Posted by on 10/13/2017 to News

Infant Loss Awareness Month 

If you’ve never lost a child, experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth, you might not know about Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. October 15th is observed across the world by lighting a candle at 7 p.m. in memory and recognition of babies who left us too soon. In the United States, each year, approximately one million pregnancies end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of the newborn child--that is one in four pregnancies, according to the CDC. Even if you haven’t been directly impacted by this terrible loss, you are likely to know someone who has experienced the loss of a baby. 



Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month began in October 1988, when President Reagan designated this day to
draw attention to a parent’s loss of a child. It is also intended to be a month of awareness and to help provide 
resources for parents who have lost children due to miscarriage, stillbirths, birth defects, SIDS, or other causes. 



Because the shortest lives are still valuable and the grief of a parent who has lost a child never goes away, on October 15th, people light a candle to remember or to be present for someone who has suffered this loss. If you would like more information or are looking for grief support, the Pregnancy Loss Directory lists state-by-state resources and Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support is another recommended resource.