• Women should take a daily 0.4 mg (400 micrograms) folic acid supplement during the time they are trying to conceive and until the end of 12th week of pregnancy. They should also eat more foods containing folate (the natural form of folic acid).
  • All women should take 10 micrograms vitamin D throughout pregnancy and when breast feeding. ‘Healthy start’ vitamins which contain folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin D are distributed via various methods depending on place of residence (community pharmacies/dispensing practices/sexual health services or via midwives and health visitors).

 

  • The following groups of women are at an increased risk of having a baby with a neural tube disorder and these women should ask their GP for a higher dose of 5 mg, which is only available on prescription
    • women with a neural tube defect
    • women with partners who have a neural tube defect
    • women with a previous pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect
    • women (or partners) with a family history of a neural tube defect
    • women with a pregnancy BMI >30 kg/m2
    • women with diabetes
    • women with coeliac disease
    • women on anti-epileptic drugs (AED) medication
    • women with haemolytic anaemia (including haemoglobinopathies), sickle cell anaemia or thalassaemia traits

 

The RCOG patient information leaflet ‘Healthy eating and vitamin supplements in pregnancy’ provides advice on using vitamin supplements before and during pregnancy.

 

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 30/09/2021

Next review date: 30/09/2025

Author(s): West of Scotland Managed Clinical Network for Sexual Health Clinical Guidelines Group .

Version: 3.1

Approved By: West of Scotland Managed Clinical Network in Sexual Health