Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

[Burnt Out, ASN, RN]

For those that are not aware, October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month...not just breast cancer awareness month.

In 1988 former President Ronald Reagan designated October to be Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. October 15th is the day that is nationally recognized to remember these babies that died before their time. On this day, it is asked that you light a candle at 7 pm in your time zone to remember the 870,000 babies that are lost to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, and neonatal death each year. There is no cure for the loss of a child, no matter how big or small.

To show support for grieving families of these precious little ones, you can wear a pink and blue ribbon. I will be happy to make ribbons for anyone here-they will be nothing fancy; just let me know by sending me a pm with your mailing address.

If you would like to make your own ribbon, I will post a picture for you to use as an example.

Ginger

[EastCoast]

thank you so much for posting this.

my sister-in-law (who is a L&D nurse) had a premie and he lived 3 days and was taken off supportive measures.

it was incredibly difficult and tho she has a healthly wonderful daughter it has created so much pain.

today she participated in a memory walk in boston with other parents and family.

i will pass on the candle idea for her and as well light one myself. i have been so unsure of how to let her know that i still recognize her loss and this is perfect. thank you again.

[acuteobrn]

Thank you for this post to help remind us of all those infants and pregnancies lost...I have been actively involved in the RTS program in my area for years, and we hold an annualy Walk to Remember usually the weekend around the 15th. It is so important that we remember, never forget and beable to come celebrate the lives cut short. We usually have a balloon ceremony where we write the names of the infants on the tail of the balloons and let them sore...very emotional and magical event. We also were ribbons, however they are light purple. I like the ribbon you posted, very nice. It is somewhat ironic that October seems to be the month that this area suffers the most IUFDs, miscarrages and neonatal deaths, so it is an especially emotional month...

[neonatalRN]

Thank you! My baby son died this June at 5 weeks old. I will make a ribbon to wear, and also light a candle for him! That is a picture of him in my avatar.

Heidi

[NurseSDP]

Thank you for the post, burntout. I had no idea October had been designated the month to remember "lost angels". I will definitely light a candle in remembrance for them. I cannot fathom losing a child, and my heart is with each of you who has gone through such a devastating loss. God bless.

[SmilingBluEyes]

i am so sorry for your losses folks!!! how tragic.

lost 3 pregnancies in last 18 mo...

heartbreaking and soooo very isolating at times. and working on OB a this point can be so stressful and emotional for me....esp. when i have a patient who is suffering a similar loss.....

thanks for the reminder.

[gypsyatheart]

What a wonderful tribute to our precious babies. I, too, have lost pregnancies (2), and my thoughts are w/all of you that has sufferred a loss.

[NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN]

Thank you for sharing that info- I had no idea. Maybe we can do something special on the unit.

[oceanblue]

Thanks for the info., I had no idea. My thoughts are with all of you that have experienced anything like this, I too had a miscarrige in Jan.

[Trans2nrs]

Who can I contact to get this organized. I lost my son (it will be ten years in October). He was term and one day I felt him not moving. My umbilical cord is twice as long as it should be and it was wrapped around his neck twice. I still think about this all the time, ten years and two beautiful daughters later. I would like to get this organized in my town.