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Library Blog

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month

Each year, thousands of families in the United States experience the loss of a pregnancy or infant.

Of people who know they are pregnant, 10%-15% have a miscarriage within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, with the majority of them occurring during the first trimester.[1] Many people who suffer a miscarriage treat it as a private matter, and they do not receive the support they need while they grieve.

After the 20th week, a pregnancy loss is considered stillborn. Approximately 1 in 160, or 24,000, babies are stillborn each year. In 2018, 21,000 infants passed away in their first year of life, and in 2019, there were 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. Of the infant deaths in 2019, 1,250 died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), 1,180 died of unknown causes, and 950 died from suffocation or strangulation in bed.[2]

Here at the Pollard Library, we are supporting people who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss with a display on the second floor. We have books you can check out and handouts you can take. The library is currently open for browsing. Masks are required in all city buildings. If you are not comfortable entering the library, you can request items for curbside pickup during our regular hours (Monday-Thursday 9-9; Friday and Saturday 9-5). To reserve a book, place a request in the online catalog, fill out a request form, or call the reference desk at 978-674-4121.

Books

Click on an image for more information.

Websites

These are trustworthy websites that you can find on any computer with internet access or smart phone.

Health and Medical Information

American Society for Reproductive Medicine https://www.reproductivefacts.org/   has information about all aspects of reproductive health, including fact sheets about ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage.

Eunice Kenedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development https://www.nichd.nih.gov/  has information on pregnancy, child development, and health topics such as infant mortality, miscarriage, fertility and infertility, stillbirth, and Suden Infant Death Syndrome.

March of Dimes https://www.marchofdimes.org/index.aspx is a nonprofit organization that “leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies.” They have information about birth defects, pregnancy complications, and loss.

MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/ links to reliable and up-to-date information about diseases, health topics, and drugs written for the average person. You can read it in English or Spanish or link to health topics in other languages.

Grief and Bereavement Support

The Compassionate Friends https://www.compassionatefriends.org/  offers support for families after the death of a child. Their website lists multiple crisis hotline numbers and Facebook groups for people grieving after a pregnancy or infant loss.

First Candle https://firstcandle.org/ works to end Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and provides bereavement support for those who have experienced infant loss. You can call their 24/7 hotline at 1-800-221-7437.

March of Dimes https://www.marchofdimes.org/bereavement-kit-form.aspx offers From hurt to healing, which can help parents understand and cope with the grief of pregnancy or infant loss.

Resolve from the National Infertility Association https://resolve.org/  is for people struggling with infertility, which includes multiple miscarriages. You can search for a peer-led or professional-led support group.

Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support https://nationalshare.org/  has resources for families and caregivers who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. This site includes resources in Spanish. SHARE ESPAÑOL: ESPERANZA

Star Legacy Foundation https://starlegacyfoundation.org/ offers support for people who have experienced pregnancy and neonatal loss.

[1] March of Dimes “Miscarriage” https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/miscarriage.aspx (accessed October 1, 2021).

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “What is Stillbirth?” https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/stillbirth/facts.html (accessed October 1, 2021); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Infant Mortality”  (accessed October 1, 2021); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Data and Statistics” https://www.cdc.gov/sids/data.htm (accessed October 1, 2021).https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/infantmortality.htm (accessed October 1, 2021); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Data and Statistics” https://www.cdc.gov/sids/data.htm (accessed October 1, 2021).