North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation Media
¿Tomaste tu Vitamina Hoy?
(Have you taken your vitamin today?)

(English translation)
Time: 13:46

At Ana Maria's house

Ana Maria:
Hello, my name is Ana María Morales and I have an important message for women of childbearing age. Do you know that some birth defects can be prevented? It's as simple as eating the right foods or taking a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. I would like to tell you more about this but I need to get ready for my dance lesson. But don't go away! I would like to help you learn more about the important role folic acid plays in preventing birth defects of the brain and spine.

At the dance class

Daniel: Music please.

Two girls: Number two. Yes.

Daniel: 1-2-3, 4-5-6...1-2-3, 4-5-6. Move your waist. Feel the music. 1-2-3, 4-5-6 6 … left, right, left, right, back, front. That's it. Okay ladies, that's enough for today, see you next week. And practice!

Paola: I'll see you later, okay. Sending you a kiss.

Ana María: Okay. Hi Rocío, would you like to come to lunch? I would love to chat with you.

Rocío: Yes, what are you going to serve?

Ana María: I'm going to make a delicious meal tomorrow.

Rocío: Great. What time?

Ana María: At 11 o'clock.

Rocío: Okay.

Ana María: Okay.

Rocío: Very good, I'll see you tomorrow at 11:00 at your house.

Ana María: That's great.

Rocío: Are you leaving now?

Ana María: Yes.

Rocío: Okay, let’s go.

Ana María: Let’s go.

At Ana María's house the next day

Rocío: Hi!

Ana María: Hi Rocío, thank you for coming, come in.

Rocío: It was nice of you to invite me.

Ana María: The food is ready.

Rocío: It smells delicious. Ana María what smells so good? What are you cooking?

Ana María: I cooked rice and black beans, chicken with broccoli, and of course a green salad. I hope you like it!

Rocío: If it tastes as good as it smells I will love it!

Ana María: But of course, I made it.

Doorbell rings

Ana María: That must be Paola.

Rocío: I'll get it, you stay there. Hi Paola, it is so good to see you.

Paola: Hi, it's Paola, can I come in? I’m here.

Rocío: How nice to see you.

Paola: Hi Rocío, it is nice to see you ... what are you doing?

Rocío: Talking with Ana María.

Paola: I hope it's not about me. (mmm) What smells so good? I know that Ana María is such a good cook.

Ana María: Hi Paola.

Rocío: That's right, it looks so good.

Ana María: I think you must just want to eat.

Rocío: No, not that, you cook so well.

Ana María: Of course.

Paola: How delicious!

Rocío: Ana María told me that you are getting married.

Paola: Yes, that's right. Look …

Ana María: Finally, she's going to get married. She made a decision.

Rocío: Look, how beautiful!

Ana María: I thought she was never going to get married.

Paola: Two years … and nothing.

Rocío: Oh! How come? I have something special for you. I am going to give you your first wedding present. Look what it is.

Paola: Folic acid! Are you kidding?

Ana María: No, it is not a joke

Rocío: Let me explain. Folic acid really isn't an acid. It is the scientific name for a B vitamin. All women of childbearing age between 15 and 50 should take one vitamin every day. It's important to take it daily.

Ana María: Also, many foods contain folic acid.

Paola: Which ones?

Rocío: The very ones you are eating. Enriched rice, beans, pasta, broccoli and green vegetables all have folic acid.

Ana María: And orange juice is rich in folic acid too.

Paola: I didn't know that. What would happen if I do not take a multivitamin with folic acid and become pregnant?

Rocío: There would be an increased risk that your baby could be born with certain birth defects, especially neural tube defects. That's why it is important you take folic acid every day.

Ana María: That's why it is so important you take your vitamins before you get pregnant.

Rocío: Let me explain Paola. In the first 28 days following conception, as the neural tube develops the baby's spinal column closes. If it doesn't close properly in the upper part, the baby will be born with a condition called anancephaly.

Paola: Anencephaly? What's that?

Rocío: Anencephaly is a fatal condition caused by the failure of the upper portion of the neural tube to close properly. As a result, the baby's brain develops inadequately or not at all. Babies born with anencephaly die soon after birth.

Paola: How awful!

Ana María: If you take a multivitamin with folic acid every day, up to 70 percent of neural tube defects may be prevented.

Rocío: Another problem is spina bifida. This happens when the lower part of the spinal column does not close correctly. As a result, the child may not walk and will have problems going to the bathroom. It is so sad.

Paola: That's terrible. One must take folic acid every day.

Rocío: Yes, that's why it is important to take a vitamin every day.

Paola: I'’m not good taking pills, I always forget them.

Ana María: Do you know what I do? I put the bottle of vitamins next to the coffeepot so when I make coffee they will be there and I won't forget.

Paola: That's a good idea.

Rocío: Of course you could put them next to your toothbrush so when you brush your teeth before you go to bed they will be there and you won't forget.

Paola: And what if I forget to brush my teeth?

Rocío: Don't say that.

Paola: I didn't know about spina bifida, it is horrible. I am going to take my vitamin right now. Only one pill? Even though I'm not planning on having babies right now. I'’m going to plan my family.

Rocío: Yes, one a day.

Rocío: Remember, not all babies are planned, some are surprises. That's why you need to take it daily.

Paola: I'm going to take it.

Rocío: That's very good.

Paola: Ana María I heard that vitamins make you hungry. I don't want to gain weight, my wedding dress won't fit!

Ana María: No, they do not make you hungry.

Rocío: Some pregnant women think that vitamins make them feel hungry. But that is not true. You get hungry because you are pregnant and the baby is hungry. The vitamins don't make you hungry.

Ana María: That is true, I always was hungry, but it was the baby.

Rocío: Remember to check that the label on the back of the vitamin bottle lists 400 mcg of folic acid. That is the amount you need to take every day. Check the label every time.

Ana María: And it won’t make you hungry. But if you think it will… what you can do is take your vitamin before you get in bed. Place them next to your bed so after you take them you can go to sleep and won't think about being hungry.

Paola:Okay, let's eat. We are just talking, talking, talking.

Ana María: And the food is getting cold.

Rocío: Paola you have learned valuable information today. Vitamins may not make you hungry, but this food does. Let's eat.

Ana María: Paola, why don’t you show Rocío the wedding dress?

Rocío: Oh, yes.

Paola: Yes, let'’s go, it's in the other room, you have to see it!

In the bedroom

Rocío: Paola, you will look like a princess, it is so beautiful!

Paola: Yes, thank you. My boyfriend hasn't seen it yet, but he wants to.

Ana María: Paola try on your veil.

Ana María and Rocío: It's so beautiful!

Paola: Thank you, I love it. What a special wedding gift you just gave me teaching me about the importance of taking a multivitamin with folic acid every day and eating meals that contain folic acid. Thank you Rocío.

Ana María: Hope you keep taking them.

Paola: Yes, every day.

Ana María: Every day.

At Ana María’s house another day

Ana María: Before I go to the party, I want to remind you of something. I hope you are taking a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid every day. Doctors say it is the best way to prevent birth defects of the brain and spine. Folic acid may also help prevent colon cancer, heart disease and other problems. Remember, if you are between the ages of 15 and 50 you need to take a vitamin with folic acid every day starting today. When you buy your vitamins look at the label and be sure folic acid is listed. Also remember not all pregnancies are planned so women between the ages of 15 and 50 need to take folic acid every day. Thank you for watching. I am Ana María Morales for the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation.

Credits
North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation in conjunction with the North
Carolina Folic Acid Council presents “Have you taken your vitamin today?” A marCOMM, Inc. production.

Talent

Luz Verónica Zapata-Vargas         
Rosalie Bocelli-Hernández
Natalia Paola Bohorquez

Dancers
Daniel Santiago
Melanie Dale

Dance Students
María Benítez
Marisol Silva
Rosalie Bocelli-Hernández             
Soledad Teermer
Natalia Bohorquez                         
Luz Verónica Zapata-Vargas
Adriana Ruíz

Girls                                                                     
Adriana Freedman-Scott                
Elena Freedman-Scott

Cameraman                                         
Dave Murdock

Assistant to the Director
Ryan Chambers

Assistants            
Janice Freedman                             
Gloria Sánchez
Casey Wardlaw

Makeup                                                
Tammy Brown

Music
Samecumba “Pa’ Colombia”

Location
Ballroom Dance Studio

Script
Rod Whiting

Editors
Rod Whiting
Rosalie Bocelli-Hernández

Producers
Rosalie Bocelli-Hernández
Karla Kreblein

Director
Rod Whiting

This production was sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Women’s and Children’s Health Section in collaboration with the North Carolina Folic Acid Council.

Special Thanks To
All the staff of the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation and the North Carolina General Assembly.

And
Andrea Bazán-Manson
Claude F. Pickett
José Caudillo
Lisa Richardson
Carlos Hernández 
Kevin Ryan
Jalil Isa
Carol Schriber
David Martínez
Gregory Scott
Isabel Moncayo
Sarah Verbiest
Luis Olivieri-Robert
Verónica Villegas
Leslie A. Paz
Casey Wardlaw
Belinda Pettiford/p>

Filmed in Raleigh, North Carolina by the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation and marCOMM, Inc., 2003.