According to a recent survey commissioned by Avonmore Slimline Milk , only 7% of women between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five were in any way concerned about folic acid in their diet.
That should come as quite the eye-opener when you consider that we are talking about the prime childbearing years.
Personally, I hadn't even heard of folic acid until I was already pregnant and lied through my teeth when asked by a very serious-looking nurse at my first appointment with the maternity hospital if I was taking it.
'Um, yes..'
(And then I panicked in case it was a trick question and folic acid was actually some mind-altering hallucinogenic that I definitely should not be taking while pregnant)
'Good' she nodded.
Phew. Cue running to the nearest chemist to locate said folic acid.
So what is it?
Folic acid, which is also known as folate, is a B group vitamin. Like most other vitamins, it cannot be made in the body, so it must be taken either in dietary form or by means of a folic acid supplement in tablet form.
Why is folic acid important during pregnancy?
Whether you're already expecting, or just planning to be, taking the right vitamins can help ensure a healthy baby. Research has shown that a lack of folic acid is linked to the development of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the developing foetus.
NTDs are a major group of birth defects that occur when the brain or spinal cord doesn’t form properly during the early part of pregnancy.
The incidence of NTDs is higher in Ireland than in other European countries and deficiency of folic acid in our diet contributes to this.
Taking extra folic acid prior to conception and throughout the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is known to reduce the risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect such as
spina bifida by up to 70%.
Can I get folic acid from food?
Foods rich in folic acid include; cabbage; cauliflower; broccoli; Brussels sprouts; lettuce and spinach.
It is also found in green beans; peas; potatoes; bread; bananas; oranges; grapefruit; brown rice; eggs; carrots; nuts and fish.
Some foods can also be fortified with folic acid – this means adding folic acid to the food at the processing stage. Many foods – such as bread and cereal products already have this fortification, and these products will state that they contain extra folic acid on their packaging.
Dr. Yvonne Finnegan, Consultant Dietician says,
“Consuming the recommended folic acid supplements can help prevent certain birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, known as neural tube defects of which spina bifida is the most common. As many pregnancies are unplanned you should take a folic acid supplement every day before pregnancy and during the first 3 months of pregnancy”
Do YOU take folic acid as an ongoing supplement to your diet? Join the conversation on Twitter @HerFamilyDotie 
