Facts and figures can be a bit of a headscratcher at times.
Take folic acid for instance. A recent Safefood study concluded that 92% of women who become pregnant know that taking the supplement during the first three months of pregnancy can aid a baby's spine and brain development.
Sound great, doesn't it? Yet only 25% of pregnant women take folic acid prior to pregnancy.
Granted, there's a fair deal of greyness around the whats, whys and whens of folic acid, so let's get down to the basics of this essential vitamin.
Although folic acid may not sound like the sexiest of supplements if you went by name alone, it's actually a vitamin - B9 to be exact. Folic acid acts by helping the body produce and maintain new cells, namely those all-important red blood cells.
We already get a certain amount of folic acid naturally from veg like broccoli. However, the amount provided by our daily food intake is far lower than what's required by a woman during pregnancy.
The whys
The benefits of taking folic acid are long-standing. Folic acid isn't just for pregnancy, it's essential for everyone's health.
Taking folic acid can help prevent certain brain and spinal chord birth defects such as Spinabifida. 70% of birth defects like this could be prevented by taking folic acid.
The whens:
It's the reason why we're here today. Folic acid works best if it's taken before pregnancy - ideally, three months beforehand. Even contraception is no guarantee against pregnancy, so anyone who is sexually active should strongly consider taking the vitamin.
Even if you forget to do this, it's never too late. If you are already pregnant, start taking folic acid straight away and continue each day for three months into your pregnancy.
The bottom line - nobody out there is psychic, so if you’re sexually active, take it.
How much do I need?
Take folic acid as an individual supplement at 400 micrograms per day. It's best to avoid taking folic acid as part of a supplement as these may contain Vitamin A - which shouldn't be taken during pregnancy. Taking something like broccoli as substitute is also a big no no – you’d want to eat a mountain of it to get your daily needs.
So, what's the cost?
Folic Acid is cheap; costing just one cent per day. The vitamin is also covered by certain medical cards.
Folic Acid - it really is a no brainer. Factor in a solid routine and you’re on your way to a healthier life for both you and your baby.
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