Health experts have raised concerns about a decline in folic acid use, a vitamin known to reduce the risk of serious birth defects when taken before conception. In 2024/25, only 19.8 per cent of women in England reported taking folic acid prior to pregnancy, down from 26.2 per cent in 2021/22. "It is therefore worrying to see the number of women taking supplements before pregnancy continuing to fall. "This means that waiting until after a positive pregnancy test can be too late to gain the full protective benefits of folic acid." Folic acid helps a baby’s brain, skull and spinal cord develop.