The Norwegian Institute of Public Health and colleagues looked into the use of folic acid supplements before and during early pregnancy, and any impact on the risk on the autism spectrum.

“Our main finding was that maternal use of folic acid supplements around the time of conception was associated with a lower risk of autistic disorder,” the authors wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association.(list what date this article appeared )

In some countries, flour is recommended to be enriched with folic acid to lower the risk of birth defects. Women are often advised to take folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy.

Despite the practice, European and North American studies have found that many pregnant women take less folate in their diet than is required to prevent neural tube defects.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s research appears to confirm that taking folic acid supplements is well-founded.

The 85,176 Norwegian children who took part in the study were born between 2002 and 2008.

Among the sample, 270 children, or 0.32 percent, were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, and researchers found that there was an inverse association between folic acid use and subsequent autism risks.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 88 children, or 1.14 percent, in the United States are identified with an autism spectrum disorder.

Mothers who took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy had a 40 percent lower risk of having children with autistic disorder compared with mothers who did not take folic acid, the researchers found.

Folic acid is found in naturally high levels in foods such as dark leafy greens, asparagus and broccoli, as well as citrus fruits. If you are looking to become pregnant, setting up an appointment at Healthy Woman OB/GYN is recommended to ensure that the appropriate levels of folic acid are incorporated into your diet.

If you would like more information on how nutrition can improve health feel free to contact our sister company Pop Weight Loss.

While there is no guarantee that these fun tricks will produce truthful results, it is a fun way to guess your little bundle of joys identity before the big reveal! Keep in mind, these tricks are strictly for fun – there is no medical evidence that these tricks produce actual results!

One great trick is all about position; if the baby is carried in the womb high, then it’s a girl! If the baby sits lower, then you might be having a little boy.

Next time you visit your OB/GYN, listen to baby’s heartbeat and ask her to tell you what the heart rate is. According to legend, 140+ beats per minute indicates a girl, and below 140 a boy.

Your cravings might just tell you what you are having. Ice cream and sweets might just say that a little girl is on her way, while salty foods could indicate it’s a boy.

The Chinese Birth Chart uses the age you conceived and the month of conception as an indicator of the gender of your baby. The internet offers several free or paid versions to try!

The Drano Method has become very popular in recent years. Using a urine sample and a tablespoon of Drano, a green after color means a girl while a blue color means boy.

Similar to the Chinese Birth Chart, legend has it that the Mayans determined a baby’s sex by looking at the mother’s age at conception and the year of conception. If both are even or odd, it’s a girl. If one’s even and one’s odd, it’s a boy.

Great method to use on a friend! Place a key in front of your expecting friend. If she grabs it by the narrow part, she’s in for sugar and spice. If she picks it up by the round part, it’s snips and snails.

If you’re breaking out like crazy, blame it on your little girl. The belief is that little girls steal their mother’s beauty, causing mom to break out!

Use your wedding ring as a tell tale sign. Tie your ring to a string and see which way it swings. If it swings in a circular motion, you are in for a little boy. If it swings back and forth, expect a little girl.

Cases of morning sickness have indicated that you are having a little girl, while little to no morning sickness could mean that you are having a boy.

The Physical Changes

There’s good news on the physical front for this middle trimester: Morning sickness usually subsides, your sex drive is in top form, and any tenderness in your breasts from the first trimester is likely to disappear. As baby grows, though, so will you—expect to put on about three to four pounds a month. This trimester is probably the one in which you’ll put away most of your wardrobe staples and embrace maternity clothes.

Darkening, stretch marks and dryness are three potential effects on your skin, so be diligent about using sunscreen and moisturizers. Leg cramps may also strike; stretching your calves, especially before bed, will help with that. Breathlessness is normal now, as your lungs are working overtime. If you were exercising vigorously in your pre-pregnancy days, you’ll want to change your routine to something lower impact now. Swimming, prenatal yoga and walking are all good choices.

The Emotional Changes

You should be adjusted to those hormonal fluctuations that might have caught you off guard in the first trimester, so you’re likely to feel more on an even keel now. As your body changes, though, you may start to worry about weight gain, stretch marks and swelling. Some women feel extra beautiful with the changes pregnancy brings; others struggle with body image. Whatever you’re feeling, you’re definitely not alone.

The Baby’s Changes

Most significantly for many, this is when your baby’s sex will reveal itself. It’s also the stage in which you’ll probably start to feel some movement, and your baby might be able to respond to familiar sounds, like your voice. He or she is undergoing rapid changes—developing fingerprints and footprints, sprouting hair, accumulating fat, developing the ability to swallow and make sucking motions, and forming bones.

The Doctor’s Visits

Throughout your second trimester, you’ll have doctor’s visits once a month. At Healthy Woman, you’ll see physicians on a rotating basis so you can feel comfortable with all the doctors on staff. During your appointments this trimester, your weight gain, blood pressure, uterine size and urine will be checked, and your baby’s heartbeat will be listened to. There are optional tests that can be performed during this time that doctors will discuss with you, and you’ll have an ultrasound around 20 to 22 weeks. This is also a good time to create a birth plan; at Healthy Woman, as a part of our OB VIP program, one of the co-founders will meet with you to go over your expectations and hopes for the birthing process. For a detailed explanation of the schedule of doctor’s visits, see our schedule of prenatal visits here.