Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day—a day to remember and honor babies who have died during pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy.

This day brings attention to the fact that pregnancy loss and infant death are surprisingly common. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), as many as 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. And while the majority of these losses happen early on in pregnancy, it’s estimated that around 1% of known pregnancies end in stillbirth—meaning the baby dies after 20 weeks gestation. And each year, about 24,000 babies die before their first birthday.

For many families who experience pregnancy loss or infant death, the grief can be overwhelming and long-lasting. Remembering and honoring their babies on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day can help bring some comfort.

There are many ways to participate in Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. People can light a candle at 7 pm in their time zone, wear baby loss awareness ribbons or jewelry, or share their stories of loss online with the hashtags #PregnancyandInfantLossRemembranceDay or #SayTheirNames. Families can also visit websites like www.october15th.com to find local events commemorating Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

This day is an important reminder that we need to do more to support families who experience pregnancy loss and infant death. We can start by destigmatizing these losses and providing more resources for families who are grieving.

What are some ways to get involved in remembrance day activities in your community or online?

Some ways to get involved in remembrance day activities include:

• Lighting a candle at 7 pm in your time zone on October 15th
• Wearing baby loss awareness ribbons or jewelry
• Sharing your story of loss online with the hashtags #PregnancyandInfantLossRemembranceDay or #SayTheirNames
• Visiting websites like www.october15th.com to find local events commemorating Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
• Reaching out to a local grief counselor for support
• Donating to organizations that support families who have experienced pregnancy loss or infant death, like www.hopeafterloss.org or www.firstcandle.org.

How can we help prevent pregnancy and infant loss in the future?

There are many ways we can work to prevent pregnancy and infant loss in the future, including:

• Providing more resources for families who are grieving
• Destigmatizing pregnancy loss and infant death
• Educating people on the signs and symptoms of miscarriage
• Increasing access to quality prenatal care
• Improving maternal and infant health outcomes
• Working to reduce disparities in maternal and infant health.

What resources are available for families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss?

If you or someone you know needs support after experiencing pregnancy loss or infant death, there are many resources available. Some of these include:

• www.hopeafterloss.org
• www.firstcandle.org
• www.griefshare.org
• www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
• www.pregnancyandinfantlosssupport.org

What artisan-created gift can I give to my friend for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

There are many beautiful and thoughtful artisan-created gifts available to give to someone for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Some ideas include:

• A personalized memorial necklace or bracelet
• A custom-made memory box
• A sympathy card with a handwritten note
• A basket filled with self-care items like scented candles, bath bombs, or lotions
• A donation made in the person’s name to a pregnancy or infant loss support organization.