STOP TAKING FOLIC ACID!

Folic acid is a cheaply manufactured synthetic source of vitamin B9. Although vitamin B9 is vital to help prevent  birth defects, folic acid is not bio-available to many people. 

Up to 40% of the population have a common genetic mutation called MTHFR which means they are less able to synthesise folic acid adequately. 

What you need to seek out is L-methylfolate otherwise known as just folate to make sure you are getting enough (400 micrograms per day) of vitamin B9 for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. By far the best place to get this is by eating liver, a natural source of vitamin B9 that is more easily metabolised. 

3oz of organic beef liver will give you half of your recommended daily intake. Although not everyone likes liver and of course this isn’t suitable for vegetarians, so other food sources include spinach (half a cup of cooked spinach will give you 33% of your recommended daily intake) black eyed beans (half a cup of cooked beans will give you 25%), asparagus (5 spears will give you 25%). Or you can take a supplement that contains folate if you want to cover your back.

Always seek medical advice to ensure you are getting the correct amounts of nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy.