If you are planning a pregnancy or are in your first trimester of pregnancy, it is very important that you take a daily supplement of folic acid to help prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Recent research carried out in the Coombe Hospital has shown that less than one quarter of women are taking folic acid prior to contraception.

Their principle message for women is that:

‘ you shouldn’t wait until you are pregnant to take folic acid. Any woman who could get pregnant should be taking it.’

Please read the Irish Times article below for more information:

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/women-urged-to-take-folic-acid-before-conceiving-to-avoid-defects-1.2184184