Folic Acid and Pregnancy

Every year, about 3,000 infants are born with neural tube defects (NTDs), according to the CDC. These defects include spina bifida and anencephaly, a condition in which the brain is not properly formed or is at least partly missing. Children who survive are often left paralyzed for life.

NTDs are preventable if mothers-to-be take folic acid before and during their pregnancy. Thanks to better screening, public health information campaigns, and folic acid fortification of breads and other grain products, the incidence of NTDs has dropped in recent years.

Braxton Hicks Contractions: True or False Labor?

What Do Braxton Hicks Contractions Feel Like?
Braxton Hicks contractions can be described as tightening in the abdomen that comes and goes. These contractions do not get closer together, do not increase with walking, do not increase in how long they last and do not feel stronger over time as they do when you are in true labor.

What Do True Labor Contractions Feel Like?
The way a contraction feels is different for each woman and may feel different from one pregnancy to the next. Labor contractions cause discomfort or a dull ache in your back and lower abdomen, along with pressure in the pelvis. Some women may also feel pain in their sides and thighs. Some women describe contractions as strong menstrual cramps, while others describe them as strong waves that feel like diarrhea cramps.

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Not all women are getting the message, though. In one survey, nearly three out of every four women said they didn't take vitamins that contained folic acid at least four times a week in the month before they became pregnant.

What is folic acid?

Folic Acid -- also called folate -- is a B vitamin. It plays a role in cell production and division -- including the production of red blood cells. It's found in foods, fortified cereals and other grain products, as well as in vitamin supplements.

What are the benefits of folic acid?

In the fetus, folic acid helps the neural tube, which develops into the brain and spinal cord, grow. Without folic acid, the neural tube may not close correctly. The baby can develop spina bifida -- a condition in which the spinal cord and/or a sac filled with fluid protrude through an opening in the back -- or anencephaly. Babies with anencephaly usually do not live long, and those with spina bifida may be permanently disabled.

Folic acid can reduce the incidence of NTDs by as much as 70%, according to the CDC. Research has also found that, when taken before and during pregnancy, folic acid may also protect against other birth defects, including:

Cleft lip and palate. In one study, women who took multivitamins, got at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily, and ate a healthy diet had the lowest risk of delivering a child with an opening in the lip (cleft lip).
Pregnancy complications. One report found that women who took folic acid supplements during the second trimester had a reduced risk of pregnancy-induced high blood pressure -- a serious condition known as preeclampsia.
Premature birth. A study found that women who took folic acid for at least a year before getting pregnant cut their chances of delivering early by 50 percent or more.
Low birth weight.
Miscarriage.
Poor growth in the womb.

In addition to protecting your baby from birth defects, folic acid could also protect your own health. Studies show it might lower the risks of heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. Folic acid might even help ward off Alzheimer's disease.

When should I start taking folic acid?

Because many pregnancies aren't planned, it's important for every woman of childbearing age to take folic acid, even if they aren't trying to conceive. Birth defects occur within the first three to four weeks of pregnancy, so it's important to have folic acid in your system during those early stages when your baby's brain and spinal cord are developing.

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