Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month

    Today is the first day of October, the month declared by President Ronald Reagan to be Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month.  Didn't know that?  Don't worry, I didn't either...until it happened to me. I was blissfully unaware until I was thrown head first into this new reality where your baby doesn't always make it to full term, and when they do they're not always healthy enough to survive.  The numbers aren't clear when you look at statistics, but it's estimated that as many as 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage or stillbirth!  That means there's approximately one baby lost to every three born alive.  It also means that in a circle of 40 friends, it's likely that as many as 10 of them have experienced this type of loss at some point in their lives, and often you may not even know it!

     President Reagan stated “When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn’t a word to describe them. This month recognizes the loss so many parents experience across the United States and around the world. It is also meant to inform and provide resources for parents who have lost children due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, stillbirths, birth defects, SIDS, and other causes.”  There really isn't a word to to describe the unspoken heartache of losing a child, especially one that nobody else really knew existed.

     Several years after "Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month" was established a day, October 15th, was designated as "Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day" and now is recognized in all 50 States!  On this day at 7:00 (in your respective time) zones there will be a "Wave of light" where any who would like to participate will light a candle in honor of these babies who have died before or shortly after birth.  If you feel inspired to participate, please do!

     I know this has turned into a looooooong post, but there's just one more thing.  I have decided to participate in a month-long photo project called "Capture Your Grief" (more information can be found here).  Each day there is a subject given to photograph and share.  I've chosen to participate by using those pictures/subjects here, on my blog.  So, yes, that means I should have a post every day this month.  Feel free to follow along... or don't... Your choice. ;)