UAMS NICU Observes Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
| The loss of a child is a common sadness shared among tens of thousands of families across the United States, but it’s not often talked about. Because of that, many parents feel alone in their grief.
“It’s extremely painful to talk about the loss of a child,” said Sara Peeples, M.D., medical director of the UAMS Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. “It can be very isolating, especially if you have friends or family members who’ve had normal pregnancies or deliveries. People don’t always know how to broach the subject and what to say about it.”
Many people do not recognize how common perinatal loss is. An estimated 15-20% of confirmed pregnancies end in miscarriage and there are between 20,000 and 30,000 stillbirths in the United States every year.
Sara Peeples, M.D. is the medical director of the UAMS Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
“More children die in infancy than all other pediatric age groups combined,” Peeples said. “The grief associated with pregnancy and infant loss can have a lifelong impact on mothers and families. That’s why it is important for them to know that there is a community of support available to them.”
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and encouraged Americans to commemorate the observance with appropriate ceremonies.
“There are wonderful organizations started by families, local and national support groups, and people who have been specifically trained to help families through their grief after a miscarriage, other pregnancy loss, or infant death,” Peeples said.
UAMS has an active perinatal bereavement program. The NICU has a room dedicated to grieving families that is filled with resources that promote healing.
The parents of Aidan Thomas Finney donate elephants to other families who experience loss.
Recently, the Medical Center joined with other hospitals, community organizations and funeral homes to establish the Central Arkansas Perinatal Loss Coalition (CAPLC). CAPLC seeks to raise awareness of the struggles surrounding perinatal loss by combining resources, individual experiences and expertise. The goal is to support families as a group in order to make a greater impact and advocate for change when necessary.
On Oct. 5, Love Lives will host a remembrance service at UAMS in recognition of pregnancy and infant loss. The program will also participate again this year in the annual Wave of Light ceremony.
Guests are invited to arrive at 6 pm on Oct. 15 to the Wave of Light event at the State Capitol.
Wave of Light is a global remembrance event that happens every Oct. 15. Participants in countries around the world light a candle at 7 p.m. local time. It is an opportunity for people to come together and remember the children they lost.
In Little Rock, a searchlight will brighten the sky over the State Capitol building Tuesday, Oct. 15. The ceremony, co-hosted by Holy Sews and Roller Funeral Home, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Organizers encourage guests to arrive at 6 p.m. to visit with other participants and gather information about local support groups.
“It’s important for people who have experienced this kind of loss to know that others remember their child and that their baby was an important, valuable and special member of their family,” Peeples said. “People are sometimes afraid to ask. But I think for a lot of families, it’s comforting to know that their friends and family remember that little boy or little girl who is no longer with us. That can be a great source of comfort and healing for those families.”
Click here to see KATV’s story about Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.