Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month 2023
With a multitude of families experiencing the tragic death of a baby each year through miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, and newborn deaths, President Ronald Reagan declared the month of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month with Proclamation 5890. He called upon people of the United States to observe the month of October with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. Events across the United States occur in hopes of supporting parents through this devastating issue through appropriate resources, education, and promotion of awareness of the profound grief the bereaved are experiencing.
"Each year, approximately a million pregnancies in the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of the newborn child. National observance of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, 1988, offers us the opportunity to increase our understanding of the great tragedy involved in the deaths of unborn and newborn babies. It also enables us to consider how, as individuals and communities, we can meet the needs of bereaved parents and family members and work to prevent causes of these problems." ---Ronald Reagan
With 1 in 4 pregnancies ending in miscarriage, there is a great need for resources for grieving parents and information on educating the public on how they can support those suffering a loss.
Grieving mothers, Robyn Bear, Lisa Brown, and Tammy Novak took Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month further by securing proclamations from each state supporting Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, celebrated on October 15. While Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month is dedicated to promoting awareness and information, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is meant for remembrance of all the babies lost during pregnancy, at birth, or shortly after.
There seems to be a cultural taboo about speaking about the death of a baby. In addition to honoring the babies that have died, Remembrance Day also promotes a day for parents to grieve with others who have experienced the same and lets the parents know that they are not alone in their grief.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day 2023 will be observed in a variety of ways:
--Wave of Light -- The most recognized event is the International Wave of Light, which began in 2003 with a candlelight vigil at 7 PM in respective time zones so as to create a wave of light around the world to honor and remember all the children that have died during pregnancy or as a newborn.
--Walk to Remember (Memorial Walks)
--Remembrance Ceremonies
--Fundraising Events
--Support Events where grief stricken families can share stories and connect with other parents
With each Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month that passes, we hope society moves closer to a clearer understanding of the grief of bereaved parents and can empathize with their loss.
"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." ---Maya Angelou
Your babies will be remembered on October 15 by all of us at Heart to Heart Sympathy Gifts.