Why is folate important?
Folate is a B vitamin crucial in the development of baby’s nervous system. It has been shown to reduce the chance of having a baby with a neural tube defect (a disability affecting the nervous system). Folate is easily destroyed during cooking and large servings are necessary for adequate intake. The simplest way is to take a folate supplement (one 5 mg tablet daily) for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Folate is particularly important if you suffer from epilepsy, thalassaemia or have a family history of having relatives with a neural tube defect.
