Nancy's enthusiasm spread throughout her workplace, and she encourages every company to get involved - from large corporations to small businesses. She has learned a lot about preconception health while being a spokesperson. Before leaving for work, she eats a healthy breakfast and takes a multi-vitamin. She is preparing her body to eventually nurture a baby. She says her diet, which meets the daily recommendation of folic acid, is extremely important for women who are of child bearing age.

Folic acid has been shown to reduce the risk of birth defects of the spine and brain by 50-60 percent. And although she and her husband are not planning to have children for a few more years, she knows that almost half of the pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned.

"I thought it was pretty incredible that something so simple could help so much," says Nancy. "I am not planning to get pregnant any time soon, but if it does happen, the folic acid will be in my body to help prevent birth defects. I learned you can get folic acid through certain foods like green leafy vegetables, orange juice, enriched breads, beans and grains. You can also get it through a multi-vitamin. A lot of people don't know about folic acid because the research wasn't widely known until the early 1990s."

Nancy also understands how a change in anyone's diet, especially for a busy woman like herself, can be a challenge. But she reminds women that the benefits outweigh the inconvenience, and changing a routine can be easy.

"I think everybody can take time out in the morning to drink orange juice," she says. "Make an effort to get fortified cereals and breads. Folic acid comes in a lot of food, and taking a multi-vitamin doesn't take long."

When asked if her work with this campaign makes her an advocate in her daily life, she replied that she definitely tries to educate people.

"I give a little lecture, like, 'OK, you need to do this and this. Do you know about this? Are you taking your multi-vitamin?'" she says. "And I really noticed a difference in my own diet. I don't like vegetables much; the only one I can eat is asparagus... so I have been loading up on that! Women also need to make sure they are vaccinated against measles and Rubella (German measles), get regular check-ups, maintain an ideal weight, exercise, review family history, don't handle cat litter or eat under-cooked meat, drink, do drugs, or smoke."

Nancy has conducted in-depth interviews with famous celebrities such as Arnold Schwartzeneger, John Travolta, Tom Hanks, Nicolas Cage and Michael Douglas. But despite her contributions to the entertainment world, Nancy is motivated by her husband's success as an anesthesiologist, and often compares her work with his.

"Because you are in the entertainment world, you ask yourself, 'What am I doing to make a difference...what am I doing to help society?'" says Nancy. "I always felt a little guilty, I think, being married to a doctor and hearing all that he's done to help in emergency rooms, and with delivering babies. I just don't feel like I am making as much of a difference as he is. But now maybe I am going to help someone 40, 30 or even 10 years down the road. Or maybe I am helping someone who is having a baby right now. That's rewarding."

For more information on how to get involved in the Blue Jeans for Babies campaign, call your local March of Dimes chapter or 1-888-MODIMES (663-4637).

About the Author: Jessica Williams is a Pregnancy Today contributing writer and mother of two boys, born in 9/93 and 8/96. She writes breastfeeding, parenting and pregnancy articles from her home in northwest Montana. She is the breastfeeding guide at Suite 101.