children s health issues
Overview of Brain and Spinal Cord Birth Defects
Prevention of Brain and Spinal Cord Birth Defects
Folate ( Folate Deficiency ) beginning 3 months before getting pregnant and continuing through the first 3 months of pregnancy. Women whohave hadan infant with a neural tube defect are at high risk of having another affected infant and should take high doses of folate supplements beginning 3 months before getting pregnant again and continuing through the first 3 months of pregnancy. Folate supplements may not prevent all cases of neural tube defects but can reduce the risk of neural tube defects substantially. 