​Safefood is calling on all women who are sexually active to take daily folic acid supplements, regardless of whether they are planning a pregnancy or not.

 

The campaign, ‘Babies Know the Facts About Folic,’ has been launched to help address Ireland’s high incidence rate of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) like Spina Bifida among newborn babies, after research revealed that three out of four pregnant women in Ireland haven’t taken folic acid before conceiving.

 

Prof Michael Turner, from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, says: “Taking folic acid daily as a supplement could potentially prevent two thirds of Neural Tube Defects every year – on average, that’s approximately 50 fewer babies affected every year.”

 

Dr Rhona Mahony, Master, National Maternity Hospital, also highlights the importance of taking folic acid as a precaution even if you’re not trying to get pregnant. “With up to 50% of all pregnancies being unplanned, it’s so important that all women who are sexually active start taking the vitamin daily, even if a baby is the last thing on their mind. That’s because a baby’s neural tube develops in the first few weeks of pregnancy when many women may be unaware they are pregnant.”

 

 

Safefood’s research also found that 10% of women believe they get enough folic acid from their diets, but this is not the case, according to Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director of Human Health & Nutrition, safefood. “For a healthy mum and baby, we simply can’t get enough folic acid from our food alone even with fortified foods – taking a daily folic acid supplement of 400 mcg is the only way to go.

 

“Folic acid is widely available, and doesn’t cost more than a few cents a day. Taking folic acid doesn’t mean you are planning a baby but just means when you do have a baby, however far in the future that may be, you are already helping to protect their health.”

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