Studies have shown that cigarette smoking, excessive drinking of alcohol and long use of birth control pills actually lower the amount of folic acid in a person's body. If you fall into any of these categories, it is even more important that you take a multivitamin with folic acid every day. Do not take more than one multivitamin pill without discussing this with your doctor, nurse or dietitian. Taking more than one multivitamin pill may be harmful to you and your unborn baby. If you become pregnant, continue the multivitamin pill with folic acid until your first pregnancy exam.
Folic acid is a very safe vitamin.
Women who have had a baby with a neural tube defect have a two to three percent chance of having another NTD affected pregnancy. Folic acid has been found to reduce greatly the risk of another NTD affected pregnancy in these women. If you are planning to become pregnant, you need to speak with your doctor or nurse midwife about your increased risk. Your doctor or nurse midwife will discuss the increased amount of folic acid you need to take daily. It is well recognized that NTDs may be caused by a number of environmental agents and genetic factors.