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Health Update: Are You Getting Enough Folic Acid?
Sure, you know you need to take prenatal vitamins during pregnancy. But new research from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston reveals that taking folic acid (it's found in multivitamins and prenatal vitamins) for at least a year before conceiving may reduce the risk of preterm birth by 50 to 70 percent. About 13 percent of babies are born prematurely every year.
"Half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned," says Diane Ashton, MD, deputy medical director for the March of Dimes. "So it's important that all women of child-bearing age take folic acid supplements every day -- just to be safe -- even if they're not trying to get pregnant just yet." Folic acid also plays a big role in preventing birth defects of the brain and spinal cord early in the first trimester -- before many women even know they're pregnant.
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To answer ashley_munchkin's question, the one that's called Prenatal Elite is the best, and it's prescribed by my doctor.
5/10/2010 03:27:49 PM Report AbuseDoes anyone know of a really good Prenatal vitamin? I have hear the over the counter ones are not as effective as the ones from the doctor, is that true?
3/15/2010 02:07:08 PM Report AbuseI have hypothyrism and I wanted to know would me having hypothyrism affect me getting pregnant?
10/28/2009 12:06:13 AM Report Abuse