Opening Up in October

pregnancy and infant loss awareness | National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day | Infertility, why me?

October is here and in my area, we are still waiting on fall! If you have spent any time on this blog, you know that I love FALL! October 'usually' means fall is in full swing with cooler weather, enjoying chili for supper, fall festivals and simply spending time outside enjoying the fresh air.

But October is also Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. Through this month I'm going to open up a little bit more than usual and share about the pain of miscarriage. Here are a few staggering statistics.

One in four pregnancies ends in the loss of a baby
The loss of a child is recognized as the most intense cause of grief
Parents never “get over” the loss of a child – no matter the age
Parents experiencing grief without supportive care can have debilitating consequences such as PTSD, depression and anxiety

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan had proclaimed the whole month of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Baby Loss Awareness Week is held annually from October 9 to 15. It’s a special opportunity to mark the brief lives of babies lost in pregnancy or at or soon after birth.

Throughout the week bereaved parents, their families and friends, unite with each other and others across the world to commemorate their babies’ lives.

For Robyn Bear, the woman behind National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, there needed to be a place for these losses. According to her Web site, Ms. Bear began the campaign to make Oct. 15th a national day of remembrance “after having had five miscarriages with little to no support.” She wanted a day for people to grieve visibly, get the support they needed, and unite around the world by lighting candles.

Parents who lose babies usually feel alone. Treatment for mothers generally ends once the physical symptoms of loss have abated. Friends and family may not know how to help. It is easy to suppress the hurt and grief and suffer in silence. Since miscarriages can happen early in pregnancy, there often isn't a physical reminder or memorial for the baby. But a mother will forever feel the loss.

Through the month, I will be sharing about pregnancy loss due to miscarriage in our family. It is with hope that our story will provide comfort and extend love and empathy to others who have walked this path. It will also be a time to reflect and remember and mark the brief miracles that were given to us and live forever in our hearts.

Comments

Sometimes We Score, Sometimes We Block

Our family is in the midst of little league soccer season. My youngest son is playing and his enthusiasm is contagious. He is pretty good at the sport, but what makes it so great is that he loves it! He counts the days until the next game or practice. He loves his coach and teammates. He has moved up an age level this year and the players are working more like team, passing to each other and watching out for each other during play. During the last game, my son scored two goals, they were the only goals of the game. In today's game the team scored eight goals. My son came up afterwards to me and said, "I didn't score today, but I blocked". What a powerful truth those words can hold. In life, sometimes we score, sometimes we block. Sometimes we do great things, we excel, we achieve, we meet our goal - we score! There are also times we see the needs of others, sometimes they are sad or hurting, we block their hits. We look out for them so they can score. We

Relationships and Redemption

In every friendship or relationship, there is a common hope that they will grow and flourish. There is something inside of us that longs for a 'happy every after' story. We dream about it and work to make that happen. But in reality, relationships are a challenge. The bridging of values, lifestyles, interests and sacrificing for another are simply hard things to do! No matter how much we dream of the perfect fit, some relationships will not endure the stress. When differences appear and tensions arise, prayer can change situations, attitudes and ourselves. For the Christian, we know God can transform, change, heal. We cannot change others, but prayer opens us the door for God to step in and answer. God desires transformation, but does not demand it. The gift of free will allows us to choose to say Yes or No to Him. Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Take notice of the first two words: “If possible …” This implies that some

A Blank Page - A Great Way to Fill It

A blank page - that is the first view of a new blog post. It has been a while since I have faced the blank page of my little blog! A blank page can bring a variety of emotions - emptiness, anxiety, pressure to perform or emotions such as inspiration, encouragement or simply bursting to share something. But there is always something fresh and exciting about the blank page of a New Year. Happy 2023! This is always a time in my life where inspiration and plans are formed and ready to be implemented for greater change. Aspirations may start strong, but alone do not make a difference. It takes consistency to create change. The changing or adding small habits is a key to great changes. A habit that has been beneficial in my life for many years is rising early. It began when the children were small and was the only pocket of time I had to myself. Through the years, mornings have become my favorite time of the day. Now that my husband and I are empty nesters, we go to bed early and rise early.

Joyfull Living

Search This Blog