(CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA)- On October 8, ACT Greens, ACT Labor, and Canberra Liberals recognised October 15 as International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
In Australia, one in five women have lost children due to miscarriages, stillbirths, or at one month postpartum. Approximately 106,000 babies are lost due to these circumstances, explained Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury.
“Whilst our motion does not bring back our lost babies or reduce the losses in itself, it is an important gesture from those who have the privilege of being the voice of our community to stand up with all the families that have experienced pregnancy and infant loss because they are not alone,” said Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee on The Greens Act.
Minister for Human Rights, Tara Cheyne, stated that this day also marks a change in death and birth certificates for early pregnancy loss. Early pregnancy loss occurs before 20 weeks gestation and is not legally recognised through a birth or death certificate. International pregnancy and infant loss remembrance day mark a shift for grieving families. ACT residents will receive formal acknowledgment of their loss through an Early Pregnancy Loss Commemorative Certificate.
Rattenbury stated that International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is an opportunity to grieve, have important conversations and for those affected to be heard.
“This motion acknowledging October 15 as International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day provides hope and comfort to the thousands of Canberrans that have been impacted by the loss of a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth,” said Pregnancy and Infant Loss Australia founder John De’Laney on The Greens ACT website, “it helps to let them know that they are not alone in their grief and that the lives and memories of their babies mattered.”
International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day was October 15.
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