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Prenatal Nutrition

Question

I think I’m pregnant. I’ve heard that folic acid is essential for my baby. What is it and why is it important?

Answer

Folic acid is essential for your little one’s brain and spinal cord to develop properly, especially in the first few weeks of pregnancy—when the “neural tube” develops into the brain and spinal cord.

In fact, the March of Dimes recommends that all women who could become pregnant take a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid each day. But not all vitamin supplements are optimal for pregnancy. If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, ask your doctor's advice about the best vitamin supplement for you.

You also can get folic acid from food sources. Breakfast cereal that’s fortified with 100% of the Daily Value is another way to get your folic acid. Foods that are rich in the natural form of folic acid: oranges and their juice, green leafy vegetables like spinach and turnip greens, dried peas, and beans. Folic acid is also added to most "enriched" breads, cereals, flour, pasta, and rice.

MEET OUR EXPERTS

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Meet Our Experts

The START HEALTHY, STAY HEALTHY™ Resource Center panel of experts offers practical advice, answering many questions typically asked by parents and expecting parents.

Lillian M. Beard, M.D. Pediatric Health

Lillian M. Beard, M.D., is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and an associate clinical professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She is a frequent guest expert and spokesperson on national TV programs, discussing issues related to children's health. Dr. Beard practices pediatrics in the Washington, D.C., area.

José M. Saavedra, M.D., FAAP Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

José M. Saavedra, M.D., a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is a pediatric gastroenterologist with long-term experience and expertise in nutrition. Medical and Scientific Director of Nestlé Nutrition North America, Dr. Saavedra is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, the Sub-board of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, and the American Board of Nutrition. He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins-Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Roy M. Pitkin, M.D. Prenatal Health

Roy M. Pitkin, M.D. is professor of obstetrics and gynecology and is former chairperson of the ob/gyn department at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), School of Medicine. He is a frequent advisor to national health agencies concerned with women's health issues and has received numerous international honors for this work.

Robert N. Hamburger, M.D. Food Intolerances

Robert N. Hamburger, M.D. is professor of pediatrics emeritus and former head of the pediatric immunology and allergy division at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in La Jolla, California. Professor Hamburger is a consultant and continues as an educator and clinician in the UCSD Free Clinics in San Diego and Tijuana, Baja California.

Why are pregnant women advised to take a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement? Preventing Birth Defects with Pre-pregnancy Folic Acid Nutrition for baby and you