History

History of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month [Proclamation 5890]. Tragically approximately a million pregnancies yearly in the United States end in early pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or the death of the newborn child.

The loss of a child stays with parents, friends, and family members forever, but it can be challenging for others to truly understand the emotional and physical impact. Events across the country take place each October and help people to better empathize and support parents on their journey to hope. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month enables us to consider how, as individuals and communities, we can meet the needs of bereaved parents and family members and work to prevent the causes of these tragedies.