Prenatal care is a concept that is not widely practiced today, despite the enorm ous number of information related

to different aspects of preconception. A plann ed conception is in fact, relatively new to many couples, and the importance of a prenatal diet is something that is often ignored. Eating well is important for both women and men at any stage of their life, but when it comes to pregnancy, a well-balanced diet is fundamental to increase your chances of getting pregnant . However, very few women understand why diet is of particular importance when t rying to conceive and how a multi-vitamin supplement can become your best fertil ity aid. A prenatal visit to your doctor will reveal to you secrets that for a l ong time were ignored, including how important the intake of folic acidfolic aci d is before conception and during the different pregnancy stages. Folic acid is one of the B vitamins, also known as folacin, folate, or Vitamin B9. This vitami n occurs naturally in citrus and dark green leaf vegetables, as well as other fo ods. You can find acid folic in avocados, broccoli, brussel sprouts, romaine let tuce, spinach, oatmeal, and lima beans. Other foods rich in Vitamin B9 are orang e juice, beef liver, chicken, beans, lentils, chickpeas, fortified breakfast cer eals, and enriched pastas and breads. The reason why the intake of this vitamin is important is relayed in its properties as regulator of cellular development a nd regeneration. Acid folic is more necessary during the first weeks of pregnanc y, so if you have a diet rich in this vitamin, your chances for getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy are higher. Acid folic also contributes to devel opment of your unborn baby, providing the nutrients needed for the proper format ion of the spinal cord and brain, producing also the red blood cells for both th e mother-to-be and the baby. Make sure that your diet includes enough acid folic from at least 3 months before planning your conception, and keep the intake as per your doctor's indications. Acid folic will reduce the risk of neural-tube de fects (NTD) in your baby, also reducing your risk of miscarriage. Although it is your doctor who will determine the dose of acid folic that you need, the recomm ended intake for most women of childbearing age is about 0.4 mg per day during t he prenatal stage, increasing the dose up to 0.8 mg each day. A woman with a fam ily history of neural-tube defects might be prescribed with an increased dosage of acid folic, up to approximately 4 mg, to prevent potential pregnancy risks. I f you are unsure of the correct dosage, almost any prenatal vitamins will provid e you with the basic requirements for a healthy pregnancy.