It's International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

15 October is International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. On this day, parents and families across Australia honour their babies who passed away from miscarriage, stillbirth, or postnatal causes. To lose a baby is an agonizing heartache we wish no one would have to go through. If you have lost a baby, you are not alone: 1 out every 4 Australian women has lost a baby, too. Many bereaved parents find that being able to honour their babies on 15th Oct helps them on their journey to overcome the grief.

The main aims of World Sight Day include:

The loss of an infant is devastating. National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day honours those lives lost to miscarriage, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, stillbirth, the death of a newborn, and more. National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is a day to shatter the culture of silence surrounding infant and pregnancy loss. People defy the social and cultural taboos about speaking about the loss of their young ones by sharing their personal experiences and remembering their loss. This international day is observed particularly in the United States, Canada, and Australia. On October 15, take the opportunity to reflect, honor, and come together over pregnancy and infant loss. If you have a loved one who has experienced this loss, take the time to give them the love and support needed to process and recover.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS REMEMBRANCE DAY

1. Participate in a "Walk To Remember" or wear a pink and blue ribbon

   Various nonprofits host walks to honor and remember pregnancy loss and infant death. Proceeds are typically donated to advocacy and awareness groups. Also, pink and blue are the official colors of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Simply attaching a pink and blue ribbon to your outfit for the day is a great way of showing support for grieving families and kick-starting a conversation about the infant mortality rate with people around you.

2. Remember your baby or reach out to a loved one who has lost a little one

   Take some time to honor your baby by planting a memorial tree, journaling, or picking out memorial jewelry. These activities can help as you go through the healing process. This is a day to remind your loved ones that they are not alone. If you have family or friends who have experienced the grief of pregnancy loss and infant death, reach out to them and offer them support in any way you can. However, try to be respectful, sensitive, and unobtrusive in your approach towards supporting them.

3. Learn more about pregnancy and infant loss and share your experience with pregnancy or infant loss

   Every year, about 90,000 infants die before the age of one, and at least 10% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. Knowing facts like these can help you understand the scope of this loss. And sharing your experience is not just important for dealing with grief, it also reminds others like you that they are not alone. If you have tips that can help other families move through their grief and deal with it better, there is no better day to share them than on this day.

Share this special day using the hashtags: #infancyloss #stillborn #infancylossawareness #stillbornawareness #grieving #grievingparents #grief #survivinggrief #lifeafterloss #babylossawareness #infantloss #stillbornangel #awareness #angelbabies #mothersday #support #losingababy