For anyone who has dealt with the pain and sadness of losing a pregnancy or an infant, October is the month to raise awareness of these difficulties because it is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Every year, there are tens of thousands of families all over the US who deal with this kind of loss. It could be from a miscarriage, a stillbirth, SIDS, or another condition. Unfortunately, it’s not just the pain of loss that these families experience. They also have to deal with the realization that society overall doesn’t see their losses as particularly significant.
In 1988, Ronald Reagan designated October as the month to raise awareness of the losses families experience when they lose a pregnancy or an infant. This type of loss is a very unique kind of grief, and not one that can be easily understood by people who have never been in this situation. Grieving families looking for support and understanding want to see more awareness of the pain they go through when a pregnancy or infant is lost.
Additionally, there is value in working toward prevention efforts and more education on what can cause a pregnancy loss or the loss of an infant. There are some times when this simply happens and can’t be avoided, but making sure that everyone gets good prenatal care and understands any risk factors is an important way to reduce the incidence of stillbirth, miscarriage, and other conditions that result in pregnancy and infant loss around the country.
Breaking the silence is extremely important and is the goal of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. While it’s not an easy subject to talk about, and can bring up a lot of painful memories for people who have experienced this kind of loss, discussing it and carrying out appropriate tests can help prevent miscarriages and make it easier to carry pregnancies to term. When expectant parents have a full understanding of how to protect themselves and their unborn or newborn children in the best ways possible, it helps improve the chances of a happy baby growing up strong and healthy.
If you are having trouble conceiving and are considering the assistance of a fertility specialist, we welcome you to contact us with any questions you may have. Our team at the Fertility Institute of San Diego is dedicated to providing a supportive and personal experience for our patients. Click here to learn more!
