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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 24, 2020 12:20 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Katie J. Muth |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Dedicating April 8th as Fourth Trimester Care Awareness Day |
| In the near future, I will be introducing a resolution dedicating April 8th as Fourth Trimester Care Awareness Day. The United States has one of the worst records for maternal health in the industrialized world. Both societal norms and our medical system concentrate almost solely on the health, safety, and care of the fetus and infant, while the care for the mother during the postnatal period has little to no support. During pregnancy a mother may have a dozen or more OB-GYN visits right up until days to giving birth. Once a baby is born, their first pediatric visit usually occurs within a few days. For the mother however, there is generally only one visit four to six weeks after delivery. In many cases, insurance does not cover more than this one visit. The first three months of the postnatal period can be a time of particular vulnerability for new mothers with risks for both physical and mental health issues. This period should be recognized as the Fourth Trimester during which the care afforded the mother should be on par with the care she receives prior to childbirth. The purpose of this resolution is to bring attention to the need for Fourth Trimester care and raise awareness of the attendant benefits for both mothers and infants by designating April 8th as the Fourth Trimester Care Day. As legislators we need to commit ourselves to supporting families at all stages by elevating and addressing the health and wellness of new mothers. Please join me in cosponsoring this important resolution. |
Introduced as SR354