Massachusetts Recognizes Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day
The state officially designates October 15 to help reduce stigma and expand support for families coping with pregnancy loss.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Pregnancy
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has officially proclaimed October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. The designation aims to destigmatize the experiences of families affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss across the state.
Why it matters
By formally recognizing these losses, the state encourages health care professionals and the community to improve bereavement support. This initiative seeks to reduce the isolation often felt by families grieving the loss of a pregnancy or infant.
Official figures indicate that while 250 families in Massachusetts experience stillbirths annually, over 1 million pregnancies across the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death each year. The precise impact of state awareness initiatives on clinical bereavement care is still being evaluated.
The players
Maura Healey
The Governor of Massachusetts who signed the official proclamation.
Empty Arms Bereavement Support
A Florence-based nonprofit that provides peer support and hospital-based services for families grieving pregnancy and infant loss.
Kimberley Driscoll
The Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts who signed the proclamation.
William Francis Galvin
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who signed the proclamation.
The details
The proclamation covers a wide spectrum of loss, including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, and termination for medical reasons. It follows a request from mothers connected to Empty Arms Bereavement Support, a Florence-based nonprofit that offers hospital-based peer services. The move intends to foster open conversations in medical settings and community spaces to address the stigma surrounding these events.
Timeline
October 1, 2026: Governor Maura Healey signed the official proclamation in Boston.
October 15, 2026: The state observes Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day.
Health Landscape
This proclamation addresses the significant population-level trend of pregnancy and infant loss, which affects over 1 million families annually in the United States. It aligns state recognition with ongoing efforts to improve clinical and emotional support structures for grieving parents.
Families navigating loss can inquire with their primary care providers or local hospitals about existing bereavement resources and peer support services. If you or a loved one are grieving, it is worth discussing available mental health support options with a qualified healthcare professional.
The takeaway
Recognizing the scale of pregnancy and infant loss is a critical step in reducing the stigma often surrounding these experiences. Families seeking support may find it helpful to connect with local organizations like Empty Arms Bereavement Support for specialized peer and hospital-based services.
Further reading
Learn more about support resources for families in the Massachusetts Pregnancy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 22 News WWLP.
