Dr Fred Achem, a Gynaecologist in a private clinic, has advised women to ingest folic acid three months before conception as it can help to reduce abnormalities in growing foetus during pregnancy.

Achem gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

He advised women planning to get pregnant to ingest one tablet of folic acid everyday within three months before conception takes place as well as during pregnancy and after delivery.

“The intake of folic acid helps prevent anaemia in mothers; it also builds up the blood and prevents the risk of being exposed to abnormalities in babies due to its deficiency.

“Folic acids are nutrients found in greens mainly green vegetables which help in dividing the red blood cells in the developing foetus.

“They are also common nutrients sensitised into tablets for pregnant women whose foetus are rapidly dividing and forming,’’ Achem said.

According to him, deficiency of folic acid in an expectant mother could lead to poor development of the spinal colum, nerves in the brain of the foetus as well as the lower part of the body.

The gynaecologist noted that lack of folic acid could also lead to clob foot deficiency whereby the baby’s feet are bent outwards and the baby steps on the back of their feet.

He said that the drug helps to increase the blood level in women in preparation for delivery, hence a requirement for both the mother and baby.

Achem encouraged mothers to strictly abide by the intake of the drug further, adding that it had been adopted and practiced in other developed countries.