The preparation of getting a child should not only be the responsibility of women. Both men and women must prepare themselves when they are ready to have children. The general rule to preconception care is to lead a healthy life.
From my perspective, as a neurosurgeon, the only worldwide recommended supplement that can make a difference is folic acid. Folic acid is a vitamin B group that is needed for the healthy growth and development of the baby in the first week of formation.
Research has found that taking folic acid supplement during pregnancy reduces birth defects such as spina bifida. The recommended dose is to take at least 500 micrograms of folic acid per day for at least one month prior to pregnancy and for the first three months of pregnancy (Australia New Zealand Food Authority, 1998) whereas in U.S. Public Health Service, the recommendation is 400 micrograms.
The risk of birth defects of the brain and spinal cord is reduced by 50%, especially anencephaly and spina bifida with proper folic acid supplementation. Researchers have even found out that folic acid supplements can help in reducing up to 70% of recurrence in neural tube defects in subsequent pregnancies.
What exactly is a neural tube defect? What can happen to a person with neural tube defect? It is a condition that can cause a person to have varying degree of neurological deficits: from paralysis, incontinence (unable to control bowel/bladder movements) and intellectual impairment to life incompatibility.
Neural tube defects can be prevented. Despite the expertise as a neurosurgeon and facilities, which allow us to operate and correct the neural tube defect, the outcome would never be the same as a normal baby. I have seen these children and operated on them. As they grow, they have to learn in modifications of activities because they will grow up with varying degree of neurological deficits, or incomplete development that they have inherited since the beginning.
We need to educate ourselves and others in regards to importance of preconception care so that people are more aware that they can do something in preventing neural tube defects from occurring.
This article is a summary of https://www.mmgazette.com/when-does-life-begin-dr-rahmat-bin-harun/ written by the same author. Dr. Rahmat is a neurosurgeon who believes strongly that knowledge empowers the public to make the right choices. Read more about him at The Team page.
References:
- Committee on Genetics. Folic Acid for the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects. Pediatrics Aug1999;Vol 104;No 2; pp325-7
- Hannah Blencowe et al. Folic acid to reduce neonatal mortality from neural tube disorders. Intern J of Epidemiology 2010;39;pp i110-i121
- The National Technical Committee of Food Fortification Ministry of Health Malaysia. Proposal Paper on Mandatory Fortification of Wheat Flour with Iron and Folic Acid. MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA 2008 (15 August 2008)
- Endom Ismail et al. Incidence of Spina Bifida: An Eight-Year Analysis At Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Poster Papers:Medical & Human Genetics. Proceedings of the 8th Malaysia Congress on Genetics Aug 2009
- Committee on Genetics. Folic Acid for the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects. Pediatrics Aug1999;Vol 104;No 2; pp325-7
- Hannah Blencowe et al. Folic acid to reduce neonatal mortality from neural tube disorders. Intern J of Epidemiology 2010;39;pp i110-i121
- The National Technical Committee of Food Fortification Ministry of Health Malaysia. Proposal Paper on Mandatory Fortification of Wheat Flour with Iron and Folic Acid. MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA 2008 (15 August 2008)
- Endom Ismail et al. Incidence of Spina Bifida: An Eight-Year Analysis At Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Poster Papers:Medical & Human Genetics. Proceedings of the 8th Malaysia Congress on Genetics Aug 2009
[This article belongs to The Malaysian Medical Gazette. Any republication (online or offline) without written permission from The Malaysian Medical Gazette is prohibited.]