Scientists have discovered that the risk of neural tube defects
-- which are birth defects of the spine and brain -- plummets
when a woman gets adequate amounts of folic acid before and
during pregnancy. Folic acid, also known as folate, is a B
vitamin that is found in foods such as fortified breakfast
cereals, leafy greens, oranges and orange juice, black beans,
asparagus, spinach, and lentils. However, to ensure that you get
the amount needed to prevent neural tube defects, your doctor
will recommend that you take a prenatal vitamin or a
multivitamin with 400 mcg (micrograms) of folic acid every day.
It's best to start taking prenatal vitamins before you conceive,
but if you haven't, start taking them today. Folic acid is
particularly important during these first weeks of pregnancy.
You can buy prenatal vitamins at most stores, but check with
your doctor to see which one he or she recommends. Or ask the
pharmacist at your local drugstore. Doctors sometimes prescribe
additional folic acid supplementation to