October Marks Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

October is pregnancy and infant loss awareness month
Credit: CDC

The month of October means a true transition into the fall season for many, with Halloween coming at the end of the month. But October also brings a lesser-known observance of pregnancy loss, somberly fitting for the taboo surrounding it. 

October is designated as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, while October 15 is recognized as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Around the world, efforts are made during this time to document and open up conversations around this specific and painful loss, as well as the grief that follows.

Miscarriage rates are hard to pin down due to reporting inconsistencies and cultural taboos. March of Dimes reports a miscarriage rate of 10-15% in women who knew they were pregnant. Meanwhile, the definition of pregnancy loss can vary country by country. In the U.S., the death of an infant before 20 weeks of pregnancy is considered a miscarriage, while the loss of an infant after 20 weeks of pregnancy is considered a stillbirth, according to the CDC.  

Not all pregnancy complications and losses are equal, however. Systemic racism in medical care, poverty, and plain access to care contribute to Non-Hispanic Black women and Native American women experiencing up to twice the rate of stillbirths as their Non-Hispanic white counterparts.

Women who suffer pregnancy loss may develop mental health issues for months or years after the fact. The Cleveland Clinic cites a wide range of potential causes for a miscarriage, including lifestyle factors, exposure to hazardous materials in the workplace, and even simply maternal age. In addition, cultural attitudes and lack of support systems can also result in women bearing blame for the loss.

WHO has collected and published first-person accounts of pregnancy and infant loss and the stigma faced by the women who experienced it. “I was told I had a missed miscarriage, also called a silent miscarriage, which meant the baby died a long time ago but my body hadn’t shown any signs. I was devastated. I also couldn’t believe that they were going to just send me home with my dead baby inside me, and no advice about what to do,” one woman wrote.

Breaking the silence around pregnancy loss and infant loss can help normalize the grief and abolish the stigma mothers face
Credit: WHO

Breaking Taboos 

High-profile celebrities’ public posting about their losses on social media has created charged conversations around public grief and performativity in recent years. When critics slammed Chrissy Teigen for sharing photos of her and husband John Legend cradling their stillborn child, Jack, Teigen responded, “These photos are only for those who need them.” 

Teigen and others, including former First Lady Michelle Obama and Gwyneth Paltrow, have used their platform and status to show just how prevalent pregnancy loss is. They also bring their grief to the public eye. This visible reminder can bring the taboo to the surface and provoke strong reactions from others online.

“If you lost an infant, that means I can lose an infant, and I don’t want to talk about that, because I don’t think about that,” Julia Ellifritt, a bereavement counselor and Executive Director at Cornerstone of Hope, explained to WKYC studios.

Normalizing the conversation on why and how pregnancy loss occurs can improve outcomes for mothers handling the emotional and physical trauma that comes with it. Healing can only begin when we embrace that infant and pregnancy loss is a part of life, no matter how painful.