PRINTER'S NO. 3269
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
857
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY WATSON, BAKER, BENNINGHOFF, BOBACK, R. BROWN,
V. BROWN, BULLOCK, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, D. COSTA, DiGIROLAMO,
DONATUCCI, DUSH, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, HARHART, HENNESSEY,
PHILLIPS-HILL, JAMES, KILLION, KINSEY, KIRKLAND, LONGIETTI,
MACKENZIE, MARSICO, MCCLINTON, MILLARD, MURT, NEILSON,
O'BRIEN, PAYNE, PICKETT, READSHAW, ROSS, SANTORA,
SCHLOSSBERG, SONNEY, STAATS, STURLA, TOEPEL, TOOHIL, VEREB,
WARD, WHEELAND, YOUNGBLOOD AND MAHONEY, MAY 2, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 2, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of May 2016 as "Healthy Babies Month" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The March of Dimes is declaring May 2016 to be
"Healthy Babies Month" in order to educate women and men of
childbearing age about the importance of preconception and
prenatal care, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle to enhance
positive birth outcomes; and
WHEREAS, Women of childbearing age should take steps before
and during pregnancy to improve birth outcomes, such as adopting
a healthy lifestyle that includes moderate exercise and a
balanced diet and avoiding exposure to smoking, alcohol, illegal
drugs and certain medications that may harm a developing fetus;
and
WHEREAS, Consuming 400 micrograms of folic acid daily for
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three months prior to and during the early weeks of conception
may prevent up to 70% of neural tube defects, such as birth
defects of the brain and spinal cord; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania in 2014, 16.9% of women 18 to 44
years of age reported binge drinking during pregnancy, which can
cause birth defects and intellectual and developmental
disabilities; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania in 2014, 23% of women 18 to 44 years
of age reported smoking and 12.9% of pregnant women reported
smoking in the last three months of pregnancy, which may
contribute to prematurity and low birth weight; and
WHEREAS, Early and regular preconception and prenatal care is
a pregnant woman's first line of defense for protecting her
baby; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania in 2013, 6.8%, or approximately 1 in
15, of infants were born to women receiving either no prenatal
care or late prenatal care beginning in the seventh to ninth
month of pregnancy; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of May 2016 as "Healthy Babies Month" in Pennsylvania; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives 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.
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