Is folic acid necessary during pregnancy?

Q: I'm a 24 year old woman and I am 18 weeks pregnant. I had a terrible first trimester and I was not aware of the need to take folic acid. I only started taking folic acid and some other supplements last month. I would like to know what are the risks to my baby?

A:There is no harm at all if you have not taken folic acid in the first trimester. Get a level 2 ultrasound done to scan your baby and if the baby appears normal structurally do not worry. Even now you need no vitamins in case your food has enough fresh vegetables and fruits.