HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 47
(Theresa Marie Miller)
(By Delegates Miller, Capito, Compton, Douglas,
Facemyer, Fleischauer, Fletcher, Hatfield,
Houston, Hubbard, Mahan, Marshall, Pettit, Smirl,
L. Smith, Spencer, Susman, Warner and Yeager)
Requesting the Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human
Resources to make a study of the medical condition of
postpartum depression in and for the State of West Virginia
and encouraging the United States Surgeon General to place
postpartum depression on the agenda in the forthcoming study
of suicide.
Whereas, Postpartum depression is the result of a chemical
imbalance triggered by a sudden, dramatic drop in hormonal
production after the birth of a baby; and
Whereas, 70% to 80% of all new mothers suffer some degree of
postpartum depression, lasting anywhere from a week to as much as
a year or more; and
Whereas, The most serious form of postpartum depression is
postpartum psychosis suffered by as many as three out of every
1,000 new mothers suffering postpartum depression, and which often
results in suicide attempts or infanticide; and
Whereas, This often debilitating condition of new mothers has
typically been a silent condition suffered privately by women
because of the feelings of shame or guilt as this period of a
woman's life is supposed to be the happiest time of her life;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human
Resources is hereby requested to review, examine and study
postpartum depression during the next Legislative Interim session,
through creation of a committee of experts and interested parties
to study the medical condition and to report back to the
Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Resources with
the minimum recommendations to:
1. Design a risk factor evaluation form to be used by
obstetricians to alert the doctor of pregnant women's symptoms
which might trigger more severe forms of postpartum depression;
2. Recommend that all hospitals and clinics which deliver
babies provide departing new mothers and fathers or family members
with complete information about postpartum depression, its
symptoms, ways to deal with it, and treatment;
3. Encourage all pediatricians to screen new mothers for
postpartum depression symptoms when these new mothers bring in
their babies for their two-weeks checkup;
4. For future research, include a place on West Virginia
death certificates to indicate if a suicide of a female was preceded within the last six months by the delivery of a baby; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislative Oversight Committee on
Health and Human Resources report to the regular session of the
Legislature, 2000, on its findings, conclusions and
recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary
to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Legislative Committee
on Health and Human Resources; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the United States Surgeon General is
encouraged to place postpartum depression on the agenda in the
forthcoming study of suicide; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is
directed to send a copy of this resolution to the United States
Surgeon General.