October: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
The loss of a baby—whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion—is extremely common. Nearly all women either know someone who has experienced such a loss or have gone through it themselves. The emotional consequences of losing a child remain vastly understudied. This gap is amplified by the taboo surrounding any discussion of negative consequences of abortion, with providers often asserting that abortion has no lasting impact on a woman's well-being, which is simply untrue. Numerous studies show that the loss of a child, regardless of the circumstances, has lasting emotional and physiological effects on women.
October, designated as Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month by President Reagan in 1988, serves to acknowledge this issue. Even then—before the annual number of abortions reached 73 million—Reagan recognized the “bereavement, guilt, and emotional and physical trauma that accompany post-abortion syndrome” as a significant challenge. He called Americans to action, stating, “We can and must do a much better job of encouraging adoption as an alternative to abortion,” and urging people to support single parents, offer temporary and emotional support, and assist women who place their babies up for adoption. Much has changed in America since October was first dedicated to Pregnancy Loss Awareness, but the number of women experiencing such loss has greatly increased, making it more crucial than ever to support those impacted by abortion.
Research on the maternal brain following child loss reveals striking insights. A 2021 study found that the brain's oxytocin (happiness) and corticotropin (stress) systems influence a mother’s response to losing her child. After a child’s loss, reductions in oxytocin and increases in corticotropin can contribute to anxiety and depression. Even women who experience early pregnancy loss (within the first 12 weeks) may show clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression up to nine months later. The study concluded that more research is needed to understand the physiological impact of child loss on mothers and to guide professionals in providing effective support.
A 2008 paper further explored the mental health consequences of child loss on parents. The authors argue that mental health professionals often underestimate both the short-term and long-term effects of such loss. Notably, the paper highlights a systematic review that found no evidence of psychological support effectively addressing the negative mental health outcomes for women who have had an abortion. This is a significant finding and should be shared with women so they can make informed decisions, knowing that abortion may have lasting and potentially irreversible consequences on their mental health.
While abortion is a voluntary act, it is still technically the loss of a child. Deliberate or not, the physical and psychological consequences of losing a child can persist. Raising awareness and supporting women in their struggles following child loss is essential—not only to aid their healing but also to inform women considering abortion that there may be better options for both them and their baby, options that avoid the devastation of one and the loss of the other.
