Honoring All Pregnancy Losses: Resources for Support & Healing

Pregnancy loss is a deeply personal and often silent experience, touching the lives of countless families and leaving a lasting impact that is both profound and complex. Despite how common it is, the grief that accompanies it remains shrouded in silence. Many feel unsure how to express their pain, or even process it. This Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month, it’s vital to honor that grief, while also spreading love and support to those who need it most. Below are essential resources, communities, and tools to help those who have experienced this kind of loss find comfort and solidarity.

Breaking The Silence

Pregnancy loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth, TFMR, and infant loss, often carries stigma or a sense of isolation. Many grieving parents struggle to talk openly about their experiences. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and Mayo Clinic, 10-20% of known pregnancies in the U.S. end in miscarriage each year, though the real number may be higher since many losses happen before a pregnancy is recognized. These losses are often not acknowledged as openly as other forms of grief, but the emotions are just as raw, valid, and significant.

Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day (October 15) is an opportunity to break the silence, to say, “You are not alone,” to the millions of parents who have suffered in silence. Speaking openly about pregnancy loss helps create a culture of understanding and compassion, bringing these quiet sorrows into the light.

Pregnancy loss awareness month brings awareness to the many circumstances bereaved parents endure, including:

SIDS
Miscarriage
Embryo Loss
Stillbirth
Chemical Pregnancy
TFMR
Late Term Loss
Ectopic Pregnancy
Neonatal Loss
Molar Pregnancy
Infertility
Unsuccessful IVF Transfer
Infant Loss
Vanishing Twin
Blighted Ovum
Child Loss

Education and Resources for Next Steps

After a miscarriage or pregnancy loss, it’s often difficult to know what to do next. The following resources offer education and support for families navigating their next steps:

March of Dimes – Miscarriage: Offers educational resources on the causes, treatment options, and next steps following a miscarriage. Visit http://www.marchofdimes.org.
Miscarriage Hope Desk: Provides evidence-based resources and articles about miscarriage, as well as support for those experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss. Explore their resources here: www.miscarriagehopedesk.com.
The Miscarriage Association: Offers practical guidance on miscarriage, next steps, and memorializing your pregnancy. Visit www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk.

Grief Support Resources for Pregnancy Loss

For women coping with the grief of pregnancy loss, finding resources and support is key to navigating their healing journey. Below are some specific resources designed to help:

Return to Zero: H.O.P.E. – Provides free support, resources, and retreats for families who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. They offer online support groups, webinars, and retreats tailored to loss healing. Visit their website: www.returntozerohope.org.
Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support – Offers a national network of support groups, education, and memorial events for families affected by the loss of a pregnancy or infant. More information can be found here: www.nationalshare.org.
Grieve Out Loud – A non-profit dedicated to helping families cope with the loss of a baby through peer support and various grief resources. You can find additional support here: www.grieveoutloud.org.
The TFMR Doula – Grief circles and private grief support for parents who have faced isolating, unthinkable complications in their pregnancies. Find support here: https://www.thetfmrdoula.com/

Building Community on Instagram

Instagram has become a vital platform where women can find solidarity, share their stories, and feel less isolated in their grief. Below are 5-10 prominent Instagram accounts and communities that focus on pregnancy loss:

@ihadamiscarriage – Dr. Jessica Zucker, the creator of the #IHadAMiscarriage movement, offers a space for sharing stories and raising awareness around pregnancy loss.
@thewombangels – This account focuses on pregnancy loss, birth trauma, and miscarriage, creating a compassionate online community.
@unspokenmotherhood – An inclusive space dedicated to the women experiencing all forms of pregnancy loss, offering shared stories and resources.
@pushingthroughloss – A pregnancy loss account that helps women connect, reflect, and find support through stories and healing practices.
@themiscarriagedoula – This account offers education and support from a miscarriage doula, focusing on guiding families through pregnancy loss.
@pregnancylosshealing – Run by pregnancy loss coach and author Stefanie F. McLeod, this account provides encouragement and insights on healing from loss.
@stillmothers – A community specifically supporting mothers who have experienced stillbirth or infant loss.
@tfmrmamas – A community supporting families after TFMR baby loss

Honoring Grief with Rituals

Grieving the loss of a pregnancy often requires personal and meaningful rituals that acknowledge the life lost. Here are some rituals and memorialization practices that can provide a sense of closure and peace:

Lighting a Candle – Participate in the Wave of Light on October 15th, when families around the world light a candle at 7 p.m. to remember their lost babies.
Planting a Tree or Flower – Many families plant a tree or flower in memory of their baby, creating a living tribute that grows over time.
Creating Keepsakes – Personalized items like a memory box, jewelry with the baby’s name or birthstone, or a piece of artwork can serve as a tangible reminder of your baby.
Releasing Balloons or Lanterns – Some find comfort in writing messages or prayers and releasing balloons or lanterns in remembrance of their child.
Naming the Baby – Choosing and speaking the baby’s name can be an important step in the grieving process, bringing recognition to the life lost.

De-Stigmatizing Different Types of Loss

Pregnancy loss is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, TFMR, or neonatal loss all bring their unique challenges and forms of grief. It’s crucial to avoid creating a hierarchy of loss; all grief is valid, and no experience should be considered “lesser” or “greater” than another. Whether the loss occurred early in pregnancy or near full term, every loss matters, and it’s important to normalize the diverse range of emotions parents may feel. No two grief journeys are alike, and that is okay.

Seven Books About Different Pregnancy Loss Topics and Grief:

These books provide a range of perspectives, from spiritual support to practical advice, and can help women navigate the different emotional and physical aspects of pregnancy loss. Each offers unique insights and resources to aid healing during a challenging time.

1. “The Baby Loss Guide” by Zoë Clark-Coates

Synopsis: Written by grief specialist Zoë Clark-Coates, this book offers support for those who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death. It provides practical advice, emotional support, and space for readers to reflect on their loss. Clark-Coates, who experienced five miscarriages herself, also shares personal stories from families and encourages healing through self-care and community. Buy on Amazon: The Baby Loss Guide

2. “I Had a Miscarriage: A Memoir, a Movement” by Jessica Zucker

Synopsis: Dr. Jessica Zucker, a psychologist specializing in women’s reproductive and maternal mental health, shares her personal experience with miscarriage at 16 weeks. The book addresses the emotional trauma of miscarriage, the silence surrounding it, and the #IHadAMiscarriage movement she started to break the stigma. It offers both a personal memoir and an insightful look at how society views miscarriage. Buy on Amazon: I Had a Miscarriage

3. “Loved Baby: 31 Devotions Helping You Grieve and Cherish Your Child After Pregnancy Loss” by Sarah Philpott

Synopsis: This devotional book offers spiritual comfort and practical advice for women grieving the loss of a baby. Each devotion focuses on themes of faith, hope, and healing, making it ideal for women who find solace in religion. It also provides journal prompts and prayers to help women process their grief. Buy on Amazon: Loved Baby

4. “Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby” by Deborah L. Davis

Synopsis: A comprehensive and compassionate guide for parents who have lost a baby to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death, this book offers advice on dealing with grief, interacting with others who may not understand the loss, and finding ways to cope. Dr. Davis blends practical advice with emotional support and includes stories from grieving parents. Buy on Amazon: Empty Cradle, Broken Heart

5. “Silent Sorority: A (Barren) Woman Gets Busy, Angry, Lost and Found” by Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos

Synopsis: This book offers a raw, personal look at the experience of infertility and miscarriage. The author, Pamela Tsigdinos, chronicles her journey through fertility treatments, miscarriages, and coming to terms with a life without children. It’s both a memoir and a reflection on the societal expectations placed on women when it comes to motherhood. Buy on Amazon: Silent Sorority

6. “Grace Like Scarlett: Grieving with Hope after Miscarriage and Loss” by Adriel Booker

Synopsis: This faith-based book explores the author’s personal experience with multiple miscarriages and offers Christian women a message of hope and healing through faith. Booker writes candidly about her emotional journey and how she found peace through her spirituality. Buy on Amazon: Grace Like Scarlett

7. “It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand” by Megan Devine

Synopsis: While not specifically about pregnancy loss, this book addresses the broader issue of grief and how society often misunderstands or dismisses it. Devine, a psychotherapist who lost her partner, writes about the experience of deep grief and offers practical guidance on how to navigate it. This book can be particularly helpful for women who feel isolated or misunderstood in their grief after pregnancy loss. Buy on Amazon: It’s OK That You’re Not OK

Moving Forward with Compassion

Pregnancy loss is a heartbreaking experience, but it’s one shared by many. By honoring grief in all its forms and spreading love, we can help create a world where parents no longer feel isolated in their pain. Offering support, breaking the silence, and creating a compassionate, inclusive community can make all the difference. Let’s turn this Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month into a time of healing, understanding, and love—where every loss is honored, every grief is validated, and every parent is supported.

In this together,

The Every Woman is Worthy Team