The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to supporting families who experience infant loss and loss during pregnancy by moving to officially recognise October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
Speaking at the annual White Butterfly Event, Liberal Member for Braddon Joan Rylah said:
“Too many families grieve in silence and this is the perfect opportunity to be able to grieve and remember in an appropriate forum.
“By commemorating this day each year we can create more awareness in the community on the prevalence of pregnancy and infant loss and the great impact it can have not only on the parents but extended family and friends.”
An estimated one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage in Australia each year, while approximately 3,000 babies are either stillborn or die in the first 28 days after birth. In Tasmania, there are 40 stillbirths and 20 newborn deaths each year. Stillbirth will affect more families than SIDS and women are more likely to have stillbirths than be diagnosed with breast cancer.
“These are very sobering facts, yet in our society the devastating issue of pregnancy and infant loss is rarely spoken about and very little is understood about it. We know this grief can last a lifetime and is often done in silence and privacy.”