Folic Acid Awareness Week is September 10-16, 2023

During Folic Acid Awareness Week (FAAW), we invite you to connect with the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) to celebrate the successes of folic acid supplementation and fortification in preventing serious birth defects of the spine and brain. These birth defects, including spina bifida and anencephaly, are types of neural tube defects (NTD) that develop very early in pregnancy, before most women even know they are pregnant. 

Folic acid is a B-vitamin that is necessary for proper cell growth. If taken before and during early pregnancy, folic acid can prevent up to 70% of these serious birth defects.

It is recommended that people considering pregnancy take 400mcg of folic acid every day.

Our partner CDC has created a toolkit for folic acid awareness week, including special materials for Hispanic Heritage Month that begins in the middle of Folic Acid Awareness Week. Please check out their tools as well as ours provided below.

Please help us share this key information with your friends, family, and networks!

          Activities      Social Media       Finding Statistics        Other Resources

2023 Folic Acid Awareness Week (FAAW) Activities 

Social Media Messaging 

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It's important to know where to look for folic acid! Slide over to see an example of what that looks like on your daily multivitamin! #PowerToPrevent

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So you have your vitamins with folic acid, but just can't seem to remember to take them daily? Here are some easy tips on ways to remember to take them! #PowerToPrevent

Today marks the start of Folic Acid Awareness Week. Tune in this week to learn more about folic acid and why it's important! #PowerToPrevent

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This is why we do Folic Acid Awareness Week! Here are 6 benefits of taking folic acid. #PowerToPrevent

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Did you know that NTDs, birth defects of the spine and brain, form before a woman even knows she is pregnant? That's why women should get 400 mcgs of folic acid every day if there is a chance they could become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

Folic acid is a B vitamin important in making new cells. Folic acid protects the health of women throughout life, regardless of pregnancy plans. Take a daily vitamin with 400mcg of folic acid! #PowerToPrevent

Let's play folic acid BINGO! Check off some of the activities that you've accomplished during Folic Acid Awareness week, screenshot it, and put on your story to share with @NBDPN. #PowerToPrevent

Many states monitor how many babies are born with neural tube defects (NTDs) like anencephaly and spina bifida. Daily folic acid helps prevent these birth defects! Women who are of childbearing age should take 400mcgs of folic acid every day (even when you're not planning a pregnancy)! 

#PowerToPrevent

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Sample Messaging  / Suggested Text for Posts

General posts about folic acid

• In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) recommended people capable of becoming pregnant consume 400mcg of folic acid daily to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

In Spanish:

• En 1992, el Servicio de Salud Pública de los EE. UU. recomendó a todas las mujeres que pueden quedar embarazadas que tomen un suplemento con 400mcg de ácido fólico al día para prevenir defectos del tubo neural.

• Did you know that about 3,000 pregnancies are affected by a defect of the spine (spina bifida) or brain (anencephaly) every year in the US? These conditions are also known as neural tube defects or NTD. Up to 70% of NTDs can be prevented if women take daily folic acid BEFORE becoming pregnant and during early pregnancy. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Many states monitor how many babies are born with neural tube defects (NTD) like anencephaly and spina bifida. Data from state programs show there were about 7-8 babies born with an NTD for every 10,000 live births. Folic acid helps prevent these birth defects! Take your folic acid every day. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• While many foods that include wheat flour are fortified with folic acid in the United States, other common staple foods like corn masa flour, are not fortified often. This is one reason why Latinas are more likely to have babies born with neural tube defects. No matter your diet, make sure to take 400mcg of #folicacid daily #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• CDC is a great source for information about folic acid. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Did you know that NTD, birth defects of the spine and brain, form before a woman even knows she is pregnant? That's why women should get 400mcg of folic acid every day if there is a chance they could become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Test your knowledge about folic acid by taking the Folic Acid Quiz! #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Timing is important! Neural tube defects (NTD) form very early in pregnancy, before most women even recognize they are pregnant. Women who are of childbearing age should take 400mcg of folic acid daily to ensure they have enough in their system to reduce the risk of an NTD should they become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Some women only start taking a multivitamin when they get pregnant, but it is important to also take a daily vitamin with 400mcg of folic acid BEFORE pregnancy to prevent serious birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

Posts for people not planning a pregnancy

• Folic acid is a B vitamin important in making new cells. Folic acid protects the health of women throughout life, regardless of pregnancy plans. Even if you eat a healthy diet, it's difficult to get enough, so take a daily vitamin with 400mcg of folic acid! #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• So you have your vitamins with folic acid, but just can't seem to remember to take them daily? Use a pillbox, set doses where you see them (at work/school, on nightstand), take it when you brush your teeth, set a daily alarm, or use an app! You can do it! #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Multivitamins too pricey? Try store brands or a folic acid-only supplement. Or check with your state health department to see if there are free/discounted vitamin programs in your area! #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Some state health departments have free vitamin programs! If you live in Utah, check out Power Your Life or if you live in Arizona, Power Me A2Z! #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Some pharmacies have free vitamin programs to ensure women can get their daily folic acid to help prevent birth defects in a future pregnancy. Find a pharmacy that participates in a vitamin program here! #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Worried about taking folic acid? Even if you have an MTHFR variant, you can process all types of folate, including folic acid. Check out @CDC for the latest information on folic acid and MTHFR variants. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent 

Posts for people planning a pregnancy

• Timing is important! Neural tube defects (NTD) form very early in pregnancy, before most women even recognize they are pregnant. Women who are of childbearing age should take 400mcg of folic acid daily to ensure they have enough in their system to reduce the risk of an NTD should they become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Did you know that NTD, birth defects of the spine and brain, form before a woman even knows she is pregnant? That's why women should get 400mcg of folic acid every day if there is a chance they could become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Some women only start taking a multivitamin when they get pregnant, but it is important to also take a daily vitamin with 400mcg of folic acid BEFORE pregnancy to prevent serious birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Worried about taking folic acid? Even if you have an MTHFR variant, you can process all types of folate, including folic acid. Check out @CDC for the latest information on folic acid and MTHFR variants. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent 

• Planning to get pregnant soon? Start a healthy habit today and get 400mcg of folic acid every day. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/index.html 

In Spanish:

• ¿Planeas quedar embarazada pronto? Comienza un hábito saludable hoy y toma 400mcg de ácido fólico todos los días. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/index.html #ÁcidoFólico #PowerToPrevent

Post for Health Care Providers

• Health care providers, what you say matters! Remember to advise women to take a vitamin with 400mcg of folic acid daily to help prevent serious birth defects of the spine and brain, regardless of their intention to become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Timing is important! Neural tube defects (NTD) form very early in pregnancy, before most women even recognize they are pregnant. Women who are of childbearing age should take 400mcg of folic acid daily to ensure they have enough in their system to reduce the risk of an NTD should they become pregnant. #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

• Let's celebrate over 30 years of preventing serious birth defects of the spine and brain! In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) recommended people capable of becoming pregnant consume 400mcg of folic acid daily to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). #folicacid #PowerToPrevent

Finding Statistics

March of Dimes PeriStats provides free access to maternal and infant health-related data at the national, state, county, and city levels:

• Folic Acid: Self-reported multivitamin use in the month before pregnancy (Source: PRAMS)

• Birth Defects: Prevalence of Spina Bifida or Anencephaly (Source: State and local birth defects surveillance systems)

Example of self-reported multivitamin use prior to pregnancy (Georgia):

OTHER RESOURCES

CDC

• Folic Acid 

• General Information about NTDs, Folic Acid, and Folate 

• MTHFR Gene, Folic Acid, and Preventing Neural Tube Defects 

• Free Materials & Multimedia 

March of Dimes

• Before or Between Pregnancies: Folic Acid 

MotherToBaby

• Folic Acid Fact Sheet 

Unique Tools and Resources from State Programs

• English

• Arabic

• Espanol