In 1988 President Ronald Reagan designated October as Infant & Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month. This month was set aside as a time to recognize precious lives lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, fatal birth defects, SIDS, and fatal accidents. In memory of these tiny souls- who were wonderfully and fearfully made, will you participate in the worldwide Loved Baby Shower?

The Loved Baby Shower is an opportunity to honor babies who now reside in Heaven by helping a precious living child or mother in need. Each year, in the United States alone, over 4,000 infants die unexpectedly. Statistically 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage (the death of a baby before 20 weeks gestation) and 1 in 260 deliveries end in stillbirth.

This is a heartbreaking number of families who mourn.

I’ve found that many hurting mamas and daddies turn their pain into a passion for helping others. Grief gives us the gift of empathy, doesn’t it?

Over time, compassion fills our souls– compassion for other grieving families and compassion for children in need.

The pain doesn’t subside, but–as author Suzie Eller says, our mended souls go from needing help to giving help.

Last year, a member of our Loved Baby Christian Pregnancy Loss Support & Encouragement Group wrote she was hosting a baby shower at her church in honor of her baby who she miscarried earlier in the year. The items collected were sent to pregnant women in need. Her generous spirit encouraged me to host a Loved Baby Shower during the month of October.

Would you care to join us?

WHAT IS THE LOVED BABY SHOWER?

Last October we partnered with Bethany Christian Services and helped provide much-needed items to refugee children. The shower was a huge success. This year we invite you to honor your child by making a difference and spreading awareness in your local community.

You can gather items for babies, mothers, or bereaved mothers in need.

Here are some ideas:

  • send a box of diapers or a stuffed animal to a faith-based crisis pregnancy center to help a young mother who has chosen life over abortion
  • take a blanket to your local hospital to be given to a new mother who is in financial need
  • create a care package for a mother going through loss and take it to your local hospital to be given to a mother who comes in and finds out she is miscarrying her child or is having a stillbirth
  • make a donation to your local library, art center, or other community organization
  • come up with your own idea

Attach a special note to the package so the recipient knows your gift is in memory of your child who is in Heaven.

I do hope you’ll join our efforts. And then– on National Pregnancy And Infant Loss Remembrance Day (October 15th)– we will all join together and light a candle in honor of our loved babies.

Care Package Ideas for a Mother Who Faces Loss:

Tea Bags

Mug

Journal & Pen

Ornament for Christmas Tree

Copy of a Book You’ve Found Helpful

Personal Note

Candle

Relaxing Shower Gel

We Invite You To Join Our Pregnancy Support Group: Loved Baby Christian Pregnancy Loss Support & Encouragement This group is a place of support and Christian encouragement where you share comments and questions related to most any topic of miscarriage, stillbirth,  pregnancy loss,  pregnancy after loss, ttc, and infertility.

This article originally appeared on All American Mom

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Sarah Philpott

Sarah Philpott Ph.D lives in the south east on a sprawling cattle farm where she raises her two mischievous children (with one on the way!) and is farm wife to her high school sweetheart. A former teacher, she now spends this season of her life cleaning peanut butter & jelly off the counter, dreaming of traveling the world, hosting “get-togethers” for her family & friends, and chasing her kids around the farm. Sarah is represented by The Blythe Daniel Literary Agency. You can visit with Sarah at her http://allamericanmom.net/ blog where she writes about cultivating a life of down-home simplicity. She also has a passion for helping women cope with pregnancy loss.

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