PRINTER'S NO. 1987

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

No.

370

Session of

2022

INTRODUCED BY CAPPELLETTI, BOSCOLA, HAYWOOD, HUGHES, BARTOLOTTA,

KEARNEY, BROWNE, PHILLIPS-HILL, FONTANA, MARTIN, COMITTA,

KANE, DILLON, COLLETT, COSTA, L. WILLIAMS, STREET, BREWSTER,

WHEREAS, Every year, approximately 1 million pregnancies in

the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of

a newborn; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 25% of all pregnancies end in

miscarriage, which is the loss of a baby before the 20th week of

pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, About 1% of all pregnancies, approximately 24,000

pregnancies, end in stillbirth, which is the loss of a baby at

or after the 20th week of pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, The primary causes of infant mortality, which is

parents, and these disparities are likely the result of lower

quality of maternal health care, socioeconomic factors and

structural racism; and

WHEREAS, The loss of a pregnancy or death of an infant are

deeply painful experiences which can affect families long after

the loss, and many parents endure these losses silently and

without the support of their workplace or larger community; and

WHEREAS, People who have experienced pregnancy loss or infant

loss should have ample opportunity to grieve, including the

ability to take bereavement leave from work; and

officers, public health nurses, educators and employers can

better serve families if they are better educated about these

experiences; and

WHEREAS, In 1988, the month of October was officially

proclaimed as "National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness

Month" to recognize the grief of families, remember all the

pregnancies and infants lost and increase awareness about these

issues; and

WHEREAS, Many organizations continue to recognize pregnancy

and infant loss during the month of October; therefore be it