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.

But what if baby isn’t ready? There are several natural “tricks” that can help encourage your baby into entering the world.

One way to help the labor along is to go for a long walk. Gravity, combined with hip movement, help draw the baby towards the pelvis. The pressure will help prime your cervix for labor, or if labor contractions have already started, help move along the birthing process.

Sex can also help induce labor. Sperm contains prostaglandins, or hormones that can help thin and dilate the cervix, ripening it for delivery. Even an orgasm can help with the process, releasing the hormone oxytocin which can trigger contractions.

Spicy foods are rumored to irritate the intestines and cause the uterus to contract. While there is no medical evidence to prove spicy foods can naturally induce labor, many women swear by this urban legend. Just remember, spicy foods can cause heartburn, especially during pregnancy!

Massages and relaxation are a great way to encourage baby to come along. Studies show that a massage can raise your body’s level of oxytocin, the hormone that can cause contractions. Some massage therapists swear by their ability to help jump-start labor when a mom-to-be is overdue. Meditation and even just cuddling with your partner can help relax you, which might get your oxytocin levels pumping. A majority of labors start during the night when an expectant mom is in a state of relaxation, which triggers the release of oxytocin. So if you’re anxious about that baby who doesn’t want to leave his cozy bed, try a stress-relieving activity like meditation during pregnancy. Even if your efforts don’t directly trigger labor, you’ll be waiting in a more-relaxed frame of mind.

Mood changes during pregnancy can be caused by physical stresses, fatigue, changes in your metabolism, or by the changing hormones in your body. Significant changes in your hormone levels can affect your level of neurotransmitters, which are brain chemicals that regulate mood. Mood swings are mostly experienced during the first trimester, around 6 to 10 weeks and then again in the third trimester as your body prepares for birth.

It is important to understand you are not alone; mood swings are just another aspect of the pregnancy experience. There are several steps that you can take to help manage your stress level and control your mood swings.

Be Active. Regular physical activity is a great way to maintain healthy mood change during pregnancy. Physical activity, such as walking or pregnancy yoga, will increase your energy and lower your stress levels.

Get Plenty of Rest. Being pregnant can be difficult, both physically and mentally. Taking a break from your everyday routine to relax, even for a few minutes, will help lower your stress levels and minimize mood swings. A nap is a great tool to use, especially if you have a hectic schedule. Getting plenty of sleep at night will rejuvenate you, and allow you to work through stressful situations with a clear mind throughout your day.

Enjoy your pregnancy! Don’t be too hard on yourself – this is a joyous time in your life, so enjoy it! Take time to go get a massage and relax. The more relaxed you are, the smoother your pregnancy will go.

The Physical Changes

As the weeks wear on, your body will continue to change to accommodate the baby, which could make for an uncomfortable few months while you wait for labor to arrive. As you gain weight, your breasts will keep growing and perhaps leak colostrum (the liquid produced before milk), your back may ache, you might get winded easily, and you’ll likely have to visit the restroom for bathroom breaks a lot more often than you did pre-pregnancy (things like sneezing and laughing could lead to some leakage—embarrassing, yes, but totally normal). The unlucky will have to deal with stretch marks on the abdomen; spider veins in the face, arms and neck; and varicose veins in the legs and rectum—also known as hemorrhoids when they pick this spot to strike.

You may start to have noticeable Braxton Hicks contractions as well. These “practice” contractions differ from the real deal in that they don’t get stronger or closer together as they go, but they may be uncomfortable.

The Emotional Changes

Playing the waiting game can be difficult, especially with all the physical discomfort that goes along with it. The reality that you’re about to be a parent for the first time (or again!) will hit you harder than it has before, and that can spark anxious thoughts. Talking about your fears with your partner or other moms (and even your baby) can be helpful, as can journaling. You can never totally prepare for what’s about to happen, but reading books, taking classes and getting everything ready can help ease your concerns and make you feel as ready as possible.

The Baby’s Changes

During the third trimester, your baby’s getting all the finishing touches, if you will—his eyes blink for the first time, his bones fully form, and the lanugo (fine, downy hair) on his body sheds. At this stage, babies gain weight rapidly, sprouting up from around 2.5 pounds at the beginning of the trimester to their delivery weight of 6 to 9 pounds or so. It’s even possible that your baby is having sweet dreams when he sleeps now—although it’s anyone’s guess as to what they’re about. Pretty soon, you’ll get to ask him yourself!

The Doctor’s Visits

From 28 to 34 weeks, your appointments will increase to every other week. We’ll monitor your weight gain, blood pressure and urine; listen to the fetal heartbeat; and check the baby’s position. You can also expect to be screened for gestational diabetes and Group B strep (bacteria that can cause an infection with your baby), and, as a part of our OB VIP program, we’ll review your birth plan, including cord blood banking and breastfeeding, to make sure you are ready and set to go. At 36 weeks, we’ll start to see you every week, and if you go past your due date, you’ll come in twice a week until the baby is born. Whatever questions you have, please ask! We are here for you and are committed to making sure that you have a great birth!