Surprising
In a meta-analysis of 855 women, those who had been pregnant before were 29% less likely to take folic acid before their next pregnancy — a finding that flips the assumption that experience improves supplement habits.
This suggests prior pregnancy experience may not reliably translate into better supplement adherence, but because this is among the first meta-analyses on this specific question and adjusted for many confounders, the result is notable but not definitive — more research is needed to understand why the pattern occurred.
Researchers combined data from multiple studies and found that women who had previously given birth (multiparous) were significantly less likely to take folic acid before and during a subsequent pregnancy compared to women pregnant for the first time. The odds were 29% lower for preconception use alone, and the pattern held across several time windows, though one timing (second trimester) showed no difference. This suggests that having been through pregnancy before does not automatically lead to better supplement practices, which is surprising because you'd expect experience to improve health behaviors.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on Vitamin B9 for Reduced Preconception Supplementation — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Meta-Analysis
- n = 855
- 2026-05
- BMJ open
This is a plain-language summary of a research finding, not medical advice. Pillser surfaces research signals to help you decide what's worth investigating — always consult a qualified professional before changing what you take.