October marks infant loss awareness month

Image courtesy: Bridge McFarland LLP

Keisha James, a junior health care administration major at Florida A&M, says she’s endured two miscarriages in the past year.

“When you find out you’re expecting, it’s such a beautiful and exciting time,” James said. “You begin to think about the future with this little person growing inside of you. You start to shop for clothes, baby accessories and planning baby showers among other special occasions. Then to have that little person taken away from you, is devastating.”

Riian and Jessica McCormick, both graduates of FAMU, have experienced a still birth and a miscarriage.

“Jackson, our first son, we lost due to still birth,” McCormick said. “When we received the news, we were in complete shock. We couldn’t believe this was happening. It was such a difficult time for us. Since his passing every year, our families get together to honor Jackson by wearing pink and blue ribbons.”

This is a particularly poignant time of year for her and James. October marks National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. It is designed to express compassion and solidarity for those who have lost their children during or after pregnancy.

A miscarriage is described as the loss of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. A still birth occurs when a baby is born at or after the 20th week of pregnancy. Still birth affects roughly one in every 160 births, with approximately 24,000 babies stillborn in the United States each year.

Despite the fact that it is very difficult to completely erase the pain caused by miscarriages, there are a few things you may do to help. You can show your support by wearing this ribbon on Oct. 15. This ribbon might be the conversation starter you need to spread awareness about this day.

The pink and blue ribbon represents baby loss awareness, which encompasses loss during and after pregnancy, stillbirth, neonatal death, miscarriage, and SIDS.

A rainbow baby is a baby born following the loss of a baby due to miscarriage, infant death, stillbirth, or any other reason. This word refers to the rainbow of life that follows a storm brought on by the death of a loved one.

The baby born before the miscarriage is known as a sunshine baby; it represents happiness and calm before the storm caused by losing a baby. The child that is lost is referred to as an angel baby.

You can learn more about this awareness month and find resources at https://nationalshare.org/.