Yes the lac of folic acid an iron can cause birth defects
The gummy vitamins you can buy at Wal-Mart. For me they are a lot easier on your stomach compared to regular prenatal vitamins. My doctor said folic acid is very important for your baby's growth (as are the other vitamins too i'm sure).
My prenatals made me sick if I took them in the morning with my other meds. Now I take them at night and it's much better.
Gummy prenatals are good but do not have iron.
I have gummy prenatals that don't make me sick like the other ones did (: I know here in the US prenatals are "required" (highly recommended) but in other countries like Germany, England, France... they're not really recommended at all.
Like gummy vites? Because I have those :D
It is important that u take some kind of vitamins. My prenatal pills made me so sick and so i had to stop taking them,now i take the regular gummies as my doctor recommended.