TAKE YOUR VITAMINS & PREVENT BIRTH DEFECTS!
Hey there pregnant or soon to be pregnant mamas, and Happy New Year! 2025 is here and the world is once again talking about diet, and although “dieting” is never good while pregnant, nutrition is key to your health and the health of your developing babies. Eating nutritious food is obviously important, but sometimes it is hard to eat perfectly, especially when you have nausea, food aversions, indigestion and reflux. Unfortunately, some vitamin deficiencies, like B9, can even lead to birth defects. Therefore, taking your prenatal vitamin is more valuable than ever.
When Do I Start Prenatal Vitamins?
Start early, it is recommended you start taking your prenatal vitamin at least 3 months prior to getting pregnant, if possible.
Why Start Prenatal Vitamins BEFORE Getting Pregnant?
QUICK ANSWER: Folic Acid (FA)
Since 1992 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institute of Health (NIH) have recommended women who are pregnant or expecting to become pregnant consume at least 400 micrograms of folic acid to prevent neural tube deficits (NTDs) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) agrees.
Good News! We know NTDs are often preventable! According to current research and guidelines, it is recommended that women considering or currently pregnant should have 400-800 micrograms of folic acid a day. Folic Acid is present in food, such as leafy greens and some foods are fortified with folic acid, but a prenatal vitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid is still the suggestion to meet the overall requirements and prevent NTDs.
What Are Neural Tube Deficits (NTDs)?
First, a very quick and very basic lesson on the neural tube. The neural tube and it’s closure is a complicated process the occurs during early pregnancy. The neural tube will eventually become the baby’s brain and spinal cord, also known as the central nervous system, as well as contributing to the skull & spine. The neural tube closes around 28 days after conception, often before some women even know they are pregnant. If the neural tube does not close properly, due to risk factors that include a vitamin B9 or folic acid deficiency, a baby’s brain and skull or spinal cord and spine will develop differently. This is known as a NTD.
There are multiple types of NTD, however the two most common are Spina bifida and Anencephaly.
Spina Bifida: occurs when the bottom of the neural tube does not close properly, affecting a baby’s spinal cord and spine. There are three types of Spina Bifida and unfortunately the most common, Myelomeningocele (open spina bifida), is also the most severe. Kids can live with Spina Bifida, however the severity and corresponding level of nerve damage will dictate the child’s level of disability.
Anencephaly: occurs when the top of the neural tube does not close properly resulting in improper growth of a baby’s brain and skull with missing portions and open exposure that depending on severity and brain damage inevitably results in infant death.
How Common Are NTDs?
In the United States about 1 in 3,000 babies a year are born with NTDs. But remember, NTDs are often preventable!
I Heard Folic Acid Can Be Bad for You…
MYTH BUSTED: Not according to research from the NIH! New research states that there is no evidence that folic acid is statistically linked to harms related to multiple gestation, autism, or maternal cancer.
Are Prenatal Vitamins Just for Folic Acid?
No, there are other important nutrients in prenatal vitamins for fetal development. Bonus, prenatal vitamins may help decreased your risk of developing pre-eclampsia.
Iron: is also very important because your blood volume doubles, and iron is needed for healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen to your little bundle of joy.
Calcium: Babies’ bone development requires more calcium. Calcium also supports teeth, nerve and heart function.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D supports babies’ bones, skin and teeth.
DHA: This is an omega-3 fatty acid that supports fetal brain and nerve development.
Just to highlight a few heavy hitters.
When Is the Best Time to Take My Vitamins?
Folic acid is best absorbed when taken with water on an empty stomach, but that is not always realistic for expectant mamas. Lots of women get nausea and reflux while pregnant, so try taking your prenatal vitamin with breakfast or lunch to help prevent unwanted indigestion. Whenever you take it, be sure you drink plenty of water because folic acid is water soluble.
Quick Re-Cap
Continue to eat nutritious foods high in protein and other nutrients while you are pregnant. Low-mercury fish, green leafy veggies, and lean meats are good options to support DHA, folic acid and iron level. But a daily prenatal vitamin, with folic acid, fills in the gaps you might be missing in your diet and helps prevent your baby from getting a NTD. And as an added bonus, research suggests prenatal vitamins may help decrease mama’s risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Long story short, prenatal vitamins are an easy way to keep you and your baby healthy.
Luck, Love & Light, XO Rachel
REFERENCES:
Crider KS, Qi YP, Yeung LF, Mai CT, Head Zauche L, Wang A, Daniels K, Williams JL. Folic Acid and the Prevention of Birth Defects: 30 Years of Opportunity and Controversies. Annu Rev Nutr. 2022 Aug 22;42:423-452.
Kancherla V. Neural tube defects: a review of global prevalence, causes, and primary prevention. Childs Nerv Syst. 2023 Jul;39(7):1703-1710.
Liu C, Liu C, Wang Q, Zhang Z. Supplementation of folic acid in pregnancy and the risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension: a meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018 Oct;298(4):697-704.
Viswanathan M, Urrutia RP, Hudson KN, Middleton JC, Kahwati LC. Folic Acid Supplementation to Prevent Neural Tube Defects: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA. 2023 Aug 1;330(5):460-466.