Folic Acid Is Best Started Before Pregnancy
November 5, 2026 · 2 min read
Defects of a baby's brain and spine form in the first weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. That is why folic acid should be taken from before pregnancy.
Many women start taking vitamins only after they find out they are pregnant. For folic acid, the right time is earlier than that.
Why folic acid matters
Folic acid is one of the B vitamins. According to the CDC, it helps prevent major birth defects of a baby's brain and spine, called neural tube defects. Examples are spina bifida, which affects the spine, and anencephaly, which affects the brain.
These defects form in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. If folic acid is started only after a positive pregnancy test, the most important time may already have passed.
How much and when to start
The CDC recommends that every woman who could become pregnant take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day. Start at least one month before pregnancy and keep taking it during pregnancy. The CDC says this advice applies even without plans to get pregnant, because not every pregnancy is planned.
After a previous pregnancy with a neural tube defect
Women who have had a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect need a higher dose. The CDC gives it as 4,000 micrograms a day, from one month before pregnancy through the first three months. This dose should be discussed with a doctor first.
Food helps too
Folate occurs naturally in leafy green vegetables, beans, and oranges. Folic acid is also added to some foods, such as breakfast cereals. Check the label to be sure.
The CDC advice stays the same: 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, from a supplement or fortified food.
In short
- Folic acid helps prevent serious defects of a baby's brain and spine.
- Take 400 micrograms every day, starting at least one month before pregnancy.
- Keep taking it during pregnancy.
- If you have had a baby with a neural tube defect, talk to your doctor about a higher dose.
A Coapotek pharmacist can help you choose a folic acid supplement and check its content if you also take another pregnancy vitamin.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Folic Acid, reviewed 18 September 2026.