diet, it's a myth that we get enough from dietary sources alone. In fact, new research from Solgar showed that only 10% of women see nutritional value as an important factor in their diet. You would need to eat about seven plates of spinach to get the same levels found in a folic acid supplement, so it's important to keep stocks topped up.
