• Folic Acid or Vitamin B-9 helps your body make DNA and RNA, the genetic “brains” that tell your body how to build cells.
• More importantly for future moms, if you are taking Vit. B-9 for at least 3-12 months before you get pregnant, it can prevent your baby from dying or being paralyzed for life.
• Doctors found that women taking B-9 before getting pregnant could prevent 70% or more of these tragic birth defects. These defects occur before you know you are pregnant.
• Since 50% of pregnancies in the US are unplanned (80% of teen pregnancies) you have to remember (and convince daughters and granddaughters) to take a B-9 pill every day.
• Neural Tube Defects (NTD) [Spina bifida and anencephalic birth defects] can only be prevented by moms taking B-9 before getting pregnant.
• Spina bifida (babies born with a hole in the spine) will have lifetime paralysis.
• Anencephalic babies are born without a brain and always die shortly after birth.
How Can You Prevent This From Happening To Your Child Or Grandchild
• All women between 10 and 50 need to take 1 or 2 Vitamin B-9 pills every day (400 or 800 micrograms).
o Vitamin B-9 is cheap and no prescription is required.
o Since 1998 the FDA has required flour and cereal makers to put about 100 micrograms a day in our food but that is not enough.
o Ask your doctor about LARC (Long Acting Reversible Contraception); the best contraception for preventing unplanned pregnancies.
• YouTube video links about Vitamin B-9
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Nxhsx9Iok
o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx1PgzYpLmY
• The information and resources listed here are intended for educational use only. The information provided on this web site should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. Always contact your physician and/or other qualified healthcare professional before starting any new treatment or with questions about your health.
• HOME / BACK TO TOP / CONTACT US
• Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition
Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention
1120 Marshall Street, Mail Slot 512-40
Little Rock, AR 72202
(501) 364-5001–telephone
1-877-662-4567–toll-free
(501) 364-5107—fax