May 1st 2015, marks the third Folic Acid Awareness Day from the national spina bifida charity, Shine
The annual event is part of an ongoing campaign by the charity to promote timely access to folic acid and in doing so, to reduce the incidence of serious disability and distress to expectant parents. The day will feature giveaways in city centres, promotions in supermarkets and other retail outlets and colleges throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with hands on support from Shine members, local MPs, council leaders, midwives, pharmacists and on-going support from Vitabiotics Pregnacare.
The 1 in 1,000 chance of an unborn baby developing spina bifida or anencephaly in the womb, means that each week 14 couples in the UK receive the devastating news that their baby is affected. However, up to 72% of these cases could be reduced by getting the right amount of folic acid at the right time.
Martine Austin, Head of Prevention at Shine said, ‘It’s vital that folic acid is taken BEFORE conception to reduce the risk of these severe conditions. The neural tube, which goes on to form the brain and spine forms in the first 28 days, before many women are even aware that they’re pregnant. So, starting to take it once you’re already pregnant is too late.’
Despite the great success of the Go Folic! campaign and Folic Acid Awareness Day, Martine warns that there is still much more work that needs to be done to ensure that all women are aware of this important information.
Martine continues, ‘Although we’re actively raising awareness throughout the year, it’s amazing to have this annual day when women can really come together as a community to share this important message with one another. We know that women will change their behaviour if they’re made aware of the information in time, in a way in which they can relate to, but we need all women to help one another in this. That’s what’s so special about today!’
The charity is encouraging women to empower one another by:
- Posting a photo or ‘selfie’ giving a ‘thumbs up’ (using the #FumbsUP4Folic hashtag) and sharing it on social media.
- Making sure their friends, relatives, employees, and colleagues know that they should be taking a folic acid supplement each day if there is any chance that they might conceive.
- Sharing Shine’s Folic Acid Awareness Day posts on Facebook and Twitter.
- Asking their local GP surgery,clinic, employer to display Go Folic! leaflets.
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