October is National Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month. But while a family’s grieving never ends within a month, it is important to recognize this time as an opportunity to pause and remember the babies who left our community too soon.
The tragedy of pregnancy and infant loss is more common than you might think. It’s estimated that 1 in 4 women will lose a baby during pregnancy, delivery, or infancy. However, it still remains a deeply private experience for many women.
Pregnancy loss normally happens unexpectedly, and it can take a while to make sense of what is happening. Grieving families often experience a variety of emotions, including sadness, anger, guilt, shame, and emptiness. But It’s important for parents to allow themselves as much time as necessary to heal and adjust to life without the future they expected.
The loss of a child does not come with instructions on how to grieve. Everyone is different and there is no right or wrong way to grieve a lost pregnancy. However, there are some things parents can do to cope with the pain of a loss. Turn to the NEXT Page for 7 Ways to Honor the Loss of a Pregnancy or Baby.
