Studies show that women are less likely to take folic acid the second time around, for a whole host of reasons. If you’ve had a healthy baby, you tend to feel less vulnerable. On a more practical level, you are far, far busier.
In truth though, the risks of having a baby with a neural tube defect are the same for your first and subsequent births. The best way to protect your baby is to take folic acid all the time, even if you aren’t planning another baby just yet.
Contrary to what lots of women think, fortified foods like breakfast cereal don’t provide you with the extra folic acid to support pregnancy. Half of pregnancies are unplanned and the baby’s spine and brain develop during the first few weeks of life, before you probably even know you are pregnant.
So go on, just in case there are any little surprises, take your folic acid again, just like you did the first time, mamas. It’s as easy as popping one tablet at any stage during the day, every day.
Meanwhile, here’s a list of stuff that really does seem less important the second time around…
Or have you thought about this:
Check out the safefood website for more information about folic acid, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for info at your fingertips. We are right behind you.
