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                                                      PRINTER'S NO. 1482

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 261 Session of 2007


        INTRODUCED BY WATSON, ADOLPH, ARGALL, BAKER, BARRAR, BASTIAN,
           BENNINGHOFF, BEYER, BIANCUCCI, BISHOP, BOYD, BROOKS,
           CAPPELLI, CAUSER, CLYMER, CONKLIN, COX, CREIGHTON, DALEY,
           DePASQUALE, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FABRIZIO,
           FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GABIG, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS,
           GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HARHART, HARPER, HENNESSEY,
           HERSHEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, M. KELLER, KENNEY, KILLION,
           KIRKLAND, KOTIK, KULA, LEACH, MACKERETH, MAJOR, MANN, MANTZ,
           MARKOSEK, MARSICO, McILHATTAN, MELIO, METCALFE, MILLARD,
           MILNE, MOYER, MUNDY, MURT, MYERS, NAILOR, M. O'BRIEN,
           PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PETRI, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE,
           RAMALEY, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROHRER, ROSS, RUBLEY,
           SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY,
           SONNEY, STERN, SURRA, TANGRETTI, R. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TRUE,
           VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WANSACZ, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD AND
           YUDICHAK, MAY 4, 2007

        INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
           MAY 4, 2007

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Recognizing the month May 2007 as "Healthy Babies Month" in
     2     Pennsylvania and urging prospective parents to be informed
     3     about prenatal care.

     4     WHEREAS, The March of Dimes is declaring May 2007 to be
     5  "Healthy Babies Month" in order to educate men and women of
     6  childbearing age about the importance of preconception and
     7  prenatal care, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle in order to
     8  enhance positive birth outcomes; and
     9     WHEREAS, According to the most recently released data of the
    10  National Center for Health Statistics, 16,928 babies were born
    11  prematurely in this Commonwealth, accounting for more than 11.8%

     1  of live births in 2004; and
     2     WHEREAS, The rate of premature births in this Commonwealth
     3  has increased more than 10% in the last decade; and
     4     WHEREAS, The rate of preterm birth, by race, is highest among
     5  African Americans (17%), Native Americans (14.2%), Hispanics
     6  (13%), whites (10.5%) and Asians (9.2%); and
     7     WHEREAS, In this Commonwealth, premature birth with
     8  accompanying low birthweight is the second leading cause of
     9  infant death (death in the first year of life) and the leading
    10  cause of newborn death (death in the first month of life); and
    11     WHEREAS, Prematurity is the number one obstetric problem in
    12  our nation, with 1 in 8 babies, including 1 in 6 African-
    13  American babies, born prematurely; and
    14     WHEREAS, Prematurity is a major medical challenge in
    15  obstetrics and pediatrics and a significant determinant of
    16  morbidity and mortality in infancy and throughout the lifetime
    17  of preterm babies; and
    18     WHEREAS, A recent national survey conducted by the March of
    19  Dimes found that only 37% of respondents identified prematurity
    20  as "very serious" or "extremely serious"; and
    21     WHEREAS, Pregnant women can benefit from new knowledge,
    22  skills and technology and seek diagnosis and treatment for high-
    23  risk medical conditions; and
    24     WHEREAS, Early, regular preconception and prenatal care is a
    25  pregnant woman's first line of defense for protecting her baby;
    26  and
    27     WHEREAS, Recommendations for a healthy pregnancy include
    28  prevention of infections such as rubella, not using prescription
    29  or over-the-counter medications without approval of a doctor and
    30  avoiding tobacco, alcohol and illicit substances; therefore be
    20070H0261R1482                  - 2 -     

     1  it
     2     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
     3  month of May 2007 as "Healthy Babies Month" in Pennsylvania; and
     4  be it further
     5     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge prospective
     6  parents to contact the March of Dimes and allied health care
     7  organizations for literature on how to prepare themselves before
     8  conception and during pregnancy.















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