This month, or the beginning of next month, Assemblywoman Donna Ferrara will become the first sitting Assemblywoman in over two decades to give birth.

Assemblymembers threw Ferrara, who is due April 22, a surprise baby shower to celebrate this momentous event. Ferrara says that her fellow members of the assembly have been wonderful and that the shower was attended by both Republicans and Democrats, men and women.

In a field where women are finally gaining ground, Ferrara is breaking ground with her pregnancy. The last member of the assembly to give birth was a Democrat from Orange and Sullivan Counties, Jean Amatucci Fox, who had a baby boy in March 1978. Fox, who served as an Assemblywoman from 1975-1977 left the assembly before she had the baby and never returned to politics, according to Ferrara, who has been in contact with her in recent months. Senator Velmanette Montgomery, a Democrat from Brooklyn who had a baby in 1986, was the last member of the Senate to give birth. Prior to Fox, nobody seems to remember an assemblymember having a baby, although last year Cathy Nolan, a Democrat from New York City adopted a baby.

Ferrara plans to set a new precedent by returning to her assembly seat soon after having the baby. Although she has cut back slightly on constituent events recently, Ferrara has still been going up to Albany every week, attending committee meetings and debates, and voting. She plans on going up to Albany next week, but then plans on taking the following week off because that is the week she is due.

Although she is not exactly sure when she will return to Albany she said, "I will go back this session. I don't want to miss all the votes, there's a lot of votes, especially at the end of session." The Assembly session usually ends sometime between June and August. Ferrara added, "I'm not sure when I'll be back but I would, most definitely plan to be back for the votes that come in the end or, if in fact, we vote on a budget, which is very late this year."

Ferrara has the respect and support of many of her fellow assemblymembers for her commitment to her constituents. Assemblywoman Kathleen Murray said, "She's still working very hard for her constituents, just cutting back by the barest amount and she wants to come back as soon as she can." Murray added, "She's really breaking some ground here."

Women's role in government has changed quite a bit since Fox had her baby 21 years ago. At that time there were only five women in the Legislature whereas now there are over 30 women in the state assembly and senate. Ferrara noted, "Times are different now. That's why, I would say, that I don't expect it to be 21 years until the next assemblywoman has a baby."

With times changing the way they are, the assembly may well have to develop a protocol for when assemblymembers have babies. Currently there is no maternity leave for the legislature. As more women become active in the political arena this situation may arise more often.

Ferrara concluded, "I'm happy to be having a baby and everyone's been wonderful to me in the assembly and senate, Democrat and Republican. I almost look at it as if I have 211 Godparents."