Why is folic acid so important?
Taking a multivitamin with folic acid in it can help to prevent certain birth defects. For this reason, it’s recommended that all people who could become pregnant (even if they are not planning a pregnancy) take a multivitamin that contains 0.4 mg (400 mcg) of folic acid in it every day.
NTDs happen in the early weeks of pregnancy when the neural tube (the part of the developing baby that will become the brain and spinal cord) doesn’t close properly.
Even if you are not planning a pregnancy, if you do become pregnant, taking a multivitamin with folic acid in it every day can help to lower the risk of having a baby with these birth defects.
Learn more about what to look for in a multivitamin.