Folate, or folic acid, is essential for cell division. During early pregnancy, the cell division of the foetus is more frequent and the need for folate, or folic acid, therefore the greatest. If you have low levels of folate in the blood, the risk is greater for your child to get certain birth defects (spina bifida). Therefore, the National Food Administration recommends anyone who may get pregnant to take supplements containing 400 micrograms of folic acid daily until the twelfth week of pregnancy. Folate and folic acid are different forms of the same B vitamin. Folate occurs naturally in foods. Folic acid is artificially produced and is used for fortification and in dietary supplements. The best sources of natural folate are dark green leafy vegetables and different kinds of cabbage, beans, lentils, root vegetables and berries. 
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