quick clicks

preconception articles

preconception q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Low Carb Crazy During Pregnancy

Is It Bad News for Baby-to-be?

By Kelly Burgess

"Neural tube defects occur very early in pregnancy, often before a woman realizes she's pregnant," says Dr. Licciardi. "To get the benefits of folic acid's ability to prevent these birth defects, the supplement needs to be taken for at least several weeks before she gets pregnant. Since many women don't see their doctor until after that 6-week window, it's too late for folic acid to make a significant impact."

This is something that doctors worry about even with women who have a normal American diet with its reliance on sodas and fast food, but Dr. Licciardi says that the current low-carb diet craze has magnified the problem.

"All women of childbearing age should take a supplement with at least 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid, just in case they should become pregnant, but many don't realize this and don't supplement their diet," says Dr. Licciardi. "If they also do not have an intake of bread or grains, they are more likely to be deficient in folic acid."

It's not just the restriction of bread products, either. Other foods that are high in folic acid, such as spinach, turnips and other fruits and vegetables, are allowed only in very small amounts on the Atkins and South Beach diets.

Dr. Licciardi is not shy about expressing his dislike of the current low-carb obsession. A resident of New York, he points out that waiters in restaurants no longer even bring bread to the table unless it's specifically requested because so many patrons are on low-carb diets. He even jokingly suggests that the smoking/non-smoking sections may be further subdivided into carb/no-carb sections.

Want to see more?

• Folic Acid: A Vital Part of Preconception
• Healthy Eating During Preconception
• Ready, Set, Conceive! Preconception Planning for a Healthy Pregnancy
• Talk about it!

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.