Stillbirth Remembrance Day - History

History

The Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Movement began in the United States on October 25, 1988 when then-American President Ronald Reagan designated the month of October 1988 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

The October 15th Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (PAILRD) Campaign began in 2002 as an American movement started by Robyn Bear, Lisa Brown, and Tammy Novak. Together, they petitioned the federal government, as well as the governors of each of the 50 states, and by October 15, 2002 (the first observance of PAILRD) 20 states had signed proclamations recognizing the date as such. As a result of the American campaign effort, Concurrent Resolution H. CON. RES. 222 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day was passed in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2006. To date, all 50 American states have yearly proclamations, with Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Rhode Island, and South Dakota enacting permanent proclamations.

The Director of the Canadian Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Awareness and Remembrance Campaign, Terra-Lynn Coggan, joined the American movement in September 2004 and took on the role as the Canadian Director for October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day and began the Canadian Campaign. The Organizer of Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness "A Walk To Remember" in Vernon, BC Canada Jennifer Patrick started her fundraiser campaign in October 2004 after the Stillbirth of her son Connor. In October 2005 Jennifer worked with the Attorney General to help get a Proclamation approved. October is now declared as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in British Columbia, Canada.

On October 12, 2005, when New Brunswick received official recognition of October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, Coggan resigned as the Canadian Director for the American Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Campaign and independently launched The Canadian Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Awareness and Remembrance Campaigns.

Since New Brunswick’s Declaration of October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day the province of Nova Scotia has followed suit with a similar declaration. The provinces of Ontario and Manitoba are currently considering a declaration.

The campaign for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in Australia began in May 2008 when Nicole Ballinger of the State of New South Wales (NSW) approached her State and Federal MPs to request their help in establishing this Day. Although aiming for a nationwide declaration, Mrs Ballinger took this two-pronged approach as she had been advised that federal motions often get passed once they are first passed at the State level. Guided by her MPs, Joanna Gash (Federal) and Shelley Hancock (State), Mrs Ballinger lobbied both levels of government beginning in 2008: utilizing petitions, the internet and social media, and repeated correspondence with Australian Prime Ministers, NSW Premiers, Health Ministers, Senators and other MPs. In support, Mrs Gash and Mrs Hancock continued to present this motion in parliament at the State and Federal levels.

On October 14, 2011, Mrs Hancock and NSW Health Minister Gillian Skinner announced the official declaration of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in NSW.

To date, Mrs Ballinger continues to lobby the Australian government with the support of Joanna Gash, to get Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day officially declared across Australia.