Ladies: Please Take Folic Acid

      I never knew the importance of folic acid until my unborn daughter was diagnosed with spina bifida. After receiving her diagnosis, I threw myself into research to find out as much as I could about the defect and the many complications that come with it. One of the things I found out was how to PREVENT spina bifida. While spina bifida is not genetic, and has no cure, it can often be prevented.
     The development of spina bifida occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy. During this time, the spine would normally fuse together, but with spina bifida, the spine fails to do so. This defect usually occurs around 8 weeks of pregnancy, and at this time, most women do not even know they are pregnant yet. This defect can often be avoided if the mother is previously taking a higher level of folic acid before she even becomes pregnant. The CDC recommends for all women of child-bearing age to be taking 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. 4000 micrograms of folic acid if you, or one of your previous children have spina bifida because even though spina bifida is not genetic, if you have it or have had a child with it, your odds of having a baby with spina bifida increase drastically.
     This level of folic acid can prevent spina bifida, cleft lip, some heart defects, and other neural tube defects. You can either take folic acid supplements, or find folate (the natural form of folic acid) in many foods, such as beans, citrus, egg yolks, and dark green vegetables. The body, however, does not absorb folate (the natural form) as well as it absorbs the synthetic form, folic acid. 
     While I am not doubled over in self-blame, because frankly I do not think I could survive feeling like THAT on top of everything else right now, I do wish I would have been on a high folic acid diet before my pregnancy. I wish I would have informed myself before I was forced to find out this information, and I hope that others will learn from incredibly important information that I did not know. So please, eat more folate, take a folic acid supplement, and if you are even thinking about getting pregnant, look up what your body needs, and why. Prenatals do not cover everything, and by the time you find out you are pregnant, you may have missed your chance to prevent defects. My intention is not to frighten anyone, only to inform and hope that others act on that information.
 
Please view the following link to check my facts and learn from them: 
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/spina-bifida/DS00417/DSECTION=prevention
Also check out more information and recommendations from the CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5113a1.htm