"October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. Each year in the US, there are approximately 2,024,000 infant deaths.
600,000 miscarriages (under 20 gestation)
1.2M terminations
64,000 ectopic pregnancies
600,000 miscarriages (under 20 gestation)
1.2M terminations
64,000 ectopic pregnancies
6,000 molar pregnancies
26,000 stillbirths
27,860 infants die before their first birthday
Breast Cancer is horrible...about 40,000 people die each year from breast cancer. But over 2M babies die each year. Society doesn't always embrace families who have experienced the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant loss - sometimes acting as if the family should just move on, forget about it, or "you're young, you can have another". The grief can be painfully silent and lonely for families.
Someone you know has been affected by infant loss. Acknowledgement of the loss of their child's life means the world to them...tell them you remember!!! That they are not alone. Ask them to talk about their loss - you listen! Let them tell you about the dreams they had for their child, the wonderment of what they'd be doing now or what they'd look like. Help them find help if they need/want it."
26,000 stillbirths
27,860 infants die before their first birthday
Breast Cancer is horrible...about 40,000 people die each year from breast cancer. But over 2M babies die each year. Society doesn't always embrace families who have experienced the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant loss - sometimes acting as if the family should just move on, forget about it, or "you're young, you can have another". The grief can be painfully silent and lonely for families.
Someone you know has been affected by infant loss. Acknowledgement of the loss of their child's life means the world to them...tell them you remember!!! That they are not alone. Ask them to talk about their loss - you listen! Let them tell you about the dreams they had for their child, the wonderment of what they'd be doing now or what they'd look like. Help them find help if they need/want it."
If you know someone who needs/wants support, please share M.E.N.D. with them. M.E.N.D. has 10 chapters in 5 states as well as online support for families who have lost a child.
Please help us to remember these precious lives that were lost too soon.
We miss you, Elena!
Thank you for sharing this! I have read these statistics before, but they are always so shocking.
ReplyDeleteThey are shocking, and so heartbreaking. Thinking of Gabriel this evening. <3
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