When can I counsel?

Getting the message across to your clients is very simple and takes less than a minute to communicate.

Consider delivering the message during the following situations:

• regular visits;

• one-on-one counseling sessions;

• group education sessions; or

• cooking classes

Any time you interact with a woman of reproductive age, you should use the opportunity to advocate for her to take a multivitamin containing folic acid. For instance, this can occur when counseling a woman interested in weight loss or a pregnant woman concerned about her diet during pregnancy.

A dietitian also can talk about folic acid any time during WIC sessions. Sharing the message even during the certification session for postpartum moms, can help ensure the message will be carried out to the next pregnancy.

It may seem counterintuitive, as a dietitian, to recommend women take a folic acid supplement as opposed to getting adequate folate and folic acid through food. Women consistently do not get what they need through their diets and a supplement is necessary to reach adequate intake to prevent NTDs and other birth defects. In fact, surveys show that up to 87% of women consume less than the recommended intake. [72]