Folic acid is still effective when taken in the first month of pregnancy. All pregnant women should take folic acid under the guidance of a doctor during the first 3 months of pregnancy. It is also recommended to eat more folic acid-rich foods, such as vegetables, to get enough folic acid. Folic acid supplementation can prevent anemia. Women themselves are prone to anemia, and pregnant women need folic acid even more to make normal red blood cells, and it can also reduce the risk of birth defects in newborns. Consistent use of folic acid can reduce the chance of congenital heart disease and other birth defects in children. Folic acid can also prevent the occurrence of neural tube defects in newborns, which are common congenital malformations in China. The risk of neural tube defects is reduced by 50-70% if a woman takes folic acid during the first month of pregnancy, and daily for the first 3 months after pregnancy. Generally, pregnant women can get free folic acid from their local maternal and child health care institutions in the first 3 months of pregnancy and take it on time under the guidance of their doctors.