October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day — a day to honor and acknowledge the grief that so many families carry, often in silence.
Pregnancy loss, infant loss, and stillbirth are experiences that affect far more families than most people realize. Approximately 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in miscarriage. Stillbirth affects 1 in 100 pregnancies. SIDS and other causes of infant death claim tens of thousands of families each year in the United States alone. Yet this grief remains one of the most invisible forms of loss — socially unacknowledged, under-supported, and profoundly isolating.
The Grief That Doesn't Have a Name
There is no universally recognized word in English for a parent who has lost a child. The absence of language reflects the absence of cultural permission to grieve fully. Families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss often describe feeling pressure to move on quickly, to "try again," to be grateful for other children if they have them — pressure that can compound grief rather than ease it.
What helps most is what happens before and around the formal support: someone saying the baby's name. Someone acknowledging the loss as real and significant. Someone making space for grief that doesn't follow a timeline.
Resources for Families
- Postpartum Support International: 1-800-944-4773 — including support groups specifically for pregnancy and infant loss
- SHARE Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support: share.squarespace.com
- Star Legacy Foundation: starlegacyfoundation.org — stillbirth research and support
- 988 Lifeline: Call or text 988 if grief has reached a crisis point
At Mamaya Health, we hold space for grief in all its forms — including the grief of pregnancy and infant loss. Our therapists are trained to support mothers through loss, trauma, and the complicated journey of healing. Connect with a Mamaya therapist →
