October is observed as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month worldwide. And while it is a notable period for parents who have lost a child, to reflect on their pain and remember their little angels, it is also a period for persons who may not have experienced the pain firsthand to support loved ones.
As a person who has never experienced such a loss firsthand, I cannot begin to imagine what thousands of parents across the globe go through. I actually struggled writing this post because I wasn’t sure it was okay for me to speak on this topic – what do I know anyway. But after doing some research and unofficial polls, I have come to realize that that attitude contributes to us not normalizing people talking about their loss and instead drives the stigma that is sometimes attached to the pain many moms and dads face.
This is definitely a serious issue affecting many women, men and families across the globe and we ought to normalize parents feeling and working through that pain for however long they need to.
So, if you’ve never lost a baby, good for you, but ignorance is no excuse to not play a part in supporting those who have. There is always something you can do. If you’re like me and need some direction on how you can support a friend, relative or even co-worker who’s experienced, pregnancy, infant or child loss, here are 10 dos and don’ts:
- Be present
- Keep your condolences simple and honest
- Avoid triggering statements
- Don’t ignore the situation
- Check-in on them
- Help parents remember their baby
- Listen and acknowledge their grief
- Ask how you can help
- Try to remember the special dates and plan to be with them during that time
- Offer your assistance with everyday tasks, especially for parents who already have children.
1 in 4 women will lose a baby during pregnancy, delivery or infancy.
STAR LEGACY FOUNDATION
Let’s encourage and support our loved ones through what must be an extremely challenging ordeal.
The Village Ja 