THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WATSON, BAKER, CUTLER, RAPP, QUINN, PETRI, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP, BOYD, BRIGGS, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, DALEY, DELOZIER, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FLECK, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRELL, GRUCELA, HELM, HESS, HICKERNELL, JOHNSON, KILLION, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN, MARSICO, McCALL, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MICCARELLI, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MOUL, MUNDY, MURT, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE, REED, REESE, REICHLEY, ROCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, STABACK, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WAGNER AND YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 29, 2010

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 29, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the month of May 2010, as "Healthy Babies Month" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, The March of Dimes is declaring May 2010 as "Healthy

Babies Month" in order to educate men and women of childbearing

age about the importance of preconception and prenatal care,

nutrition and a healthy lifestyle in order to enhance positive

birth outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Women of childbearing age can take steps before and

during pregnancy to improve birth outcomes by adopting a healthy

lifestyle that includes moderate exercise and a healthy diet,

reducing stress and avoiding exposure to smoking, alcohol,

illegal drugs and medications that can harm a developing fetus;

and

WHEREAS, Another important recommendation for a healthy

pregnancy includes preventing infections such as rubella; and

WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania in 2008, 18.9% of women between the

ages of 18 and 44 reported binge drinking in the past month,

compared to 14.8% overall in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Drinking alcohol during pregnancy, particularly

binge drinking, can cause birth defects and mental retardation;

and

WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania in 2008, 24.7% of women between the

ages of 18 and 44 reported smoking, compared to 20% overall in

the United States; and

WHEREAS, Smoking is a contributing factor in determining

health status and in pregnant women is a major contributor to

prematurity and low birth weight in babies; and

WHEREAS, Up to 70% of neural tube defects, birth defects of

the brain and spinal cord, may be prevented if women consume 400

micrograms of folic acid daily, prior to and during the early

weeks of conception; and

WHEREAS, 84% of women between the ages of 18 and 45 surveyed

in 2008 had heard of folic acid, but only 11% of these women

knew to take folic acid before pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, Early and regular preconception and prenatal care is

a pregnant woman's first line of defense for protecting her

baby; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

month of May 2010, as "Healthy Babies Month" in Pennsylvania and

urge parents and prospective parents to contact the March of

Dimes and allied health care organizations for literature on how

to prepare themselves before conception and during pregnancy.