Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Aparna and Amit's story about love, heartbreak, and healing. High school sweethearts, they were the picture-perfect couple. Their friends,families, and almost everyone around them knew it was the perfect love story. Soon after picking up their jobs, they married and shared the joyous news of their pregnancy. Everything was going smoothly. Aparna’s doting family was always by her side, looking after the soon-to-be mom. Nine months passed quickly, but an unexpected tragedy was about to unfold.

At 38 weeks, the unthinkable happened. Aparna delivered a stillborn baby. A day before the tragedy, she had noticed a significant decrease in the baby's movements. Trusting her instincts, she called her doctor, but the baby had already passed away due to an undiagnosed placental abruption. In this condition, the placenta detaches from the uterine wall before birth.

The loss may have been preventable if Aparna had known the importance of monitoring her baby’s movements during the third trimester. Like many pregnant women, she hadn’t been informed about how critical tracking foetal movements is in reducing the risk of stillbirth.

Aparna is confident that if she had been tracking her baby’s movements daily, she would have noticed the change and had the chance to save her baby’s life. Instead, she rushed to the hospital, praying desperately, after the doctors couldn’t find a heartbeat.

This was three years ago. Today, Aparna and Amit have a rainbow baby named Aisha, who has brought immense joy. Determined to help other parents avoid the same heartbreak, Aparna now works with a stillbirth and infant death prevention organisation. The group organises workshops for pregnant couples, raising awareness about the risks of premature birth, stillbirth, and foetal loss and promoting empathy and understanding.

Every year, Aparna observes Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, ensuring that her story and the stories of countless others are shared. If you or someone you know has been or is going through the painful journey of infant loss, then the day holds profound significance. The day brings together grieving families, encouraging community and healing. 

By remembering, talking about, and accepting baby loss, parents and families can find solace and ensure their baby's legacy endures through shared remembrance. Read on as we discuss Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is a global healthcare event celebrated on October 15th every year. Robyn Bear, Tammy Novak, and Lisa Brown founded Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States in 2002. Each of these women faced the heartbreaking loss of their babies and sought to create a day dedicated to honouring those who have experienced similar grief, raising awareness, and offering support. The recognition was approved on September 28th, 2006.

The main aim of Infant Loss Remembrance Day is to create awareness about pregnancy loss, SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), stillbirth, miscarriage and mortality in infants. The day also focuses on parents and families who are facing the emotional and psychological challenges of losing their precious baby. 

Out of the 20 stillborn lakh infants, most deaths are considered to be avoidable. While the reasons are many, it is believed that improved education and preventive efforts can aid in lowering the frequency of heartbreaking infant deaths. 

Participating in Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Attending Infant Loss Remembrance Day can offer support and comfort to people who have suffered this immeasurable loss. Here are a few ways in which you can get involved:

Lighting a Candle

Today, people worldwide light a candle at 7 in the evening, according to their particular time zones. You can light a candle in a visible place to remember the lost babies.

Moments of Silence

A few moments of silence can offer you the time and space to remember the babies no longer around.

Sharing Your Experiences

Sharing your story can be an outlet for you and act as support and comfort for someone going through the same. If you choose to put your story on social media, the following hashtags can help you connect to more and more people:

• #PregnancyAndInfantLoss
• #InfantLossAwareness
• #GriefSupport
• #SupportAndRemember
• #RememberingOurBabies
• #YouAreNotAlone

Offer Your Support

You can attend local events or online programs or gatherings or personally meet people/ friends/ acquaintances who have gone through pregnancy loss.  Sometimes, all someone needs is a shoulder to cry on. Let people know you are there for them.

Educate New Moms

If you find yourself in the capacity, or if you can organise events where professionals can guide moms-to-be and their families about all the risks of pregnancy at large, you can organise counselling services. 

Reducing the Risk of Pregnancy & Infant Loss

When a baby passes away before the completion of 28 weeks of pregnancy, it is generally termed a miscarriage. Babies who die at or after 28 weeks are called stillbirths. Reasons behind miscarriages can be many, ranging from foetal abnormalities to infections, from injury to the mother to her age. 

Studies show that about 26% of pregnancies can end in infant loss. What is also alarming is that 80% of pregnancy loss typically occurs in the first three months of pregnancy. While the likelihood of miscarriage before 20 weeks of pregnancy is 8.9% for women between the ages of 20 and 30, for women over 40, this risk significantly rises to 74.7%.

The causes of miscarriage and stillbirth cannot always be pinpointed. They can affect families across all ethnicities, races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and women of any age. However, there are certain simple things that can be done to reduce these risks:

1. Prioritise all your antenatal appointments and scans without fail. If there is a cancellation, make sure you make another appointment soon. These tests and investigations can identify potential problems at the right time. 
2. While grandma’s theory of eating for two seems outdated now, it is crucial to eat a well-balanced diet and stay active. 
3. Also, remember that pregnancy is not the time to worry about weight gain. However, if you are already overweight, you should watch what you eat.
4. If you drink and/ or smoke, now is the ideal time to quit. Also, remember that passive smoking can be equally harmful for the mother-to-be and her baby.
5. Share it with your doctor immediately if you are under any treatment or medication. 
6. Keep your surroundings clean and safe as much as possible. Avoid going to places that may seem infected, and avoid meeting people who are ill.

Over To You!

There’s no greater heartbreak than the loss of a baby. It’s a pain that words cannot soothe and wounds that time takes its course to heal. For many parents, such devastating losses can come without warning, leaving them grappling with immense grief. Staying connected with your doctor and reporting unusual changes can help monitor your and your baby's health. While we can never fully prepare for such moments, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day can be a day of healing. 

If you have financial concerns about pre- and post-natal care, you should consider investing in a suitable maternity insurance plan.

At Care Health Insurance, we understand the deep concerns of expecting parents. Our comprehensive maternity plan, Care Joy, is designed to give you peace of mind and ensure the health and safety of both you and your baby.

>> Also Read: What are the Options Available in Maternity Health Insurance

Disclaimer: Plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.

References: 

https://www.who.int/health-topics/stillbirth#tab=tab_1

https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/reducing-the-risk-of-stillbirth/