October is Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month

It’s not a topic too many people are comfortable talking about. But it needs to be heard more and more to support families who have experienced infant and/or pregnancy loss. The stigma around suffering in silence is a stigma that is harmful to families. That is why Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month is so important.

Roughly 10-20% of pregnancies end in a miscarriage. This typically happens in the first trimester when all of the hormones in the mother are multiplying and the cells of a fertilized egg start to transform into a person. It is difficult to understand why some women face multiple miscarriages while others don’t experience any at all. In the end, it is all about supporting, nurturing, and grieving with the families as they cope with their loss.

There are an estimated 3,400 babies that die of sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) each year in the United States. Many of these infants are between one and four months old. The cooler months in the year are when we see more deaths. Stillbirths account for about 21,000 babies in the US each year. It is an unbelievable pain to face losing a child whether in the womb or Earth side. We honor those who have been lost during Infant and Pregnancy Awareness Month.

What is Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month?

Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month takes place in the month of October every year. During the month, awareness is brought to light to reflect how many people actually suffer with this great loss. Many mothers (or families) suffer in silence with the belief that no one understands their pain when in fact, there are many others suffering as well.

This awareness month is meant to bring together the community to honor and remember those sweet babies that were lost. It is also a time to help a grieving family cope with the loss and lean on their support system.

Resources to Help Cope with Loss

There are many resources available to help you cope with this kind of loss. If you are someone who has experienced loss, talking to your doctor is a great first step in getting help. From there, you can get referrals to other specialists if needed.

Therapy is another positive resource to use to cope with loss. Therapists like me are equipped to handle grief as well as understanding the changes your body went through to grow a baby (no matter how long the baby lived in the womb or externally). You can begin to live again. It will just take time to learn how to do so after loss.

5 Ways to Honor Loss of an Infant or Pregnancy

Facing a loss takes a major toll on your mental health. Consider using these five ways to honor the loss of an infant or pregnancy and help you begin the healing process.

Give Your Baby a Name

For some people, giving your baby a name can help you in the grieving process. Regardless if your baby was breathing outside of the womb or still forming internally, having a name for your baby helps you to hold onto the memory of him or her. 

This could also be a nickname or what you called the baby in ultrasound pictures. Nicknames especially work well when there was no way to know the sex of the baby.

Memorial Jewelry

There are several options to have memorial jewelry made for this specific need. You can use this jewelry as a way to symbolize your baby is always with you whether that is through a necklace, bracelet, earrings, or a ring. Find the right piece that you love and will cherish forever.

Consider having your baby’s name engraved on it, a special quote, or a date that was special to your baby. There are also cremation jewelers who can put ashes inside of jewelry pieces as well.

Display a Small Statue

You might want to have a physical representation of your baby’s life, regardless of how long it was. Creating a small statue in the shape of a baby, angel, teddy bear, or a flower can bring peace to your home whenever you look at it.

Small statues can be found nearly anywhere. You can find one that is already made or request a custom piece. Place this statue in or around your home to signify the impact your baby had on your life.

Plant a Tree

One of the best ways to give back to the Earth is by planting a tree in the name of your baby. This tree could be in your backyard and can symbolize your baby’s life. The tree will always be special because it was planted in remembrance of your baby.

People often want something tangible to remember a person by. It helps them still feel connected to the person who was lost and brings wonderful memories when you see it. This tree could help you heal by allowing you to remember and cherish your baby each time you look at this tree.

Write About Your Baby

No parent ever forgets the loss they experience whether it is infant or pregnancy loss. But it can also be painful to talk about with others. Instead, write about your baby in a journal. Write letters to your baby about how you are feeling, what you think about most, or what you dream their life would be like if they were still with you.

You can also choose to write about your experience and what you are doing to cope with this heartbreak. Journaling is a therapeutic way to process grief and pain. Your entries don’t have to be perfectly poised essays. Just write what you feel to help your mind process this trauma.

Take Time to Honor and Remember Infant and Pregnancy Loss

Parents never stop grieving over their loss of a child. Just because October is the chosen Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness month doesn’t mean you can’t still honor and remember your baby in different ways throughout the year. October is the time to build community around others who have experienced the loss of a baby.

If you are struggling with grief around miscarriage or infant death, I encourage you to reach out to me to schedule a complimentary chat to help you process this pain. As a licensed therapist, I know what it takes to start picking up the pieces of your life so that you can live again.

Take time this month to honor and remember infant and pregnancy loss. It happens more than you think, unfortunately. Be a support to someone or reach out for help if you are in need of support.