25/10/2025
Future Mums, This One’s for You 💕! Why Folate (Vitamin B9) Is Key to Your Baby’s Brain and Spine Health
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommend taking 400 µg of folic acid daily! This begins 3 months before conception and continuing alright the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. A higher dose of 5 mg of folic acid is recommended for women with high risks of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) outcomes such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
🧠 Why? Because folate supports the closure of the baby’s neural tube, the structure that forms the brain and spine. Low levels of folate, results in this tube not closing efficiently. Leading to NTDs such as:
• Spina Bifida — spinal cord doesn’t fully form, leading to paralysis or mobility problems
• Anencephaly — incomplete brain development, often fatal or causing blindness and severe cognitive delay
• Cleft Lip & Palate — affects feeding, speech, and facial development
Vitamin B9 is a simple, evidence-backed step proven to protect your baby’s brain, spine, and smile 💛
