Role of Folic Acid in Preventing Birth Defects

Folic acid is an essential form of vitamin B9. It plays a role in planning for a healthy pregnancy, particularly since congenital disorders (birth defects or neural tube defects) of the brain and spine can be thwarted if women of childbearing age consume folic acid.

What types of birth defect affect babies?

Anencephaly is a fatal birth defect in which parts of a baby’s skull and brain do not form correctly. Infants born with the condition cannot survive. “Of affected babies born by c-section, 53% died within 24 hours, 30% lived up to 5 days, and 13% lived longer than 6 …read more