She's read every book and talked to all the doctors. But what Crystal Pearson did not know was that her first-born child was rather "lucky." Pearson is in her third trimester of her second pregnancy. This time around, she has learned new information about crucial steps in having a healthy baby and she understands that lack of folic acid in a pregnant woman's body can cause neural tube defects in an unborn child.
Pearson had no idea of the significance consuming folic acid daily in her diet was for her first born child. And although her first child was born without complications, she still will not play the game of risk again. She is currently a medical assistant working at Partners for Women's Health in Exeter, N.H.
"For my first pregnancy, I wasn't aware of folic acid and its important role in pregnancy," said Pearson. "By my second pregnancy, I had a better understanding of why folic acid is necessary. I only became more aware of folic acid while going through medical school and while working in an obstetrics and gynecology office. Other then that, I have not learned about folic acid in other places, although obstetrics and gynecology offices do have pamphlets on the subject."
Folic acid is simply a form of vitamin B9. It is found in leafy green vegetables, fruits and enriched grain products, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. It is also included in multivitamin supplements.
Pearson didn't know that taking folic acid daily can reduce birth defects by 70 percent, according to the Division on Public Health Services.
"It's a scary one," she said, referring to the folic acid risk percentage while looking down at her pregnant belly.
Pearson, 21, knows now that her current age is where folic acid levels are low in females.
Lissa Sirois, an employee of the Division of Public Health, says that the ages of 18 through 24 are at the highest risk. Because of this, the University of New Hampshire has paired its Health Center with New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services' Folic Acid Education Program.
"It has been very successful so far," said Sirous.
According to Sirous, women in the college age range and those women who currently take birth control pills are the big targets for the program. The birth control pill can actually prevent a woman's body from absorbing this folic acid, making it even more significant for young females to take the multivitamin pack offered by UNH.
Suzanne Sonneborn, of the Folic Acid Education Program, said a college or university is a good place to do this program.
"The recommendation is for women of childbearing years to obtain adequate folic acid. So the key is before pregnancy," she said, putting an emphasis on the word "before."
"In other words, for some women it may be too late to try and prevent neural tube defects," said Sonneborn.
Not only are young women more at risk because they take the pill that prevents the absorption of folic acid, but those that are on the pill are usually not expecting to become pregnant, and folic acid is most effective taken before the child is developing.
"Over 50 percent of women don't know they are pregnant, at least during the first few weeks and that is when the neural tube is being formed. So that's the crucial time for folic acid supplementation," said Sonneborn.
"I didn't know birth control could do that," said Pearson when she learned why UNH has started this program. "That can also be scary, especially when some women end up getting pregnant while on birth control."
According to the Folic Acid Education Program, approximately 200 UNH students are now taking this free multivitamin pack since this program started in February. The state is doing a study to see how successful this program is here at UNH.
"I would guess that over half of the women that entered into the study did not know what folic acid was, although many of them were already taking it in a multivitamin," said Sonneborn.
Because Pearson is not a UNH student, she is not qualified for this unique opportunity for the free multivitamins to UNH students.
"If vitamins were available to take for free, to help keep myself healthy and my baby or future pregnancies healthy, then yes I would take them," said Pearson.
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