I urge prospective parent to stop and take the time to read the five articles by Evelyn Pringle on this proposed legislation. I find the information contained in the Mothers Act rather frightening and I am glad that I am now 67 years old and no longer able to be a prospective parent, but I hold fears for my children and grandchildren when I see legislation like this proposed. The more people know about this type of legislation and let their friends know, the better! This is one of the reasons that I have pages like Health Issues. Click on the links below.
The Mothers Act Part 1
The Mothers Act Part 2

The Mothers Act Part 3 states:

For "Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder," Katherine writes: "All you have to do to be at risk for getting postpartum is to have the perception of a traumatic childbirth -- in other words, even if your doctors and nurses feel that everything went fairly normally, if it was upsetting and scary and unexpected to you that's what counts."

It goes further to say:

”A March 2009, "Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder," by David Benedek, MD, Matthew Friedman, MD, PhD, Douglas Zatzick, MD, and Robert Ursano, MD, reports that, "SSRIs are recommended as first-line medication treatment for PTSD."

"Benzodiazepines may be useful in reducing anxiety and improving sleep," the authors state.

Marilyn Vine Out of curiosity as to what benzodiazepines might be I went to Wikipedia to find out.

Guess what! One of the first things it told me was that there was ”controversy concerning the safety of benzodiazepines in pregnancy! It went on to say that while they are not major teratogens uncertainty remains as to whether they cause cleft palate in a small number of babies and whether neurobehavioural effects occur as a result of prenatal exposure; they are known to cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.”

Do you know what a teratogen is?

According to Peter Taubert, author of Silent Killers, More than you paid for! And other chemicals found in personal care products” a teratogen is:

Teratogen – an agent or influence that causes physical defects in the developing embryo.”

Guess what - “Benzodiazepines taken during pregnancy have adverse effects on the baby. Abrupt withdrawal in benzodiazepine dependent pregnant women may result in spontaneous abortions and provoke suicidal ideation.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has categorized benzodiazepines into either category D or X meaning potential for harm in the unborn has been demonstrated. “

I feel that you should read all the information contained in Wikipedia. It was quite extensive information and if you are young and planning to have a family then I believe that you should know all about this drug especially if you live in America because once this legislation is passed, you will come under its influence. Grandparents take the time to read this Wikipedia information so that you can advise your daughters or sons of the consequences if they are put in this adverse situation.
Wikipedia Benzodiazepine
The Mothers Act Part 3
The Mothers Act Part 4

I am sorry to advise that the link to The Mothers Act Part 5 has been withdrawn.

More information in Health issues on proposed US Legislation.

US Legislation

Just two of the points he raised are:

However, as scary as all of that is, it just scratches the surface. In fact, I have concluded that this legislation really has no intention of providing affordable health care choices. Instead it is a convenient cover for the most massive transfer of power to the Executive Branch of government that has ever occurred, or even been contemplated. If this law or a similar one is adopted, major portions of the Constitution of the United States will effectively have been destroyed.

He goes on to say:

“This legislation also provides for access by the appointees of the Obama administration of all of your personal healthcare information, your personal financial information, and the information of your employer, physician, and hospital. All of this is a direct violation of the specific provisions of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures. You can also forget about the right to privacy. That will have been legislated into oblivion regardless of what the 3rd and 4th Amendments may provide.”

A link to Michael’s full article is below and in his article he provides additional links if you care to read further.

My suggestion to all Americans would be to bombard your politician and demand that your health rights be reinstated and that your Constitution be upheld. Click on the link to read Michael’s article.
Michael Connelly

Before the House in the US is a Bill H.R. 3200 and in the Senate (no number at this time) Affordable Health Choices Act

Affordable Health Choices Act includes:

• Funding for community based “Health Teams,” which will establish a system of early identification and referral for children at risk for developmental or behavioral problems.
• Allocation of up to $5 billion every year for School Based Health Clinics to provide such services as: mental health assessments (screening), crisis intervention, treatment, counseling and referral to emergency psychiatric care.
• A five-year program for the Center for Disease Control to provide public health “interventions,” screenings and clinical referrals for individuals between 55 and 64 years of age.
• The creation of a new “paraprofessional child and adolescent mental health worker.” The legislation states that this is “...an individual who is not a mental or behavioral health service professional, but who works at the first stage of contact with children and families who are seeking mental or behavioral health services.”

• This bill also calls for the establishment of School Based Health Clinics that will provide mental health assessments (screening), crisis intervention, treatment, counseling and referral to emergency psychiatric care.
• Specific funding for mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists.
• The bill creates a home visitation program for families with young children or which are expecting children or who have certain “risk factors.” The program, which is stated as voluntary, provides assessments regarding matters of “age appropriate behaviors,” for children, prevention of family violence and referral to outside services.
• The bill mandates a sweeping mental health parity, which could well encompass all 374 diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and opens the door to coverage for everything from phase of life problem to sibling rivalry disorder. The costs would be horrendous.
• The bill provides for unlimited mental health benefits. As there is no objective or medical test for psychiatric disorders, this is a virtual blank check to the mental health industry.

This bill was considered in committee which has recommended it be considered by the House as a whole. Although it has been placed on a calendar of business, the order in which legislation is considered and voted on is determined by the majority party leadership. Keep in mind that sometimes the text of one bill is incorporated into another bill, and in those cases the original bill, as it would appear here, would seem to be abandoned. This information was last updated 22 July 2009

SOURCE: GovTrack.us is not affiliated with the U.S. government or any other group. It is a pet project of a regular joe. To keep up to date with what is happening with this legislation click on the link below.
GovTrack

I trust that you have found the information contained in Health Issues enlightening.

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