Assembly Resolution No. 371

BY: M. of A. Solages

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 1-5, 2023, as Maternal Health Awareness Week in
the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to help increase
awareness of serious health conditions that affect the lives of citizens
of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 1-5, 2023, as Maternal
Health Awareness Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with
World Maternal Mental Health Day, May 3, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Organizations from around the world, including the United
States, Canada, United Kingdom, Turkey, Australia, Argentina, Malta, New
Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Germany, and Nigeria, are leading efforts
to raise awareness about maternal mental health through a collective
social media push and in-country events; Postpartum Support
International is proud to be a member of this worldwide task force; and

WHEREAS, According to the New York State Department of Health and
Office of Mental Health, there are four recognized types of maternal
depression: prenatal depression, "baby blues," postpartum depression and
postpartum psychosis; and

WHEREAS, The BlueDot Project was created by Peggy O'Neil Nosti, a
mother who suffered from postpartum anxiety with her third child who
wanted to find a way to let other mothers know they were not alone; she
created a subtle image of a blue dot and a silver lining to illustrate
hope; and

WHEREAS, Although all types have similar symptoms, the prevalence
rates, some symptoms and time frame of the depressions differ; some
studies also explore postpartum major depression, which is similar to
major depression except after pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, For example, "baby blues" is the least severe, and usually
lasts about two weeks maximum after delivery; it is the most common, and
as many as 80 percent of new mothers suffer from "baby blues"; and

WHEREAS, Some symptoms include exhaustion, crying, sleep problems,
anxiety and mood fluctuations; and

WHEREAS, Postpartum depression (PPD) is becoming more well-known,
and it affects 10 to 20 percent of new mothers; and

WHEREAS, Symptoms must last more than two weeks to be considered PPD
and not just "baby blues"; and

WHEREAS, There are also more symptoms associated with PPD, such as
feeling inadequate or guilty, feeling sad constantly, feeling suicidal,

not attaching or bonding to the baby, overly worrying about the baby or
not being interested at all in the baby; and

WHEREAS, Information obtained from the New York State Department of
Health indicates that 10-20% of new mothers suffer from maternal
depression, including periods of sadness, anxiety, fatigue and thoughts
of death or suicide; and

WHEREAS, For more than 1 out of every 1,000 new mothers, the
maternal depression they experience, also known as postpartum psychosis,
can lead to hallucinations and mania; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 1-5, 2023, as Maternal
Health Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.