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By Lindsey Toth of Healthy Blog Snack
With the many March of Dimes March for Babies walks coming up, I thought it appropriate to touch on something the March of Dimes works hard to prevent, and something that any new mother can help prevent with the right supplementation and diet.
Every mother-to-be wants her newest bundle of joy to arrive pink, plump, and perfectly healthy. So what do you do when your baby is at risk for a permanently disabling birth defect called Spina Bifida?
What is Spina Bifida?
Spina Bifida is the most common birth defect in the U.S., occurring in 7 out of every 10,000 live births. It is a type of neural tube defect (NTD), where the baby’s spinal column fails to close in the womb. A child living with Spina Bifida can face social problems, learning disabilities, gastrointestinal disorders, or can even be born paralyzed.
What’s the 411 on folic acid?
Spina Bifida can occur in any pregnancy, though one of the biggest determinants in its development is folic acid deficiency. Folic acid is a B-vitamin that our bodies use to make red blood cells, and synthesize and repair DNA. During pregnancy, our bodies’ need for folic acid increases to accommodate the growth of the baby.
Half of all U.S. pregnancies are unplanned, and because Spina Bifida develops as early as the first trimester, adequate folic acid intake during childbearing years is crucial to Spina Bifida prevention. Studies suggest that if all women of childbearing age were to take a daily multivitamin with folic acid, NTDs like Spina Bifida could be reduced by up to 70%.
The recommended dose of folic acid for women of childbearing age is 400 micrograms (mcg) per day, which can be found in most over-the-counter multivitamins. During pregnancy, that recommendation jumps to 600 to 800 mcg per day.
What can I do to decrease my child’s risk?
A diet rich in folic acid-containing foods (see sidebar) provides enough folic acid for fetal growth and development, but unfortunately, the average American Diet tends to fall short. The best way to ensure your baby is getting enough folic acid is to talk with your physician about taking a prescription prenatal vitamin. These vitamins contain between 800 and 1,000 mcg of folic acid, more than enough to meet your baby’s needs and help prevent Spina Bifida.
Bonus! From March 28 through May 1, Kmart Pharmacy is providing free folic acid to pharmacy customers when they fill a prescription! Check out the March of Dimes press release for more info, or head over to the Kmart Pharmacy website.
About Lindsey
Lindsey is currently training to be a registered dietitian, and is pursuing her master’s degree in Nutrition Communications from Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy – the only graduate school of nutrition in North America. Check out Lindsey’s blog at www.HealthyBlogSnack.com, where she serves up recipes, food news, and fun food & nutrition facts. Lindsey’s passion is translating her nutrition and health expertise into actionable advice for consumers, and she believes that optimal health begins with good food, and that good food starts with delicious, wholesome ingredients.