Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

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.

October 15 is observed annually in Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australian States of Western Australia, New South Wales and in Italy. 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 that encompasses and spans the globe at 7:00 p.m. (local time)

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

History

On October 25, 1988, American President Ronald Reagan designated the entire month of October 1988 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.^[1]

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.^[2]

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.

The Founder of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Canada, also known as PAiL Canada, Terra-Lynn Coggan, joined the American movement in September 2004 and acquired the role as the Canadian Director for October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day and initiated the Canadian Campaign.^[3] Following New Brunswick's official recognition of October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, Coggan resigned as the Canadian Director for the American Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Campaign and independently launched The Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Awareness Campaign.

Following New Brunswick’s Declaration in observation of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day others have followed Mrs Coggan's lead and introduced similar Canadian legislation at the provincial and municipal levels in acknowledgement and recognition of October 15.^[4]

International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

"World (International) Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day" is not currently declared nor is it legislated and recognized at the international level as a Day of Remembrance/Awareness. Despite this organizations around the world observe the day in remembrance of the babies who die to soon and the bereaved families who are left to grieve. Through the legislative campaigns of individuals worldwide the Remembrance Day is becoming an international day of observation.

International Wave of Light

Founded in 2003 and officially established in 2004 the International Wave of Light is a Bear Care Campaign initiative and the official Wave of light of October 15th, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.^[5]

The wave of light invites baby loss families, friends and loved ones from around the world to join in honor and remembrance of their loved and longed for babies on October 15 at 7:00 pm in all time zones.

Lighting begins in the first time zone and remain lit a period of one hour, with the next time zone lighting respectively. 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 our children.

Candles, monuments and landmarks are lit individually as well as in groups, in homes and community settings. Wherever in the world you are, you will be joining families, friends and loved ones across the world and around the globe for the International Wave of Light™ in memory of all children who pass away during pregnancy and in infancy.^[6]

List of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Campaigns

American federal campaign

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. House Concurrent Resolution 222 proclaims October 15 of each year to be Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States.^[2]

Canadian federal campaign

The Canadian Foundation for October 15th, also known as PAiL Canada is the official legislative campaign of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Canada. PAiL Canada is leading the federal campaign to recognize October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day across Canada.

The goal of PAiL Canada is to obtain an official day of remembrance, October 15th of each year, to ensure that all Canadian families who experience the death of their loved and longed for children during pregnancy and in infancy are extended the opportunity to collectively acknowledge their loss, seek support, and honor their children's memory in an understanding and supportive atmosphere.

PAiL Canada promotes national and international pregnancy loss and infant death awareness, remembrance, and support across Canada and around the globe to enable the global community the knowledge and skills required to assist and meet the needs of families who experience the death of their children during pregnancy and in infancy.

PAiL Canada was founded by Terra-Lynn Coggan in October 2005 following Minister of New Brunswick Health and Wellness, Hon. Elvy Robichaud's declaration, recognizing October 15th, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day across the province.

He called on provincial residents to help promote "support, education and awareness for grieving parents who have lost infants during pregnancy or shortly after birth.^[7]

Throughout Ms Coggan's campaign efforts she has diligently campaigned to remove the social stigma which is attach to pregnancy loss and infant death and the way in which families grieve their loss.

Ms Coggan believes that greater awareness will increase research which will enable health care providers and social agencies from across Canada and around the world to develop programs and services based on the findings of empirical research and aimed to serve the greatest good of the families they support.^[8]

Ms Coggan, a infertility and baby loss survivor of seventeen, continues to actively campaign with individuals from around the globe to remove the social stigma and lift the taboo related to pregnancy loss and infant death, raise awareness, increase support for grieving families and extend opportunities for remembrance to all.

Ms Coggan's passion for supporting bereaved families is evident in her campaign efforts.^[9]

New Brunswick

New Brunswick, Canada is the first province or state in the world to officially declare October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, issuing Declarations in both official languages in acknowledgement and recognition thereof.

Through the lobbying efforts of Terra-Lynn Coggan, a Saint John resident with the assistance of Saint John-Champlain MLA Roly MacIntyre, on October 12, 2005, New Brunswick Minister of Health and Wellness, Hon. Elvy Robichaud declared October 15 to be Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day across the province, saying that "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 infants during pregnancy or shortly after birth.^[7]

British Columbia

The Organizer of Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness "A Walk To Remember" in Vernon, B.C., Jennifer Patrick started her fundraiser campaign in October 2004 after the stillbirth of her son Connor. In October 2005 Patrick worked with the Attorney General to issue a Proclamation, proclaiming October 15, 2005 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day across the province.

In 2012 and 2013 British Columbia proclaimed October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, however, as of 2016, a permanent declaration, has not yet been issued. British Columbia's Legislative Campaign to establish October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day as an official day of awareness for all BC families who experience the death of their children during pregnancy and in infancy is currently ongoing.

Australia

The campaign for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in Australia began in May 2008 when Nicole Ballinger of the State of New South Wales (NSW) approached her State and Federal MPs to request their help in establishing this Day.^[10] Although aiming for a nationwide declaration, Ballinger took this two-pronged approach as she had been advised that federal motions are often passed once they are first passed at the State level.

Guided by her MPs, Joanna Gash (Federal) and Shelley Hancock (State), Ballinger lobbied both levels of government beginning in 2008: utilizing petitions, the internet and social media, and repeated correspondence with Australian Prime Ministers, NSW Premiers, Health Ministers, Senators and other MPs. In support, Gash and Hancock continued to present this motion in parliament at the State^[11] and Federal^[12] levels.

On October 14, 2011, Hancock and NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner announced the official declaration of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in NSW.^[13] As of 2016, Ballinger continues to lobby the Australian government, with the support of Gash, to acknowledge Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day officially and declare across Australia.

The campaign for recognition of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in Western Australia began in 2012 by John and Kate De'Laney. However it was a letter that Mrs De'Laney penned, in September 2013, to Premier Colin Barnett which brought Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day to his attention. Mr and Mrs De'Laney then began working with the Honorable Donna Faragher, Parliamentary Secretary to have the day formally recognized.^[14]

On October 15, 2014, the Western Australian State Government passed a bipartisan agreement to officially recognize Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. In the motion put before the Legislative Council Premier Colin Barnett said "Through this remembrance day we hope to create a greater awareness in the community about the immeasurable impact that pregnancy and early infancy loss has on so many women, their partners and families within our community. We hope that through the recognition of their loss and the subsequent pain endured, this remembrance day can play a small part in enabling families to find a way forward in their grieving, and in time heal the deep wound of loss. Most importantly, this remembrance day acknowledges that these babies were lovingly anticipated and remain forever in their parents’ hearts." ^[15]

Ms & Mrs De'Laney continue their efforts to have October 15 recognised at a National level with representations to The Prime Minister, The Leader of The Opposition and a number of other Federal Members of Parliament. They have also established the 'We Remember' campaign ^[16] which is a social media campaign aimed at demonstrating grass roots support for National recognition of October 15 Australia wide

Italy

The first celebration of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in Italy took place in 2007 by initiative of CiaoLapo Onlus charity for perinatal loss support. Since then, several local celebrations, as well as national meetings, are held every year on October 15 in many Italian towns. Through the lobbying efforts of CiaoLapo Onlus, on November 26, 2013 a press conference for the presentation of a bill for the official recognition of the day by the Italian state took place in Rome at the Chamber of Deputies, which was attended by politicians Aldo Di Biagio (Senate) and Matteo Biffoni (House) together with Claudia Ravaldi and Alfredo Vannacci of CiaoLapo, promoters of this initiative.^[17]

References