Our number one goal is to raise awareness about the importance of folic acid for all women, but especially those of child-bearing age planning on becoming pregnant.

We’re not the only ones who believe in the importance of vitamin B9 and what it can do for both mothers and their unborn children. We reached out to physicians and OB/GYNs to find out what they think about folic acid.

Folic acid is most important during the first trimester, when the risk of a child developing a neural tube defect (NTD) is at its highest.

The doctors we spoke with agreed that folic acid should be taken before pregnancy, not just after a positive pregnancy test. They also stressed how devastating an NTD diagnosis can be for a family, and that women who take certain anti-seizure medications may need a different dose.

For Dr. William Greenfield, who served as a state medical director for family health, the value of folic acid begins before conception.

“Folic acid is important not only during pregnancy, but also before pregnancy occurs. We must keep in mind that folic acid makes prevention of neural tube defects possible. This is a big contrast to many other congenital disorders, where we have little to offer in the way of primary prevention.” – William Greenfield, M.D.

What national guidelines say

Today’s national recommendations echo what these doctors told us. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that anyone who is planning to or could become pregnant take a daily supplement with 400 to 800 mcg of folic acid, starting at least one month before conception and continuing through the first two to three months of pregnancy. The CDC recommends 400 mcg of folic acid every day for anyone who could become pregnant, and 4,000 mcg a day, under a doctor’s guidance, for women planning a pregnancy after one affected by an NTD. People who take certain medicines that affect folate, such as some anti-seizure medicines, should talk with their doctor about the right amount.

The impact of folic acid can’t be overstated, which is why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began requiring grain products like cereals, breads, and pastas to be fortified with 140 mcg of folic acid per 100 grams in 1998. This fortification, and efforts to raise awareness of the benefits of the vitamin, have made a real impact nationwide: according to the CDC, NTD rates fell by 28% after fortification began, and about 1,300 babies a year are born without an NTD who otherwise would have had one.

The efforts to raise awareness about the importance of folic acid are working, but we still have a long way to go.

Do your part. Talk to your physician about folic acid, its benefits, and if it’s right for you.

Updated October 2026. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your health care provider.

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