During and before pregnancy, the use of folic acid (vitamin B9) is recommended. Folic acid supplementation increases the maternal folate status. The folate status refers to the amount of folic acid (also known as vitamin B9) in the body. It indicates whether someone has enough folic acid for normal bodily functions. A low folate status of the mother is a risk factor for the development of a neural tube defect in the developing fetus.Additionally, vitamin A is actually discouraged during pregnancy, as it increases the risk of abnormalities during pregnancy. Therefore, a pregnancy supplement without vitamin A is recommended.