chubbycheeks

I just heard that this is so important during pregnancy. Especially the first 28 days. I was also advised that if you are trying to concieve to take pre-natal vitamins with folic acid because the first 28 days of development are so important and you might not know the first day that you become pregnant.

Leah

I was told that too, I was about about 3 weeks pregnant when I started to take it. The baby turned out fine, but if I knew about it when I was in the conception process, I would have taken it.

Helicopter

Although I wasn't taking a supplement I was aware of the chance of getting pregnant and so I was eating foods that I knew to be high in folic acid. We too had a positive outcome, and I started with the supplement at 3 weeks.

momx3angels

There is also folic acid added to most breads and cereals now. Since it started being added, the rate of neural tube ailments has dropped by more than half. Even if you didn't know you were pregnant, and weren't taking it, you were still getting folic acid. It's not the reccomended dose, not enough to give the full benefits of protection but it's enough to make a huge difference, especially to people sho don't know they're pregnant.

misty

My doctor prescribed them for me on my first visit. I basically went to officially confirm what the test had told me before. At that time I didn't know that I should have been taking them even before I got pregnant.

sheena

I was told they helped the developing baby, so I took them. They don't cost much, and if it helps my baby, I'm all for it. I didn't know what they do though.

Iwantonemore

I have done some research and the doctors also confirmed that it is a good idea to take folic acid in the very early stages of pregnancy. I think a balanced diet including foods that contain folic acid is a good idea if you do not want to start taking the tablets just yet.

chubbycheeks

Does anyone know what foods are high in folic acid? If vegetables are high in it, if you cook them does it ruin the folic acid? I am tyring to figure out if I could get enough of it out of foods that I like.

Music_Mama

Dark Greens, leafy veggies
Whole wheat bread
Lightly cooked beans and peas
Nuts and Seeds
Sprouts
Oranges and Grapefruit
Liver and other organ meats
Poultry
Fortified breakfast cereals and enriched grain products

All of these are high in folic acid, and most of them I already know I like. So it's pretty easy to eat healthy, you just need to know what healthy is!