How effective is folic acid in preventing abnormalities in a developing baby?

Q: In my earlier two pregnancies, the baby had anencephaly. I want to know what is the chance of an abnormality in the current pregnancy despite taking heavy doses of folic acid regularly for the last 8 months? It would be very kind of you if you can let me know about any other option.

A:There is a great risk for anencephaly in the 3rd pregnancy as your other 2 pregnancies had the same malformation. This risk can only be reduced to a small extent by taking folic acid. By egg donation (a kind of test-tube baby), the risk from one of the partners is eliminated. In this, eggs are obtained from a donor; fertilised outside the body with your husband's sperms and the resulting embryo is transferred into your uterus. There is a good chance of pregnancy withthis.