October: A Month of Awareness and Remembrance


grief support
Child Loss

October: A Month of Awareness and Remembrance

October marks a month of awareness and remembrance for those who have experienced the loss of a child, during pregnancy or infancy, to stillbirth, miscarriage, SIDS, or any other cause. The loss of a child is considered one of the most painful, gut-wrenching experiences a parent can have. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reports that as many as 31 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss.
Too many families have suffered and despite the progress made in the way of awareness and support many still feel isolated, they feel like they are alone in this situation. The effect of such a loss varies for each person and family. Some common effects include depression, anxiety, changes in relationships, development of unhealthy coping mechanisms, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It’s important as a community to extend our support beyond the designated month.

Where It All Started

On October 25, 1988, President Ronald Reagan appointed the entire month of October 1988 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. He wanted to acknowledge this unfortunate matter in an effort to demonstrate support to the many families who have suffered such a tragic loss. He was hoping by promoting awareness of pregnancy and infant loss it would increase the likelihood that grieving families will receive understanding and support and also improve education and prevention in an effort to ultimately reduce the incidence of these tragedies.

In President Reagan’s Proclamation, he states:

Compassionate Americans are also assisting women who suffer bereavement, guilt, and emotional and physical trauma that accompany post-abortion syndrome. We can and must do a much better job of encouraging adoption as an alternative to abortion; of helping the single parents who wish to raise their babies; and of offering friendship and temporal support to the courageous women and girls who give their children the gifts of life and loving adoptive parents. We can be truly grateful for the devotion and concern provided by all of these citizens, and we should offer them our cooperation and support as well.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day was established in 2002 to honor, celebrate, and remember babies who have passed away due to miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, and other causes of infant loss. It started when Robyn Bear, Lisa Brown, and Tammy Novak petitioned the federal government to recognize October 15th as the specific day.  National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day was eventually passed in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2006. October 15 serves as a day to promote a greater awareness and support to the estimated 1 in 4 people and families whose lives have been altered by this tragic loss and to encourage people to talk.

October 15 is the International Wave of Light. It’s a day shared all over the world for communities and families to rally in support to honor and remember the infants and children who've passed during pregnancy or shortly after birth. On October 15th, light a candle at 7 p.m. (in all time zones) for at least one hour. According to Awareness Days, lighting begins at the International Date Line, in the first time zone, remaining lit a period of one hour, with the next time zone lighting respectively, moving through each time zone as the Wave of Light circumnavigates the globe. The result is a continuous chain of light encompassing and spanning across the world and around the globe for a 24-hour period, illuminating the night in love and light in honor and remembrance of our children.

Seeking Support

There are hundreds of families grieving in silence and sometimes never come to terms with their loss. When you lose a baby, it means the loss of your child’s future. There are healthy ways to cope with such a loss and help you move forward. Seeking help isn’t about forgetting or about replacing your loss, it’s about understanding that a good life is still possible.

Grief support can help parents find positive ways to deal with their loss. Everyone deals with loss differently. If you or someone you love has suffered the loss of an infant, The Open Door offers free grief counseling in Cisco. We use Griefshare curriculum and can be done individually or in a group. Contact us at 254-442-3000 to learn more or visit www.supportopendoor.com. 

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