2 months supply of Basic Nutrition Folic Acid, an essential vitamin for Expectant Mothers. Folic acid (also known as vitamin B9) is very important for the development of a healthy foetus, as it can significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs), such as spina bifida. Helps Protect Against Birth Defects. It is recommended that women should take a daily supplement of 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid while they are trying to conceive, and should continue taking this dose for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the baby's spine is developing. However, it is safe to continue taking folic acid supplements after 12 weeks.