Outreach Effort Urges Brides to Commit to Folic Acid

WASHINGTON—The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) and the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) launched “The Commitment Project,” an initiative designed to encourage brides-to-be to make a vow of health to their future children by taking a daily multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid. Studies have shown women who take folic acid before and during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the fetus.

“Half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned,” said Judy Meehan, executive director, HMHB. “As she’s making a commitment to a new life with her husband, the bride-to-be needs to consider the very real possibility that this might include a child and it may be sooner than she thinks.”

The Commitment Project will include outreach to bridal publications and women’s media outlets, including a series of e-postcards accessible via the HMHB Web site or a special CRN Web site to allow consumers to share the message.

“Getting married is about making a commitment to a new family,” said Judy Blatman, senior vice president, communications, CRN. “The bride-to-be needs to make a commitment to her own health, as well as her future children’s health, and make sure she’s getting the recommended amount of folic acid. A multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid provides an affordable and convenient way to help protect brides-to-be who may soon become mothers-to-be.”