October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month?

ST. CHARLES, Mo., Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In 1988, President Ronald Reagan designated October as Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month – an action that launched the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Movement. Although over a quarter century has passed, this issue remains prevalent as, each year, approximately a million pregnancies in the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of the newborn child.

Did you know that:

• One in four pregnancies ends in the loss of a baby
• The loss of a child is recognized as the most intense cause of grief
• Parents never "get over" the loss of a child – no matter the age
• Parents experiencing grief without supportive care can have debilitating consequences such as PTSD, depression and anxiety that could further result in job loss, divorce, difficulties in daily living, or impediments with parenting of living children

The loss of a child stays with a family forever, but the emotional and physical impacts are often challenging for others to truly understand. Having support through grief is paramount to recovery. Raising awareness is the first step to accessing available help. Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support is a national provider of Perinatal Bereavement Care, headquartered in St. Charles, Missouri. The goal is to help families through their grief and to find healthy ways to integrate their loss into their lives.

Events across the country take place each October and help people to better empathize and support parents on their journey to hope. There are several events happening at the national Share Office during October as well:

Wave of Light Celebration:
October 15, 2014 is a universal day of remembrance for pregnancy loss and infant death. This day is observed with remembrance ceremonies and candle-lighting vigils, concluding with the International Wave of Light worldwide lighting of candles at 7 p.m. Share will host a Wave of Light ceremony on October 15 at the National Office in St. Charles, MO beginning at 6 p.m. For additional information or to RSVP, please email [email protected] or call 636-947-6164.

2014 Walk for Remembrance & Hope:
The Share Walk for Remembrance and Hope provides a beautiful ceremony and balloon release, along with a 1-mile or 4-mile walk. October 18, 2014 at Creve Coeur Park in St. Louis, MO.
For more information, visit http://www.nationalshare.org/walk.html.

Debbie Cochran, BSN, MA 
Executive Director
Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support, Inc.
402 Jackson Street, St. Charles, MO 63301
636-947-6164
[email protected] 

SOURCE Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support