Samboan, Cebu – Your child's brain, body, and immune system significantly develop during the first 1,000 days, which begin at conception and last for two years (or 24 months) of life. The way your child's brain develops and adapts to their environment influences the type of person they will become. The proper diet or nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood will aid your child's learning, physical skills, and emotional development. Vitamins are essential nutrients for many bodily functions, but they are especially important during growth. Adequate supply during pregnancy and early infancy are therefore critical, but there is still a lack of knowledge about the required amounts of vitamins for children older than six months, as well as during pregnancy.

Due to its function in the development of the brain and nervous system, folic acid is a vitamin that is particularly significant during pregnancy. Folic acid helps create the neural tube during the early stages of pregnancy when the fetus is developing. The early brain and spine are formed by the neural tube. Anencephaly and other severe birth abnormalities of the baby's spine and brain can be avoided with folic acid (spina bifida).

Your baby's neural tube may not close properly, and it could experience health issues known as neural tube abnormalities if you don't have enough folic acid in your body. These consist of spina bifida - incomplete development of the spinal cord or the vertebrae and anencephaly - incomplete development of major parts of the brain. Babies with anencephaly usually do not live long, and those with spina bifida may be permanently disabled. 

Taking folic acid before and during pregnancy may also protect your baby against the following:

• Cleft lip and palate
• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Miscarriage
• Poor growth in the womb

Eating a variety of foods can help you obtain a wide range of nutrients. These are some foods that can help you get more folic acid in your diet includes fortified foods such as rice, pasta, bread, and some breakfast cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, beans, peanuts, fresh fruits, fruit juices, liver, whole grains, liver, seafood, eggs. // ND II Bea Margaux E. Cornelia, RND