October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
Before Whittaker died, I didn't know there was a whole month dedicated to Pregnancy and Infant Loss. I was oblivious to the moment of global silence with only the flicker of a candle that would light up millions of households all over the world at 7pm on the 15th of October every year.
For many bereaved parents, October is more than a month on the calendar.
It can bring memories rushing back.
A due date.
A birthday.
A hospital room.
A tiny set of footprints.
A name that deserves to be spoken.
Yet is rarely heard.
It is a month to remember babies who didn't get to stay.
What is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month?
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness of the devastating impact of baby loss and to create space for families to talk about their experiences.
Pregnancy and infant loss can include miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death and other forms of infant loss. While these experiences are different, they share something important: A baby was loved.
For bereaved parents, that love doesn't disappear when their baby dies.
The grief can remain for years, changing shape as life continues.
That's why awareness matters.
By talking openly about pregnancy and infant loss, we can help reduce the isolation many bereaved parents experience and encourage more compassionate support for families when they need it most.
Remembering the babies who didn't get to stay
One of the hardest experiences after baby loss can be feeling as though the world expects you to move forward while you are carrying enormous love for your baby with nowhere for it to go.
But remembering your baby isn't something you need to apologise for.
Your baby is part of your family.
Their life may have been short, but their impact can be lifelong.
A baby can leave an imprint on a family before they ever take their first breath.
At Whittaker's Wings Foundation, we believe families should be supported to acknowledge that relationship and create meaningful memories wherever possible.
Why bereavement birth care matters
When a baby dies, parents can still experience birth.
They may still give birth, hold their baby, name their baby, take photographs and create memories.
These moments can be incredibly important.
Yet bereavement birth care is not simply about what happens medically. It is about how a family is supported through one of the most heartbreaking experiences of their lives.
At Whittaker's Wings Foundation, we advocate for compassionate, family-led bereavement birth care and after-death care for babies who are stillborn.
We believe parents should be given information, choices and time.
Time to meet their baby.
Time to hold their baby.
Time to say hello.
Time to say goodbye.
Time to make memories that may become incredibly precious in the years that follow.
This October, help us remember
This year, we have chosen Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day as the date for our Inaugural Whittaker's Wings Foundation Annual Fundraiser.
Join us for a night of remembrance, community & connection on the 15th of October 2026 and help us create a world where baby loss is spoken about openly and bereaved families are met with compassion rather than silence. This special evening will include a meaningful memorial and wave of light ceremony, drinks and gourmet canapés, a live auction and a pre released silent auction to raise much needed funds to improve bereavement birth care across Australia.
We have chosen this date specifically to bring attention and awareness to this significant month for the baby loss community. However, you don't have to have experienced baby loss yourself to make a difference.
You can:
Light a candle on October 15 at 7pm.
Learn about pregnancy and infant loss.
Ask a bereaved parent about their baby.
Say their baby's name.
Share their story when they want it shared.
Support organisations working with bereaved families.
Encourage better bereavement care in hospitals and maternity services.
Sometimes, simply saying “I remember your baby” can mean more than you realise.
Help us change bereavement care
Whittaker's Wings Foundation is working to support families after baby loss and advocate for better bereavement birth care and family-led after-death care across Australia.
Through our family care packs, education, workshops and future initiatives including bereavement birth centres, we are working towards a future where every bereaved family is given compassionate support, meaningful choices and the opportunity to spend precious time with their baby.
If you are grieving a baby
If October feels difficult, you don't have to navigate it alone.
Reach out to someone you trust, connect with a bereavement support organisation, or speak with your healthcare provider if you need additional support.
There is no timeline for grief, and there is no right way to remember your baby.
Your baby mattered.
Your baby is remembered.
Your love matters.
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