Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (PAILRD) is an annual remembrance day that is observed in the United States and Canada on October 15. The day was established in 2002 in order to honor, celebrate, and remember babies who have passed away due to miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, and other causes of infant loss.

The movement was begun by Robyn Bear, Lisa Brown, and Tammy Novak who petitioned federal government to recognise the specific day on October 15th. National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day was eventually passed in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2006. Prior to this, President Ronald Reagan had designated the month of October as Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Pregnancy and Infant loss Remembrance Day serves to promote greater Awareness, Remembrance and Support of the estimated 1 in 4 individuals and families whose lives are irrevocably altered by the death of their children, during pregnancy, at birth and in infancy. The aim of the day is to;

Raise awareness of the need for support
Encourages people to talk
It honors the babies who have passed.

The International Wave of Light invites baby loss families, friends, loved ones and supporting organizations from around the world to join in honor and remembrance of loved and longed for babies on October 15 at 7:00 pm in all time zones.

Lighting begins at the International Date Line, in the first time zone, remaining lit a period of one hour, with the next time zone lighting respectively, moving through each time zone as the Wave of Light circumnavigates the globe. The result is a continuous chain of light encompassing and spanning across the world and around the globe for a 24-hour period, illuminating the night in love and light in honor and remembrance of our children.

If this is an issue that has affected your life, if you are not already receiving support, we advise you contact your local organisation who will assist you. On this day there are many local events in which you can show your support.