October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. The National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Resolution was passed in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2006.
It states:
Whereas each year, approximately one million pregnancies in the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a newborn baby;
Whereas it is a great tragedy to lose the life of a child;
Whereas even the shortest lives are still valuable, and the grief of those who mourn the loss of these lives should not be trivialized;
Whereas during the past 3 years, Governors of all 50 States have signed proclamations designating October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day;
Whereas the legislatures of the States of Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Rhode Island, and South Dakota have passed concurrent resolutions recognizing October 15th of each year as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day;
Whereas the observance of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day may provide validation to those who have suffered a loss through miscarriage, stillbirth, or other complications;
Whereas recognizing Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day would enable the people of the United States to consider how, as individuals and communities, they can meet the needs of bereaved mothers, fathers, and family members, and work to prevent the causes of these deaths; and
Whereas October 15th of each year is an appropriate day to observe National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress— supports the goals and ideals of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day; and requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such day with appropriate programs and activities.
Passed the House of Representatives September 28, 2006
To the average person, that reads like a normal passed resolution. To me though, and to the myriad of parents who have lost a child during the very early stages of growth, it reads like a poem. Millions of babies… Millions of parents silently grieving. This “resolution” is so poetically beautiful to me that it can bring tears to my eyes, not because of my own loss, but because of how powerful it is to have validation.
This resolution gives us validation. To some people, it may seem silly to have an official day. It may seem like an awful lot of trouble to get congress all together to discuss something so “private.”
It may seem pointless to make a big deal out of something that is such a normal part of life.
Former President Reagan may have said it best though during his proclamation regarding Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, “National observance of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month offers us the opportunity to increase our understanding of the great tragedy involved in the deaths of unborn and newborn babies. It also enables us to consider how, as individuals and communities, we can meet the needs of bereaved parents and family members on work to prevent causes of these problems.”
Have you lost a baby? Are you struggling? There’s help:
Blog Post: Pregnancy After a Loss