Pregnancy loss is the worst thing that can ever happen to a parent. It can shatter all the dreams partners set for their unborn child. Every year, so many miscarriages happen all over the world. So, it is important to stand up together and support these grieving parents for their loss. Keeping this cause in mind, Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day began on October 15, 2002.
Pregnancy loss affects countless families each year, yet many faces the journey in silence. Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day serves as a critical moment to shed light on this deeply emotional experience, promoting understanding and support. Through awareness, we honor the strength of those who have faced the heartbreak of miscarriage, stillbirth, or ectopic pregnancies. This day offers an opportunity to raise vital awareness, break the stigma, and ensure that grieving parents and families are not left to suffer alone. Let’s come together to reflect, share stories, and foster a community of hope, healing, and support.
How Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day Started
The Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day was first observed in the year 2002. It happened as a result of the movement by Lisa Brown, Robyn Bear, and Tammy Novak. However, observing Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October began with a proclamation from then-US president Ronald Reagan in 1988 (1).
In 2015, 20 states signed the proclamation out of 50 states. Due to the efforts of the trio, Concurrent Resolution 222 was passed which supported the idea of observing National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the US House of Representatives. In 2016, all 50 states in the US agreed to the proclamation and observed October 15 each year as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
How is Global Wave of Light Observed?
The global wave of light is observed on the 15th of October each year as a part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. On this day, people usually place a candle on their balcony or window panes or anywhere visible at sharp 7 PM.
In this way they show condolences with the ones who have lost their babies. Besides, people share their personal experience of complicated pregnancy or child loss to offer support and information to those having similar issues.
How Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day is Observed
Here are some of the ways to celebrate Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day;
1. Lighting Candles
Not only on October 15 but also in the whole month of October, grieving parents light up candles to remember their lost child. Also, some communities observe the occasion by lighting up the candles. The light from the candles makes the occasion memorable and beautiful.
2. Spread the Word
A lot of people in society are still unaware of the Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day. However, you can spread the word by publishing press releases. Also, you can distribute them to nearby communities. It will make people aware of the Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day.
3. Tying Ribbons Around Trees
You can gather with your near and dear ones and find out trees where everyone will tie ribbons. These ribbons will commemorate the day and tell people the importance of observing Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day.
4. Donate for the Noble Cause
You can contribute to charities that provide support to people suffering from infant loss. You can raise support yourself and offer that money to those who cannot afford money for a safe and secure pregnancy.
5. Wear Pink and Blue
To symbolise pregnancy and infant loss awareness, you can wear pink and blue clothes. You can post pictures wearing such clothes with your understanding of the day and its importance through relevant hashtags, captions or messages.
Importance of Observing Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day
Here is some of the significance of observing Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day;
1. Supporting Grieving Parents
Pregnancy loss is a devastating thing. It can destroy parents mentally. In such situations, it is important to provide mental support to such grieving parents. It will provide them the will and support to handle such situations wisely.
2. Easy To Communicate The Support
At times, people in the community want to convey their support. But, they fail to do so due to the lack of medium. This Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day can work a perfect medium to communicate the support a community wants to provide to the grieving parents.
3. Paying Respect To The Family Member
You need to realize that the infant died due to miscarriage was still a family member of that couple. So, it is important to pay tribute to the lost family member. While paying tribute, the supporters should understand the trauma the parents of the lost infant faces and support such parents accordingly.
4. Educating New Moms
The best way you can observe pregnancy loss awareness day is by educating new or upcoming mothers. With a little bit of awareness and timely guidance from the experienced or knowledgeable ones they can potentially skip risky situations that may lead to a child loss.
5. Sharing One’s Own Experience
Losing an unborn or recently born baby is a loss that nothing can compensate for. But often sharing grief reduces its intensity. Therefore one can utilize this day to share their experience and listen to others while offering kindness to one another. This will heal you from inside, a much needed therapy after a child loss.
Understanding Miscarriage
Parents should gather knowledge of miscarriage. Being aware of miscarriage can help them to avoid it. Miscarriage happens when a child dies in the womb of the mother in the 20th week of the pregnancy (2). A significant number of pregnancy cases end in miscarriage. Also, some pregnant women miscarry the child without even knowing it.
Symptoms of Miscarriage
Certain symptoms will indicate miscarriage for a pregnant woman. But, you should know that even after having symptoms of miscarriage, many women deliver healthy babies. However, if you see these signs and symptoms, you must consult with your doctor immediately. Here are some of the symptoms of miscarriage (3);
- Severe to mild pain the back
- Severe pain or camp in the abdomen
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
- Heavy spotting
Causes of Miscarriage
Here are some of the causes of miscarriage you should know (4);
- Chromosomal disorder
- Placental problems
- Improper eating habit
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Smoking regularly
- Suffering from thyroid or diabetes
- Problems with maternal hormones
- Taking illegal drugs
Here, you should know that the majority number of miscarriages occur due to the imbalance in maternal hormones.
Tips to Prevent Stillbirth
Still birth is the death of a baby after 22 weeks of gestation (5). Here are some of the ways to prevent miscarriage;
- Go for regular checkups with your doctor
- Create a healthy eating habit
- Create an active lifestyle
- Sleep on the side
- Inform the doctor about the medications you take
- Stop consuming alcohol
- Never smoke
Finally, Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day is a wonderful initiative to give support to grieving parents who suffered the loss of their child. Not every country observes Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day. But, the countries should adopt this special day to support the parents who suffered miscarriages. It will be an excellent way of providing support to grieving parents all over the world.
FAQ’s
1. Is There A Symbol For Losing A Baby?
Yes, there is not a single but multiple symbols to represent the loss of a baby. For instance the purple butterfly popularly indicates an early pregnancy loss whereas a leaf with a single drop often indicates death of a baby among twins or triplets.
2. What To Do For Pregnancy Loss?
There is nothing to do if the unfortunate occurs. The only thing you can do is to be more sincere and medically proactive in your next pregnancy. You can aim for gathering more information while keeping your mental health at first as you prepare for another pregnancy.
3. What is Pregnancy Loss Awareness 1 In 4?
The pregnancy loss awareness simply means that the unfortunate incident of a pregnancy loss is grieving but quite common even today. It is as common as 1 in every 4 pregnancies, so much awareness and care need to be bestowed on this topic.
References
- Ronald Reagan, Proclamation 5890 — Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, 1988 – https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/proclamation-5890-pregnancy-and-infant-loss-awareness-month-1988
- Lassi, Z. S., Imam, A. M., Dean, S. V., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2014). Preconception care: Caffeine, smoking, alcohol, drugs and other environmental chemical/radiation exposure. Reproductive Health, 11(Suppl 3), S6. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/factsheets/pregnancyloss
- NHS, Miscarriage Symptoms – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/miscarriage/symptoms
- NHS, Causes Miscarriage – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/miscarriage/causes/
- Ota E, da Silva Lopes K, Middleton P, Flenady V, Wariki WM, Rahman MO, Tobe-Gai R, Mori R. Antenatal interventions for preventing stillbirth, fetal loss and perinatal death: an overview of Cochrane systematic reviews. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Dec 18;12(12):CD009599 – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8078228
