October Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. An important time to connect with women and partners in the community and raise awareness for miscarriage and early pregnancy loss.
An estimated 285 miscarriages occur every day in Australia1, with an estimated 1 in 4 pregnancies ending in loss before 12 weeks1. Nearly 40% of these women will show signs of PTSD after the experience of early pregnancy loss2.
With your help, we can build a circle of support around these grieving families and help them honour the memory of their losses.
Why is October Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month so important?
Society still often minimises the experience of early pregnancy loss and many families experience it in silence, isolation, and with a lack of support resources. Bringing awareness to these losses allows those who have had a loss, to grieve and find the support they need.
It's ok not to be ok
This year, to mark October Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, Pink Elephants is launching the 'It's ok not to be ok' campaign. We aim to spread the message that it’s ok, wherever you are at, to feel what you are feeling and not feel you have to explain yourselves or justify your grief. Grieving is a natural and necessary part of the healing process and everyone’s journey through grief is unique. There is no right or wrong way to feel or heal. For too long the experience of early pregnancy loss has been disenfranchised by society, dangerously isolating those grieving the loss of their baby. Pink Elephants is advocating to change this and ensure every loss is met with validation, empathy and support.
No one should have to walk the journey of miscarriage and pregnancy loss alone
We will continue to lead the narrative shift from 'at least' to 'It's ok not to be ok', ensuring our community feel validated throughout their whole experience and know we are here for them; that they don't have to walk this journey alone.
Get Involved
If you have a pregnancy loss story you would like to share, we would like to hear it. By sharing your feelings at this time you provide a space for others to feel like they can also share and relate, providing validation that what they are feeling is real and that 'It's ok not to be ok'. Make an Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok post/story in support of October Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and tag @pinkelephanstsupport.
Instagram/Facebook Tiles
Repost our social tiles to your social channels and tag @pinnkelephantssupport or help by sharing our content, posts or blogs throughout October.
How can I help If I've never experienced loss?
You can make a donation. Your donations will provide critical early intervention emotional support needed by those suffering the trauma and heartbreak of miscarriage, early pregnancy loss and fertility challenges. Helping those to feel cared for, protected and understood, ensures that no one walks the journey of miscarriage and pregnancy loss alone.
Donate
Thank you for your support.
References:
1. What is miscarriage? Miscarriage Awareness - https://miscarriageaustralia.com.au/understanding-miscarriage/what-is-miscarriage/
2. Farren J, Jalmbrant M, Falconieri N, Mitchell-Jones N, Bobdiwala S, Al-Memar M, et al. Posttraumatic stress, anxiety and depression following miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy: a multicenter, prospective, cohort study. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology [Internet]. 2019 Dec;222(4). Available from:
https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(19)31369-9/fulltext