88R9426 BK-D
 
  By: Alvarado, LaMantia S.R. No. 350
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Our health care system is designed to provide
  regular prenatal care and health checks to women throughout the
  duration of pregnancy, and yet comparatively little attention is
  given to the period after a mother gives birth; and
         WHEREAS, The first three months following the birth of a baby
  is a time of substantial transformation and adaptation for new
  mothers, who simultaneously experience physical, hormonal, and
  psychosocial changes as well as shifting roles and
  responsibilities; during this period of transition, which has come
  to be known as the Fourth Trimester, a new mother is often afforded
  only a single follow-up visit, which generally occurs six weeks
  after the child is born; and
         WHEREAS, The well-being of a mother and her baby are
  intimately connected and should be understood as mutually
  beneficial, with the needs of one considered in the context of the
  needs of the other; because the first few years are crucial to a
  child's development, it is especially important that new mothers be
  given adequate support as they welcome a new baby into their lives;
  and
         WHEREAS, During the Fourth Trimester, mothers may suffer from
  physical and mental health issues that far too often go undiagnosed
  and untreated; some mothers report problems with breastfeeding,
  exhaustion, sleep difficulties, headaches, infections, and
  physical trauma symptoms resulting from childbirth; according to
  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated one of
  every nine mothers in the United States experiences symptoms of
  postpartum depression, and other mental health issues can manifest
  as stress, anxiety, or even rage; these feelings can impact the
  mother's ability to provide child care and to make a full return to
  the workforce and other activities; and
         WHEREAS, Statistics show that fewer than 25 percent of
  mothers are able to achieve the recommended six months of exclusive
  breastfeeding, which can be attributed in part to a lack of access
  to paid maternity leave, negative attitudes toward nursing in
  public, and a lack of workplace accommodations for breastfeeding
  mothers; recent studies showed that nearly a quarter of employed
  women return to work within two weeks of having a child, even though
  tissues can require six weeks to fully heal after childbirth; and
         WHEREAS, It is vital that a mother receive the mental,
  physical, social, and economic support she requires to successfully
  transition through the many challenges she may face in the
  postpartum period, and states across the country are recognizing
  Fourth Trimester Care Day as a means of bringing greater attention
  to the need for maternal health and wellness during that critical
  time; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature
  hereby recognize September 23, 2023, as Fourth Trimester Care Day,
  and encourage all Texans to learn more about the importance of
  postpartum care.