1. Most women need to take folic acid supplements. Experts recommend that women of childbearing age get 400 micrograms of folic acid each day. Because most women get only half this amount from the foods they eat, many doctors suggest that most women take a multi-vitamin with folic acid.

 2. Take it even when you're not pregnant. It's important to get the recommended daily amount of folic acid if you are a woman of childbearing age. It doesn't matter whether or not you are planning to get pregnant. That's because half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. Birth defects of the brain and spine, such as spina bifida, occur before you may know you're pregnant. Folic acid can help prevent these defects during the first weeks of your pregnancy.

 3. Folic acid prevents birth defects. More than 2,000 babies are born each year in the United States with defects of the neural tube. The neural tube forms the baby's spine, brain and central nervous system. The most common neural tube defect (NTD) is spina bifida. This is a defect of the spinal column that can cause leg paralysis and other problems. During your pregnancy, your unborn baby needs folic acid for proper development of these organs and tissues.

 4. Talk to your doctor about taking a higher dose of folic acid if a birth defect occurred during a previous pregnancy. Studies show higher doses of folic acid greatly reduce the chances of having another baby with spinal and brain defects. Also, talk to your doctor about higher doses if you have diabetes, take anti-seizure medication or are obese.

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External Source March of Dimes. Folic acid. Accessed May 13, 2008.

This article was reviewed and updated 08-01-2009.