How to honor Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, MBA
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month is a time for compassion and remembrance. Here are 19 ways to support people who are grieving and raise awareness.
Pregnancy and infant loss affect countless families, but remain a taboo topic for many. Grieving parents often lack the support and mental health resources they so deeply need. Meanwhile, their well-meaning loved ones don’t always know how to be supportive, worrying that if they say or do the wrong thing, they could make an already devastating situation even worse.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month exists to change that. Every October, it shines a light on these losses and creates a sense of community for those who need it.
This month reminds us that no one should have to carry this kind of pain alone. It’s a time to remember, to support, and to raise awareness through quiet gestures of love and public acts of solidarity.
What (and when) is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month?
In the U.S., Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month is observed every year in October. It began in 1988, when President Ronald Reagan issued Proclamation 5890, declaring it a time to recognize pregnancy and infant loss and honor families who have experienced it.
Meanwhile, October 15 is observed as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, which culminates in a special campaign called the Wave of Light. To pay tribute to the pregnancies and babies lost, people across the globe light a candle at 7pm local time for one hour, creating a continuous wave of light.
Why Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month matters
Pregnancy and infant loss are much more common than most people realize. In the United States, it’s estimated that one in four pregnancies ends in loss, and more than 20,000 babies are stillborn each year. Behind those numbers are parents, siblings, and loved ones navigating a grief that can feel both invisible and overwhelming.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month helps to break the silence that so often surrounds these losses. It reminds grieving families that their experiences are valid, their emotions are real, and they’re not alone.
It also calls attention to the need for better resources, including compassionate medical care, grief support, and continued research. By raising awareness, communities can respond with greater empathy and advocate for systemic changes that serve grieving families.
This month is not just about remembrance. It’s also about building a culture where people can talk openly about loss, find connection, and access the support they deserve.
Related read: How to cope with miscarriage: 11 ways to feel better
How to honor Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month: 19 ways to show support
There’s no single way to recognize Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Some people find comfort in private rituals, while others lean on their communities or dig into advocacy work. Here are 19 ways to get involved, whether you’re grieving or supporting someone you love.
1. Create a simple ritual
Grief often needs structure. Lighting a candle at the same time each week, listening to a meaningful song, or setting aside 10 minutes of quiet reflection can help you feel more grounded. Remember, rituals don’t need to be elaborate. Consistency is what makes them comforting.
2. Join the Wave of Light
At 7pm on October 15th, people around the world light candles for one hour in remembrance of their pregnancy and infant losses — a special time called the Wave of Light. If you join in, you might share a photo online to spread awareness, or keep the moment private if that feels more healing.
3. Say the baby’s name
If you’re grieving the loss of a baby you’ve named, writing that name in a journal, saying it during a ritual, or including it in art can feel like an act of love.
If you’re supporting someone who’s grieving, ask them gently if they’d like you to use the baby’s name (if it feels appropriate to do so). If they say yes, don’t be afraid to speak it out loud. It can affirm that their baby’s life mattered.
💙 Lama Rod Owens’ Caring for Your Grief series can support anyone who’s navigating loss and change.
4. Make a memory box
Create a memory box with ultrasound images, hospital bracelets, cards, photos, or even handwritten notes. It can be tucked away for private reflection or placed somewhere visible, depending on what feels right.
5. Mark important dates gently
Anniversaries, due dates, and holidays can be especially painful for someone grieving a loss, but planning ahead can help. Spend time with a trusted friend, take the day off social media, or do an activity that feels healing, like taking a scenic hike.
If you’re supporting someone, acknowledge the date with a short, thoughtful message: “Thinking of you today and holding your baby in my heart.”
6. Choose a wearable reminder
Jewelry, tattoos, or the blue and pink awareness ribbon can quietly signal your experience, bring you comfort, or be a show of solidarity.
7. Write down how you’re feeling
Putting your thoughts on paper can help you release emotions that are difficult to say out loud. Some parents write directly to their baby, and others address themselves in the past or future. These letters can be read aloud, torn up, or tucked into a memory box — whatever feels most healing.
8. Seek community on your terms
Grief groups, online forums, counseling, and peer networks can offer opportunities for connection, but if large groups feel overwhelming, look for one-on-one support. You might try speaking with a therapist specializing in perinatal loss, or a friend who can sit with you without judgment.
9. Be present without trying to fix
If you’re supporting someone, avoid advice or silver linings like, “At least you can try again.” Simple words can mean the most: “I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m here if you want to talk or sit quietly together.”
💙 The Relationship with Others series from Tamara Levitt can teach you to be a more present friend and a better listener during difficult times.
10. Use the language they use
When discussing a miscarriage, some people might refer to a “baby,” but others prefer “pregnancy” or simply “loss.” Respect the words they choose. Mirroring language shows care and can help you avoid upsetting them. And if you’re unclear, ask them which words feel the most comforting to them.
11. Offer practical help
Grief can be draining, and daily tasks may feel impossible. Instead of saying, “Let me know if you need anything,” make a specific offer.
Drop off dinner, mow the lawn, take the kids for an afternoon, or run errands. Practical help is often what people need most.
12. Check in beyond the first week
Support tends to fade quickly after a loss, but grief stretches far longer. Add reminders in your calendar to send a text on the one-month mark, on the due date, or around holidays. Even a simple, “I’m thinking of you today,” can ease the feeling of isolation.
13. Ask gently about keepsakes
Some people want to save photos, blankets, or hospital mementos, but others may not. Asking, “Would you like me to hold onto these for you?” offers them a choice without pressure. Respect their decision and understand it may change over time.
14. Offer opt-outs for difficult events
Baby showers, children’s birthday parties, and family holidays can be triggering for someone who’s grieving. It’s compassionate to give someone an easy way to decline. You might say something like, “You’re invited, but no pressure. Skip it if it feels too hard.”
15. Remember the wider family
Partners, siblings, and grandparents also grieve, but often they’re overlooked while the focus remains on the birthing parent. A quick check-in—“How are you holding up today?”—makes space for their story too.
16. Review workplace or school policies
Advocate for bereavement leave that includes miscarriage and stillbirth. Flexible scheduling and quiet spaces can also help ease a grieving person’s transition back to the workplace, and so can deadline extensions or reduced course loads for students.
17. Train leaders and teachers
Supervisors and educators may not know how to respond when their employee or student suffers a loss. Providing training or resources helps them approach conversations with greater sensitivity and empowers them to make compassionate accommodations as needed.
18. Donate or fundraise
Even small donations can help organizations provide peer support groups, bereavement training for healthcare workers, or research into causes of pregnancy and infant loss. Participating in fundraising walks or online campaigns can also feel meaningful.
19. Attend or host remembrance events
Community walks, candlelight vigils, and ceremonies where names are read aloud can create powerful moments of solidarity. If you host, be inclusive. Allow people to contribute in a way that feels right for them.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month FAQs
Is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day October 15?
Yes. October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and on October 15th, families and communities around the world mark Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. The day is marked by memorial walks, candlelight vigils, and the global Wave of Light, where people light candles for one hour at 7pm.
What is the Wave of Light?
The Wave of Light is a global remembrance event held annually on October 15th at 7pm local time. People light candles for one hour, creating a continuous wave of light across time zones that symbolizes shared remembrance and solidarity.
Some people choose to participate privately at home, while others gather in larger groups. What matters most is that it provides space for reflection and connection.
Why is talking about pregnancy loss important?
Pregnancy and infant loss are common, but they remain a topic shrouded in stigma. Talking about it helps people who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss feel less alone.
Conversations also create awareness that support and compassion are needed, not just in the immediate aftermath, but in the months and years that follow. By making space for open dialogue, people are reminded they don’t have to carry this grief by themselves — and we can start to advocate for systemic changes too.
How can I honor my loss during Awareness Month?
Honoring a loss can look different for everyone. Some find comfort in personal rituals like lighting a candle, keeping a memory box, or writing a letter to their baby. Others participate in public observances such as remembrance walks or advocacy campaigns.
What matters most is choosing what feels meaningful to you in the moment — and keeping in mind that what feels right this year may be different next year.
How can I access pregnancy loss grief support?
Support comes in many forms. Some people find comfort in one-on-one counseling with a therapist who specializes in perinatal or grief care, while others prefer peer support through local or online groups.
National organizations such as Share, MISS Foundation, and Star Legacy Foundation offer both virtual and in-person options. Many hospitals also have bereavement programs or can connect families with resources.
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