The Day of Remembrance came later on October 15, 2002. The day expanded internationally to feature the International Wave of Light—where participants light a candle at 7 p.m. local time across all time zones to create a continuous 24-hour wave of light in memory of the babies.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day serves as a sanctuary, a dedicated space for families to openly grieve, remember, and honor the short, yet meaningful lives of babies lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and other infant deaths. The day also serves as an opportunity for awareness, advocacy, and information sharing that seeks to shatter the silence surrounding infant loss, give voice to invisible grief, and normalize conversation around pregnancy loss so no family walks the journey alone.
The Day of Remembrance usually includes a host of events designed to provide comfort, educate the public, and raise awareness—to build deep community empathy, along with the tools, language, and connections to support grieving families. The events include:
- Memorial services
- Remembrance Walks and 5Ks
- Hospital Memorial Services
- Name-Reading Ceremonies
- Social Media Campaigns
- Fundraising and Donation Drives
- Memory Walks and Butterfly Releases
- Memorial Planting and Tree Dedications
- Crafting and Keepsake Making
Many churches leverage Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day to minister to grieving families through liturgies and dedicated services, Masses of Remembrance, Ecumenical and Community Memorials, along with Holy Communion and Healing Services. These special ceremonies usually include name submissions and books of remembrance, candle-lighting stations and Blessing of Remembrance Gardens, grief support efforts, and Angel Gown and Comfort Ministries.
These efforts are so vast because the numbers tell a story of substantial infant loss, grief, and difficulty among a significant population:
- 1 in 4 families have experienced perinatal loss.
- 10-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage.
- According to the CDC, about 21,000 babies are stillborn each year. This affects roughly 1 in 175 births. UNICEF reports that nearly 1.9 million stillbirths occur worldwide every year.
- Infant Mortality (death before age one) affects roughly 20,000 infants a year
- Forty percent of those who experience pregnancy or infant loss develop long-term mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can last for years.
What can the Christian community do to acknowledge pregnancy and infant loss?
- Participate in church ceremonies that uplift the loss of these sweet lives
- Pray for grieving families and seek out unique ways to honor those who are suffering loss
- Reach out to national Christian ministries such as Hope Mommies, M.E.N.D. (Mommies enduring Neonatal Death), Red Bird Ministries, Foreknown Ministries, and Heaven’s Gain Ministries
- Seek insight from support organizations that serve as core resources in conjunction with Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, including Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support, The TEARS Foundation, and Star Legacy Foundation.
Let’s pray: Lord, thank you for the incredible gift of life. While it is devastating to suffer the loss of God’s littlest image bearers, we know, Lord, that these lives are in your hands. We pray for the millions of families who have suffered pregnancy and infant loss and ask that you would comfort them. Please place in their midst caring loved ones who can serve as a support system in their time of need. We also pray that these difficult moments will draw all of these families closer to You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3
Sources: CDC, UNICEF, October15th.com, the Presidential Proclamation (1988)
Sheryl R. Sellaway has extensive experience in Public Relations across corporate, agency, and non-profit sectors, focusing on media relations, internal communications, and crisis management. She authored "Praising You Changes Me" and is involved in community service, serving on multiple boards and managing her philanthropic initiative, The Sellaway Christian Fund.