Ways to Honor the Memory of Your Baby After Pregnancy or Infant Loss

Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day – an annual day to honor little ones lost too soon to miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, or any other cause. Losing a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death is among the most devastating experiences a parent can face. The pain of such a loss is often compounded by the overwhelming sense of grief and emptiness that comes afterward, leaving you feeling directionless and lost.

If you’ve been through loss, you may be wondering how to cope and find a way to move forward. One way to come to terms with your loss is to honor the memory of your baby through meaningful gestures and actions. In this post, we’ll explore several ways to honor the memory of your baby after pregnancy or infant loss.

If you recently experienced loss, we’d like to gently remind you are allowed to feel all of your feelings. You may not be ready for some of the actions and gestures described below — that is perfectly okay. In fact, allowing your emotions to move through you is an essential step before you can move toward the final stages of grief: acceptance and making meaning.

Make a memorial place

A beautiful way to honor the memory of your baby is to create a memorial garden or place of remembrance in your yard or home. Plant a tree, flowers, or create a small rock garden with an engraving of your baby’s name. This space will provide you with a dedicated spot where you can sit and reflect, pray or meditate, and remember your baby.

Write a letter to your baby

Writing a letter to your baby can be very cathartic and therapeutic. Pouring out your emotions in words can help alleviate the grief you are feeling — these feelings are not meant to be bottled up. Putting them to paper can help to lift the weight off of your shoulders just enough for you to breathe more deeply. You could write about your hopes, dreams, and wishes for them, or detail what you’ve been doing since they’ve been gone. Writing such a letter can make you feel closer to your baby and can become a precious keepsake to treasure for years to come.

Donate in your baby’s name

Making a donation to a charity or organization in your baby’s name is a generous way to honor their memory and create a lasting impact. Consider donating to a cause related to child loss, such as an organization that helps families in similar situations, or a nonprofit that funds research to improve health outcomes for infants and children.

Create art

Creating art or crafts can be a meaningful way to channel your emotions and honor your baby’s memory. You could paint a picture, create a sculpture, sew a quilt, or knit a blanket. There are infinite possibilities, and the creative process can be quite therapeutic and helpful in the healing process.

Spread awareness

One powerful way to honor your baby’s legacy is to advocate and spread awareness regarding pregnancy and infant loss. Sharing your story with family and friends, or online through blogs, advocacy groups, or social media can help others understand and respect the impact that such a loss has on a parent’s life. If you feel called to share your story, please do. The more we normalize the unfortunate reality of pregnancy and infant loss, the more parents can know they’re not alone. Use the following hashtags to connect with other people opening the conversation on pregnancy and infant loss: PAILawarenessmonth #neverbestill #starlegacyfoundation #1in175 #1in4 #ontheblog

There’s no wrong way to grieve

Honoring the memory of your baby after pregnancy or infant loss can be a comforting and healing experience. Creating a special memorial space, writing a letter, making a donation, using your creativity to make an art, or spreading awareness are only a few ways to honor your baby’s memory. There’s no wrong way to grieve and no wrong way to honor your baby’s memory. If you don’t feel called to do any of these gestures, that’s perfectly okay. You have to trust your instincts and follow your own heart through your own personal stages of grief.

If you do feel ready to try a tangible gesture to honor your baby’s memory, remember that there’s no wrong way to do so. These acts of remembrance are meant to create a sense of connection with your baby and provide you with a way to cope with the pain and grief of your loss. But everyone grieves differently, and what works for one person may not work for another. Allow yourself to find what works for you, and take things one day at a time. You are not alone.