Watching what you eat before pregnancy (Part 05)

Contents:

• Eat a healthy diet when planning a pregnancy
• Australian guide to healthy eating
• Making changes to your diet
• Listeria
• Folic acid (folate)

When you're thinking about having a baby, it's really important to eat healthy food, to include lots of foods that are folate-rich and to start taking a folic acid supplement at least one month before becoming pregnant.
Enjoying plenty of exercise will increase your fitness level and help keep your weight in the normal range for your height.


Folic acid (folate)

Folate (folic acid) is a B group vitamin that can lower your chance of having a baby born with spina bifida or other neural tube defects. Women who are planning a pregnancy need to take folic acid supplements at least one month before pregnancy and for the first three months of the pregnancy.

The easiest and most effective way to raise folate levels is by taking a folic acid tablet containing 0.5 milligrams (mg) of folic acid every day. Folic acid tablets are safe to take during pregnancy.

Folate occurs naturally in many foods, but it is very difficult to get all of the folate you need to prevent neural tube defects through your diet.


For more information, have a look at the topic Folic acid (folate).



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