Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
Each October, the United States observes Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. This month honors babies gone too soon and brings attention to the grief families experience. It is a time for compassion, support, and understanding.
World Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
On October 15, the world pauses for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. At 7:00 PM local time, families light candles to create the International Wave of Light. Candles remain lit for at least one hour. The result is a continuous wave of light circling the globe. This silent tribute raises awareness without words and unites families worldwide.
Pink and Blue Awareness Ribbons
Personalized Cause® supports awareness with pink and blue ribbon pins. We offer both personalized and non-personalized versions. Each personalized pin can include a name, date, or message on its center bar. These ribbon pins offer a meaningful way to keep the memory of a child close to your heart. They serve as both remembrance and awareness.
History of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan declared October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. His proclamation recognized the unique grief of bereaved parents and provided public support for families facing this tragedy. Raising awareness helps grieving families receive compassion and understanding. Awareness also promotes education and prevention efforts, which may reduce future losses.
How to Support Someone Experiencing Pregnancy and Infant Loss
It can be difficult to know what to say after the loss of a child. Words often feel inadequate. Simple gestures can speak volumes. A hug, holding someone’s hand, or writing a short card with supportive words can provide comfort. Wearing a pink and blue awareness ribbon also shows solidarity.
Every family grieves differently. A husband and wife may process grief in separate ways. Emotions rise and fall daily, and each parent follows their own timeline. Support them without judgment or advice. Listen if they want to talk. Sit quietly if they prefer silence. Your presence matters more than perfect words.
The Experience of Loss
Some parents spend time with their baby, while others have only memories from pregnancy. Yet, attachment begins early, making the loss profound. Stillbirth and miscarriage bring grief that feels just as real as losses after birth. Recognizing this truth honors the parents’ journey.
Supporting Siblings Through Infant Loss
Grief extends beyond parents. Siblings may also feel the loss. Even very young children notice sadness in their home. Give them space to ask questions and express emotions through drawing or play. Acknowledge their feelings. Support them while parents manage their own grief.
Children grow and process loss differently over time. As they mature, they may revisit the experience and ask new questions. Honest, age-appropriate answers help them understand and cope.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Statistics
Pregnancy and infant loss affects one in four women. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), non-Hispanic Black women and American Indian/Alaska Native women are twice as likely to experience stillbirth as compared to Non-Hispanic Whites, Asian or Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics.
Research links these disparities to socioeconomic factors, unequal health care access, and lower quality of maternal care. To address these inequities, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the NIH Office of the Director, and the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health launched Implementing Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcome Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE). This initiative seeks to improve maternal health and reduce disparities in outcomes.
A Simple Gesture – Pink and Blue Awareness Ribbons
At Personalized Cause®, we honor Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month with pink and blue awareness ribbons. These ribbons, available in personalized and non-personalized versions, symbolize remembrance and support. By wearing a ribbon pin, you show compassion for families who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, or other losses.
Sometimes, the smallest gestures—a ribbon, a word, a hug—make the greatest impact.
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