Every year in the United States, there are over 6 million pregnancies. There are over 4 million live births. 600,000 women experience a miscarriage. 64,000 women suffer an ectopic pregnancy. 6,000 women experience a molar pregnancy. 26,000 women lose a child to stillbirth. Nearly 28,000 children don’t make it to their first birthday. These heartbreaking numbers are not just statistics. They are real families, real women, who have lost and grieve for their children. Unfortunately many of these women and families mourn in silence for a lack of support or understanding from outsiders.
October 15 is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Tonight, people around the world have and will light candles at 7pm (in their time zone) in remembrance of the babies who have passed away in utero or in the first year of life, creating a “wave of light.” There have been countless walks organized in memory of these babies all over the country. People have come together on the web through Facebook and websites like October15th.com to remember as well.
People don’t always know what to say when someone loses a pregnancy or an infant. As a result, families often end up grieving in silence with no one to talk to. This makes coping with the loss difficult. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day promotes support, education and awareness for grieving parents around the world. The official website, October15th.com, has created a place where people can find support or learn how to support loved ones who have suffered a loss. Since pregnancy and infant loss is so prevalent, chances are that every person knows a woman who has lost a child during pregnancy or the first year of life. That is why awareness is so important.