### instruction:
If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description.

### input:
i have been taking folic acid 5mg for three months now before falling preganant, however i recently read that this dose is usually only used for woman who have a risk of health problems like diabetes etc.is this safe for the baby when i do fall pregnant?

### output:

Hello, and I hope I can help you today. Folic acid, a B vitamin, is involved in proper development of an unborn fetus and efficiency of folic acid has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of certain kinds of birth defects, called neural tube defects. Is recommended by the CDC (centers for disease control) that women planning pregnancy take at least 400 mcg (micrograms) of folic acid daily. This is the minimum nutritional requirement recommended for this vitamin during pregnancy. Folic acid can also be prescribed up to 4 mg (milligrams)per day for women who are at increased risk for neural tube defects. These people include women who have to take certain medications during pregnancy that deplete folic acid, a family history of previously affected infant with a neural tube defect, and other inherited forms of clotting disorders.However, folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that any excess in your system be washed out in your urine and there are no harmful effects on your body or the babies if you are taking higher than the recommended dose. So 5 mg is higher than the standard dose for pregnancy, however it really will not do you or the baby any harm. If anything you can cut the tablets in half and still have the adequate dose for supplementation and prevention of birth defects. I hope I was able to adequately answer your question today, and that my advice was helpful. Best wishes, 