Early pregnancy care
It is recommended pregnant people take 0.8 mg folic acid a month prior to pregnancy and then each day until the end of your 12th week. You can be prescribed this by your GP or Midwife or buy it over the counter. Early in pregnancy, when the foetus is developing, folic acid plays an important role in the development of the neural tube. As the foetus grows, the neural tube develops into the brain and spinal cord. Sometimes an abnormality occurs when the neural tube does not close properly – this is known as a neural tube defect. This occurs in about one in 500 babies. Spina bifida is an example of a neural tube defect.
You will be advised to take a higher dose of folic acid - 5 mg - if you’ve previously had a baby with a neural tube defect, or your partner has, or if your BMI is above 30. Some medications such as those taken for epilepsy or infertility treatment (clomiphine) or diabetes (insulin) also require a higher dose.
You will be advised to take an Iodine supplement daily during pregnancy and for the time you are breastfeeding. This is an essential nutrient required in small amounts to support normal growth and development, including brain development. It is important that unborn babies receive enough iodine.
Take a daily iodine-only (0.150 mg/150 μg) tablet throughout your pregnancy
Choose foods that are important sources of iodine such as well-cooked seafoods, milk, eggs, some cereals, milk, eggs, some cereals and commercially made bread. If you use salt, choose iodised salt