Mothers-to-be should take folic acid during the first 3 months of pregnancy and the second 3 months of pregnancy. Folic acid not only prevents neural tube defects in the fetus, but also aids in protein metabolism and, together with vitamin B12, promotes the production and maturation of red blood cells. Taking oral folic acid before and 3 months after pregnancy can reduce the risk of fetal neural tube defects by 50-70%. There are many communities that now offer free folic acid to moms-to-be. There are also some mothers-to-be who are not prepared for pregnancy and do not take folic acid in advance when they become pregnant, but don’t worry too much, it is not too late to start taking folic acid as soon as you know that you are pregnant. The amount of folic acid you should take is about 800-1000ug per day, and it’s also a good idea for moms-to-be to eat folic acid-rich foods during pregnancy, such as spinach, asparagus, black beans, avocado, and so on.