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Folic Acid During Preconception
A Vital Role in Healthy Pregnancies
By Jessica Williams
So why can't you just take your prenatal vitamin once you get pregnant and not worry about all of this? Because NTDs occur very early in pregnancy (about 18 to 30 days after conception) – often before a woman even knows she is pregnant.
The March of Dimes recommends taking a multivitamin that contains folic acid as the only assurance that you are getting your daily requirements. But, you should also eat foods that are rich in folic acid, such as:
- Orange juice and other citrus juices
- Fortified cereal
- Dark, leafy vegetables like spinach
- Liver and organ meats
- Legumes
It is especially important for women who smoke or drink, women who have been on the pill or women who have been dieting or not eating balanced meals to receive the daily recommendation of folic acid before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy.
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