PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS REMEMBRANCE MONTH
In one of our last posts we wrote about what to say to someone who is grieving and mentioned briefly the complexities related to the grief process. Grief is something that most people, if not all, will experience at some point in their lifetime and it can be one of the most difficult experiences a person will go through. Loss cannot be compared and yet when I hear about parents who have lost a child my heart breaks. No parent is ever prepared for a child’s death. It’s not the natural order of life and even if a parent knows their child is terminally ill, it can be difficult to grasp the idea that they will outlive their child. I think “difficult” is an understatement but I am struggling to find the right word to fully grasp the pain and challenge of knowing your child is no longer in the world of the living. I have heard the death of a child be referred to as the ultimate tragedy, and I can’t think of a more apt way of describing it.
October was Mental Health awareness month, and naturally we wanted to contribute to bringing awareness to this topic that is very near and dear to us, however in doing so we neglected to also bring awareness to the loss of a child and how that impacts parents. October 15th was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, a designated day to bringing awareness to miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss.
Pregnancy and infant loss is something that heartbreakingly impacts the lives thousands of Canadian families every year. It is estimated that up to 60 people can be impacted by the death a child during pregnancy, birth, or infancy, which means that there are many people outside the immediate family who are also deeply affected by the loss. This makes it even more important to mark this day and to remember every life lost. By bringing awareness of this topic to the community it also provides parents with a chance to speak about the pain they are experiencing and to share with others about the previous life that they lost. Many times parents feel that their grief if unrecognized or minimized, leads to further pain and heartache. Bringing recognition to the loss is an important step in validating bereavement and starting a conversation to reduce stigma and to direct people to getting the right support so that they do not feel alone.
Please reach out to support in your community if you are struggling. Below are some resources that you may find helpful.
Resources:
https://pailnetwork.sunnybrook.ca
https://www.ontarioprenataleducation.ca/infant-loss/
http://www.october15.ca/
