Awareness and Support During Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
When a pregnancy or an infant is lost, it causes a ripple effect of grief for the parents – grief that often goes unacknowledged by those who do not understand the severity of the experience. To draw more attention to this tragic circumstance, President Ronald Reagan declared in 1988 that the month of October would serve as a month of remembrance, awareness, and support, and would be known as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
The Star Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to raising awareness, supporting research, promoting education, and encouraging advocacy in order to reduce pregnancy loss and neonatal death, provides several ways for people to get involved with Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Whether you are one of the many families who have sadly lost a pregnancy or an infant, know someone who has, or simply want to be an advocate for others who are in pain, there are many ways that you can be supportive of the greater community.
Honor Their Memory
Becoming more cognizant of and sensitive to pregnancy and infant loss can be as simple as reading stories about babies who have been lost on the Star Legacy Foundation’s “Stars Stories” page. Although these stories share the common theme of loss, each story is unique in its own way. By reading these stories, you honor these babies’ memory while also learning about pregnancy or infant loss from the intensely emotional perspective of the parents.
For parents who are struggling with the loss of an infant or pregnancy, these stories can help you feel less alone and allow you to connect with others who know exactly how you feel.
Participate in the #NeverBeStill Social Media Campaign
Taking part in the #NeverBeStill campaign is a simple but thoughtful gesture that spreads awareness while also showing your support. The Star Legacy Foundation offers a few social media tools to help you, including profile frames for your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest profile pictures.
You can also share one of the Star Legacy Foundation’s Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month graphics or videos. Some of these graphics feature important facts about pregnancy and infant loss, while others feature a poignant quote to commemorate the month.
The International Wave of Light
In addition to the activities listed above, you can also provide support and spread awareness by participating in a special global event – the International Wave of Light, which takes place on October 15 across all time zones. At 7 pm in your time zone, light a candle to honor all the babies who have been lost and keep it lit for at least an hour. The illumination begins on Christmas Island (an Australian territory located in the Indian Ocean) and continues in a chain of light across all time zones for a full 24 hours.
We at Aspire Fertility honor the memory of the babies who have been lost and hope that peace comes to their bereaved parents.
