Senate Resolution No. 1436

BY: Senator WEIK

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
April 2026 as Multiple Birth Awareness Month in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to honor and increase awareness of
important matters 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, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 2026 as Multiple
Birth Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with
National Multiple Birth Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, April is National Multiple Birth Awareness Month; Multiple
Birth Awareness Month and its mission are the culmination of the history
of multiple births within this Nation; and

WHEREAS, In 1934, the Dionne quintuplets were the first quintuplets
to survive their infancy; the world's largest recorded multiple birth
was nine babies in Sydney, Australia, in 1971; and

WHEREAS, By 1960, the National Organization for Multiples, also
known as Multiples of America, was established to address the unique
qualities, special challenges, and needs of multiple-birth children and
provide research, education, and support for these children and their
families; and

WHEREAS, The multiple-birth rate has significantly increased since
the 1980s and, with more mothers and parents experiencing this, Multiple
Birth Awareness Month serves to educate mothers on raising multiple
children and to celebrate the joy that these babies bring; and

WHEREAS, Multiple Birth Awareness Month increases community
awareness about the risks associated with multiple births and the
challenges faced by multiple-birth families and assists in providing
support and resources to families of multiple-birth children through
education, research, and networking; and

WHEREAS, Due to the rise in multiple births over the last few
decades, a Resolution was passed in 2011, declaring April as Multiple
Birth Awareness Month in the State of Michigan; and

WHEREAS, With the increase in multiple births, the risks associated
for mothers and babies have also increased; nationally, one of every
eight twins and one of every three triplets are born prematurely; in
single births, fewer than two in every 100 births are premature;
additionally, infant mortality is four times more common for births of
twins than single births; and

WHEREAS, Multiple Birth Awareness Month essentially spreads
awareness about the issues related to multiple births, including

twin-to-twin transfusion syndromes, premature births, fetal issues, and
low birth weights; it also encourages parents of multiple babies or
those who are expecting multiple babies to find and secure necessary
resources and support; and

WHEREAS, Multiple Birth Awareness Month is also a reminder that,
while multiple births can be a challenge, the joy that these babies
bring makes it worthwhile; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 2026 as Multiple
Birth Awareness Month 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.