IN honour of all the babies lost to miscarriage and stillbirth and in recognition of the emotional and physical trauma families suffer when these tragic events occur, October 15 has been officially recognised by the Australian Government as International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

Australians will now have this day to honour their much-wanted babies, and know that they are not alone in their grief.

A campaign to have the day officially recognised in Australia was initiated more than ten years ago by Pregnancy and Infant Loss Australia.

Behind the campaign were Pregnancy and Infant Loss Australia’s John and Kate De’Laney, who suffered seven miscarriages in their attempt to create a family.

In 2012, the couple petitioned the Western Australian Government to recognise International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, and they achieved this milestone on October 15, 2015.

The day was also officially recognised in NSW and Tasmania.

Following these achievements, the couple’s campaign for Australia to officially recognise International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day began.

“The day we worked so hard for finally happened as our campaign for national recognition of International Pregnancy and Infant Loss was finally successful,” John and Kate stated on the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Australia Facebook page last week.

“Since we lost our first baby boy to miscarriage, we have worked tirelessly to make sure that no one in Australia feels the way we did on that day that completely broke our souls when we were told ‘I’m sorry, I can’t find a heartbeat’.”

Senator Kristina Keneally moved a Senate motion on Thursday 17 February for national recognition of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, which was passed in the House of Representatives in Canberra.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAiL) Remembrance Day is a day of remembrance for pregnancy loss and infant death, which includes miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, and the death of a newborn.

Each year, one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, and one in six pregnancies ends in a stillbirth.

On October 15 every year around Australia buildings are lit up in pink and blue in recognition of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, and to honour those babies lost.

 

By Emma DARBIN