National Pregnancy and Infant Death Awareness Day

The month of October is recognized all over for being Breast Cancer Awareness month but many people unfortunately don't know that it is also Pregnancy & Infant Death Awareness month as well. Yes, I realize most places call it pregnancy & infant loss awareness month but if you ask many moms, we prefer the word death rather than loss. We didn't lose our child, they died.





1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of an infant shortly after birth or in the first year of infancy. I fall into the last category. My son Noah died the day after his full term birth due to Trisomy 13.

Guaranteed you have someone in your life (if not more than one person) that has had a baby die. You might not even know it because talking about baby death is still somewhat of a taboo, though that is slowly changing thanks to having a special month and day to remember and honor the babies whose lives ended much too soon. The more we talk about our babies who've died and share our stories, the more we help break the silence surrounding infant death.



Today, October 15th, is a day specifically set aside for special remembrance gatherings as well as the International Wave of Light.

If you know someone whose baby has died, please let them know you are thinking of them, even if it's just a brief note. Say their child's name as this is the most precious gift you can give to a bereaved parent.



If you are home tonight at 7pm your time, please consider lighting a candle for 1 hour in remembrance of all the precious babies who are so deeply loved and missed. (take a photo of your candle and share on social media as well to help light up the internet in honor of our babies!)


To my fellow bereaved moms, I am thinking of you and your precious babies today especially! When our babies died, so did a lifetime of dreams and memories. I know that speaking their name out loud is healing so please feel free to share your baby's name in the comments below.



1 comment

  1. I have had 3 early losses. Angel Roehrick 12/15/07 at 5 weeks gest., Kadence 9/30/13, D&C 10/18/13 gest 7 weeks at loss...she was a B/O and then my latest little one :'( Aurora Rose (lady bug) sister to twin brother Oliver 7/28/15 at 7 weeks gest we learned we had twins and had lost one very early. I am so very sorry you lost your noah, your story has always touched my heart and brought me to tears. I cant watch your video without crying like a big baby but the strength you and your husband and kids have is beyond any words I have. Its amazing. I wish I could be as strong as ya all. hugs in this hard time.

    ReplyDelete

I enjoy hearing from each & every one of you! Thanks for taking the time to comment. :)