When it comes to folic acid, there are a handful of key messages health care providers should make sure their patients are aware of.

• The March of Dimes recommends that all women who can become pregnant take a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of folic acid every day, especially before and during early pregnancy. This may help reduce your risk of having a baby born with a type of birth defect of the brain or spine. Such birth defects are called neural tube defects (NTDs).
• Some research has shown that folic acid also may help protect your baby from other birth defects of the heart, limbs and face.
• Some studies show that folic acid also may help protect women and men from heart disease, cervical and colon cancer and possibly breast cancer.
• If you have already had an NTD-affected pregnancy, you should take 4 milligrams (4000 micrograms) of folic acid daily. Begin taking this amount one month before you start trying to get pregnant and continue through the first three months of pregnancy.

Protect Your Baby Before You're Pregnant
All women who can become pregnant should take a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, especially before pregnancy and during early pregnancy. This may help reduce the risk of having a baby born with a type of birth defect of the brain or spine. Such birth defects are called neural tube defects (NTDs).

Most multivitamins sold at drug stores contain 400 micrograms. The label on the side of the bottle tells how much folic acid is in each vitamin pill.

Some cereals have been fortified with folic acid. Check the side of the box to see if the cereal contains 100% of the daily recommended amount of folic acid.

Folic acid is a B vitamin. Some foods are high in folate, the natural form of the vitamin. These foods include beans, leafy green vegetables and orange juice.