Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
Official name	Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
Also called	PAiL Remembrance Day Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day PAiL Awareness Day
Observed by	Including however not limited to: Federal, Provincial, State, Municipal Government, Clergy
Liturgical Color	White c` Pink, Blue and/or Purple
Type	Non-Profit Social Service and Support
Significance	Recognition and raises awareness of, the prominence of pregnancy loss and infant death with an aim to support families who experience the death of their children and to increase, awareness, remembrance, support programs and services for families who experience bereavement.
Celebrations	Lights of Love International Wave of Light
Observances	Including however not limited to: Ribbon Campaign, Awareness Campaigns, PAiL Global Illumination Project, International Wave of Light, Candle Lighting, Flag Raising, Remembrance Services, Remembrance Walks, Fundraising Campaigns, Roundtables, Symposiums, Lectures, Literature Distribution, Public Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Related Broadcasts and Editorials, Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Related Documentary and Movie Screening
Date	October 15
Frequency	annually
Related to	Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month (North America), Baby Loss Awareness Week (United Kingdom), World Prematurity Day (International)

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is a day of remembrance for pregnancy loss and infant death, which includes, however is not limited to, miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, and the death of a newborn.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is observed on October 15 of each year, in: Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Australian States of Western Australia, New South Wales, New Zealand, Italy, Ireland, Denmark, France, Norway, Kenya, Latin America, Central America, South America, Russia, Germany, South Africa, Japan, China and Kyrgyzstan; more countries join in observation each year, officially or otherwise. The day is observed with remembrance ceremonies and candle-lighting vigils, concluding with the Lights of Love International Wave of Light, a worldwide lighting of candles and campaign illuminations, that circumnavigate the globe beginning at 7:00 p.m., in each respective time zone.

The official Awareness Colors of the cause are light pink and baby blue and are synonymous with the campaigns awareness ribbon.[1]

Importance

4.1 million deaths of infants less than one year old were reported in 2017.[2] An estimated 2.6 million stillbirths[3] happen and between 17 and 22 percent of pregnancies result in miscarriage annually.[4] Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day serves to promote greater awareness, remembrance and support of the estimated 1 in 4 individuals and families whose lives are irrevocably altered by the death of their children during pregnancy, at birth, and in infancy. The effects of loss are variable for each individual and family unit who experiences bereavement; common effects include, however are not limited to: depression, anxiety, changes in relationships, development of unhealthy coping mechanisms, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).[5] These effects, amongst others, are often underestimated, misunderstood, and otherwise overlooked by health care professionals, friends, and even family members, especially when concerning pregnancy loss related bereavement and subsequent grief.[6] The Founder and International Ambassador of the PAiL Awareness Campaign & Initiatives, Terra-Lynn Coggan, among others, believes that formalized observation of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day will increase public awareness and promote greater research and understanding to aide in the creation and establishment of programs, resources and services; that support and provide assistance to survivors of baby loss and their families, enabling them to overcome their trauma and integrate their bereavement into their life in a healthy, helpful, healing manner.[7]

History

On October 25, 1988, American President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the month of October 1988, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.[8]

October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Campaign began in 2002 as an American movement started by Robyn Bear, Lisa Brown, and Tammy Novak. Together, they petitioned the federal government, as well as the governors of each of the 50 states, in conjunction with the first observation of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in October 15, 2002, 20 states signed proclamations recognizing the date as such. As a result of the American campaign effort, Concurrent Resolution 222, supporting the goals and ideals of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day was passed in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2006.[9]

As of 2016, all 50 American states have yearly proclamations, with Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Rhode Island, and South Dakota adopting permanent proclamations.

PAiL Awareness Campaign, Founder & International Ambassador, Terra-Lynn Coggan, founder of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Canada, initiated her Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness & Remembrance Campaign in September 2003, following the stillbirth of her nephew Riley Joseph she began lobbying the provincial government for formalized observation of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness and Remembrance.[10] In September 2004, Ms. Coggan, subsequent to solicitation by American Pregnancy and Infant Remembrance Day Campaign director, joined the American movement and acquired the role as the Canadian Director for October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Succeeding New Brunswick's official recognition of October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, October 12, 2005, Coggan, citing irreconcilable difference, resigned as the Canadian Director for the American Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Campaign and independently launched the PAiL Awareness Campaign & Initiatives.[11]

Following New Brunswick's Declaration in observation of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day others have followed Mrs Coggan's lead and introduced similar legislation at the municipal, state, provincial and national level of government in acknowledgement and recognition of October 15.

International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is not officially legislated or observed. However, despite the lack of formality, individuals, families and organizations from across the world and around the globe, come together each year on October 15 in observation of the day and in promotion of greater public awareness, in remembrance of the babies who die too soon and support for bereaved baby loss families. Through the legislative campaigns and initiatives of individuals and organizations worldwide, more countries are joining the effort to officially observe October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

Wave of Light

Founded by Terra-Lynn Coggan in 2003 following the stillbirth of her nephew Riley Joseph, and officially established in 2004, Lights of Love International Wave of Light is a Bear Care Campaign initiative and the official Wave of Light of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, respectively.[12]

The International Wave of Light invites baby loss families, friends, loved ones and supporting organizations from around the world to join in honor and remembrance of all loved and longed for babies gone to soon on October 15 at 7:00 pm in all time zones.

Lighting begins at the International Dateline, on Christmas Island in the first time zone, illuminations and candles remain lit a period of at least one hour, with the next time zone lighting respectively, moving through each time zone as the Wave of Light circumnavigates the globe. The result is a continuous chain of light encompassing and spanning across the world and around the globe for a 24-hour period, illuminating the night in love and light in honor and remembrance of all babies gone too soon.[7]

Candles, buildings, landmarks, monuments, and venues are lit individually as well as in groups; with individuals, families, friends, and supporting organizations participating in the lighting of candles in homes and in the community. Wherever in the world you are, you will be joining families, friends, loved ones and supporters from across the world and around the globe for the International Wave of Light™ in memory of all children who pass away in pregnancy, during birth, in infancy, and beyond.[13]

There are also Remembrance Walks organized around the world. These events have music, speakers and activities, centering around babies who have been lost, during pregnancy or shortly after.[14]

List of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Campaigns

Canadian Campaigns

Official PAiL Campaign Ribbon[1]

PAiL Canada is the official legislative campaign lobbying for formal observation of October, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day across Canada.[15] In October 2005 following former New Brunswick Minister of Health and Wellness, Hon. Elvy Robichaud's declaration, formally recognizing October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day across the province, founder and international ambassador, Terra-Lynn Coggan, who initiated and commenced the Canadian Campaigns in 2003, subsequent to her family's loss; motivated by the stillbirth of her nephew Riley Joseph, her lobby of the Canadian Federal Government for formalized National observation of both, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, respectively.[16]

Historic Precedence - New Brunswick, Canada

New Brunswick, Canada is the first province or state and country in the world to officially observe October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, with declaration in both official languages, English and French, in acknowledgement and observation thereof, issued by the New Brunswick Department of Health and Wellness, October 12, 2005.[17]

Through the lobby effort of Terra-Lynn Coggan, a Saint John resident with the assistance of former Saint John-Champlain MLA Roly MacIntyre, New Brunswick Minister of Health and Wellness, Hon. Elvy Robichaud declared October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day across the province, October 12, 2005, citing "Miscarriage and infant death are a source of grief, often silent, for mothers, fathers, siblings and grandparents."

He called on provincial residents to help promote "support, education and awareness for grieving parents who have lost children during pregnancy or shortly after birth.[18]

CANADA

On October 15th, 2018, Tom Kmiec, Calgary Shepard M.P., rose in the House of Common’s in observation and support of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, sharing his family’s lived experience, the result of the death of daughter, Lucy- Rose, citing:

"Mr. Speaker, today is national Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, a day to remember mothers and fathers who lost their babies by miscarriage or stillbirth and infant loss.

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada estimates up to 20% of pregnancies end in a miscarriage.[19]

Over the summer, my family said goodbye to our youngest daughter, Lucy-Rose, after only 39 days. I want to thank the staff at the neonatal intensive care unit, the doctors, the paramedics, the police, our First Alliance Church members and the many, many neighbours who dropped off food, comforting cards and gave us hugs at the door. I also want to thank the many parliamentarians who sent my family kind notes and expressed their sorrow.

Too often we prize a long life of achievements over a life well lived, filling the hearts of those around us with warmth and compassion. On this day, let us grieve with the parents who have lost a child, as well as the siblings who lost a lifelong best friend.

Next time members are home, they should hug their kids. If they are old and have their own, hug them anyway, even if they protest. Life is too short and none of us knows when our time will come."[20]

Alberta

^{Official Observation Pending}

British Columbia