During the 2005 Regular 79th legislative session, legislators passed Senate Bill 316. This bill requires hospitals, birthing centers, physicians, nurse-midwives, and midwives who provide prenatal care to pregnant women during gestation or at delivery to provide the woman and the father of the infant or other adult caregiver of the infant with a resource pamphlet that includes information on postpartum depression, shaken baby syndrome, immunizations, and newborn screening.  Providers must document in the client's chart that she received this information and documentation must be retained for a minimum of five years. It is recommended that the information be given twice, once at the first prenatal visit and again after delivery. Additional details of the law can be located in the Texas Health and Safety Code Section 161.501.

Agency responsibilities:  The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has been directed to develop a resource that contains the required information, make the resource available online and for distribution in English and Spanish, and update the information on a regularly.

You can get this pamphlet in .PDF format by downloading it from here:

Information for Parents of Newborns

English (PDF, Stock number: #1-316) Revised Dec. 2024

Spanish (PDF, Stock number: #1-316a) Revised Sept. 2024

Information for Parents of Newborns Rack Card (English/Spanish)

Or you may order it directly through the HHSC Warehouse or call them at (512) 250-7162 for assistance with your order. This publication is in stock.

Another useful resource for new parents is the Pregnancy, Parenting, and Depression Resource web page.