Bill Text: PA HR248 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizing the month of May 2011 as "Healthy Babies Month" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 46-30)

Status: (Passed) 2011-05-02 - Adopted (193-0) [HR248 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HR248-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1650
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 248 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY WATSON, WAGNER, QUINN, DiGIROLAMO, PETRI, BAKER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CUTLER, DAY, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GERBER, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HAHN, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, M. K. KELLER, KILLION, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARSICO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MOUL, MULLERY, MURT, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PYLE, RAPP, RAVENSTAHL, READSHAW, REED, ROCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SCHRODER, K. SMITH, STABACK, SWANGER, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WHITE AND YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 27, 2011
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 27, 2011
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of May 2011 as "Healthy Babies Month" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The March of Dimes is declaring May 2011 to be
"Healthy Babies Month" in order to educate men and women of
childbearing age about the importance of preconception and
prenatal care, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle in order to
enhance positive birth outcomes; and
WHEREAS, Women of childbearing age can take steps before and
during pregnancy to improve birth outcomes, including adopting a
healthy lifestyle of moderate exercise and a healthy diet,
reducing stress and avoiding exposure to smoking, alcohol,
illegal drugs and some medications that can harm a developing
fetus; and
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WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania in 2009, 17.6% of women ages 18 to
44 reported binge drinking in the past month, compared to 15.7%
overall in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and particularly
binge drinking, can cause birth defects and mental retardation;
and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania in 2009, 23.47% of women ages 18 to
44 reported smoking, compared to 19.6% overall in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, Smoking is an important determinant of health status
and a major contributor to prematurity and low birth weight; and
WHEREAS, Up to 70% of neural tube defects, which are birth
defects of the brain and spinal cord, may be prevented if women
consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, prior to and during
the early weeks of conception; and
WHEREAS, Eighty-four percent of women ages 18 to 45 surveyed
in 2008 had heard of folic acid, but only 39% of these women
reported taking a multivitamin with folic acid daily; and
WHEREAS, Early and regular preconception and prenatal care is
a pregnant woman's first line of defense for protecting her
baby; and
WHEREAS, Recommendations for a healthy pregnancy include
prevention of infections such as rubella, not using prescription
or over-the-counter medications without approval of a doctor and
avoiding tobacco, alcohol and illicit substances; therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of May 2011 as "Healthy Babies Month" in Pennsylvania and
urge parents and prospective parents to contact the March of
Dimes and allied health care organizations for literature on how
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to prepare themselves before conception and during pregnancy.
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