PRINTER'S NO. 1738
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
340
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY WATSON, TOOHIL, BAKER, BIZZARRO, R. BROWN,
V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CHARLTON, CORR, D. COSTA, DiGIROLAMO,
DUSH, EVERETT, HEFFLEY, HELM, HENNESSEY, HILL-EVANS,
KAUFFMAN, KIM, LONGIETTI, MACKENZIE, MARSICO, McNEILL,
MILLARD, MILNE, NEILSON, PASHINSKI, PICKETT, READSHAW, ROZZI,
SAINATO, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHWEYER, SONNEY, STAATS, TOEPEL, WARD,
WARREN AND WHEELAND, MAY 18, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 18, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of May 2017 as "Healthy Babies Month" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The March of Dimes educates women of childbearing
age and their partners 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, including
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
three months prior to and during the early weeks of conception
may prevent up to 70% of neural tube defects, including birth
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defects of the brain and spinal cord; and
WHEREAS, Though 84% of women 18 to 45 years of age who were
surveyed had heard of folic acid, only 19% knew to take folic
acid before pregnancy; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, in 2015, 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 2015, 22.4% of women 18 to 44
years of age reported smoking and 12.6% of pregnant women
reported smoking in the last three months of pregnancy, which
may contribute to preterm birth and low birth weight; and
WHEREAS, Early and regular preconception and prenatal care is
the first line of defense for protecting pregnant women and
their infants; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, in 2015, 6.6% of infants, or
approximately 1 in 15, were born to women receiving 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 2017 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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