Remembering Our Angels
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month—a time to honor the precious lives that left us too soon and to support families navigating unimaginable grief.
A Message of Hope and Healing
Welcome to our first monthly newsletter from Ethan's Embrace, dedicated to those who have experienced the profound loss of a baby during pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy. This space is created with love, compassion, and understanding for bereaved parents, family members, and those who support them.
Throughout October and beyond, we come together as a community to acknowledge that these tiny lives mattered deeply. Whether your loss was recent or years ago, whether you're a parent, grandparent, sibling, or friend—your grief is valid, and you are not alone.
This newsletter will share stories of remembrance, provide resources for healing, and create connection among those who understand this unique journey. Together, we honor our babies and find strength in community.
— Ethan's Embrace
Understanding Pregnancy and Infant Loss
Pregnancy and infant loss affects more families than many realize, yet it often remains unspoken. By understanding the scope and types of loss, we can better support those who are grieving.
Miscarriage
Loss before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Affects approximately 1 in 4 recognized pregnancies, though many occur before pregnancy is even known.
Stillbirth
Loss at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Occurs in about 1 in 160 pregnancies in the United States, impacting thousands of families annually.
Infant Loss
Death of a baby within the first year of life. Includes neonatal loss (first 28 days) and infant loss (up to one year).
Ectopic & Molar
Pregnancies that cannot continue and threaten maternal health. These losses are medically complex and emotionally devastating.
You Are Not Alone: Loss by the Numbers
These statistics remind us that pregnancy and infant loss touches countless families. Behind each number is a story, a name, a loved baby who will never be forgotten.
1in4
Miscarriage Rate
Approximately 25% of recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage, affecting millions of women and families each year.
24K
Stillbirths Annually
About 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States every year—that's one every 20 minutes.
20K
Infant Deaths
Approximately 20,000 infants die in their first year of life in the U.S. annually from various causes.
1M+
Families Affected
Over one million American families experience pregnancy or infant loss each year, yet many grieve in silence.
Honoring Our Babies: Ways to Remember
Finding meaningful ways to honor and remember your baby can be an important part of the healing journey. There is no right or wrong way to remember—what matters is what brings comfort to your heart.
Memorial Jewelry
Wear your love close to your heart with necklaces, bracelets, or rings engraved with your baby's name, birthdate, or a special symbol.
Living Memorials
Plant a tree, create a garden, or dedicate a special outdoor space where you can sit, reflect, and feel connected to your baby.
Letters and Journals
Write letters to your baby, keep a grief journal, or create a memory book filled with ultrasound images, hospital bracelets, and cherished mementos.
Charitable Giving
Honor your baby's memory through donations to research organizations, bereavement support groups, or causes that matter to your family.
Supporting Bereaved Parents: A Guide for Friends and Family
What TO Do
  • Acknowledge the loss – Say their baby's name and recognize that their child existed and mattered
  • Listen without judgment – Let them share their story and feelings without trying to fix or minimize their pain
  • Offer specific help – Instead of "Let me know if you need anything," offer to bring a meal, do laundry, or run errands
  • Remember important dates – Mark due dates, birth dates, and loss anniversaries with a thoughtful message or gesture
  • Be patient – Grief has no timeline. Continue checking in weeks, months, and years later
  • Ask before sharing advice – Sometimes people just need to be heard, not advised
What NOT to Do
  • Don't minimize their loss – Avoid phrases like "at least you can try again" or "it wasn't meant to be"
  • Don't compare losses – Every loss is unique and deeply personal
  • Don't disappear – Many people pull away because they don't know what to say, but presence matters more than perfect words
  • Don't impose your beliefs – Avoid religious platitudes unless you know they align with the family's faith
  • Don't rush their grief – Never suggest they should be "over it" or "moving on"
  • Don't forget the other parent – Partners grieve differently but their loss is equally valid

Remember: Simply saying "I'm so sorry. I'm here for you, and I'm thinking of your baby" can mean more than you know.
Wave of Light: International Remembrance Day
Each year on October 15th, people around the world participate in the International Wave of Light, lighting candles at 7 PM local time to honor babies who died during pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy.
1
7:00 PM Local Time
Light a candle in your home, placing it in a window where others can see the glow, creating a continuous wave of light around the globe.
2
Share Your Baby's Name
Post on social media using #WaveOfLight and #PregnancyAndInfantLossAwareness to honor your baby and connect with others.
3
Attend a Local Event
Many communities host remembrance walks, vigils, or gatherings. Check local hospitals, support groups, or memorial organizations.
4
Create Your Own Ritual
Whether alone or with family, take this time to speak your baby's name, share memories, read a poem, or simply sit in loving remembrance.
The Wave of Light reminds us that our babies' brief lives created ripples of love that continue to shine. You are part of a global community of parents who understand, who remember, and who will always carry their babies in their hearts.
Resources for Healing and Support
Navigating grief after pregnancy or infant loss can feel overwhelming and isolating. These trusted organizations provide support, resources, and community for bereaved families.
Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support
Website: nationalshare.org
Provides peer-to-peer support groups, educational resources, and a national directory of local chapters. Their compassionate community has been supporting families since 1977.
Star Legacy Foundation
Website: starlegacyfoundation.org
Dedicated to stillbirth education, research, and awareness. Offers support groups, educational materials, and advocacy for better pregnancy care.
The MISS Foundation
Website: missfoundation.org
Provides free peer support, counseling referrals, and community programs for families experiencing the death of a child at any age, including pregnancy loss.
Return to Zero: HOPE
Website: rtzhope.org
Offers education for families and healthcare providers, support resources, and works to improve standards of care for pregnancy and infant loss.
First Candle
Website: firstcandle.org
Focuses on SIDS, stillbirth, and infant death. Provides bereavement support, grief counseling referrals, and works to advance research and education.
Compassionate Friends
Website: compassionatefriends.org
National organization offering support for families grieving the death of a child of any age, with local chapters throughout the United States.
Stay Connected with Ethan's Embrace
We'd love to stay in touch and keep you informed about our upcoming events, resources, and ways to get involved in our mission.
Contact Us
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Join Our Advisory Board
Ethan's Embrace is seeking compassionate individuals to join our Advisory Board. We're looking for people who share our mission of supporting families through pregnancy and infant loss. Board members help guide our programs, outreach efforts, and community initiatives.
If you're interested in making a meaningful difference in the lives of bereaved families, we'd love to hear from you. No prior board experience necessary—just a heart for helping others heal.
Looking Ahead: What's Coming Next Month
Thank you for being part of our community. As we continue this journey together, next month's newsletter will feature stories from bereaved parents, guidance on navigating the holidays while grieving, and information about coping with subsequent pregnancies after loss.
We'll also explore ways to advocate for better bereavement care in hospitals and share updates on research and legislation that supports families experiencing loss.
We Want to Hear From You: If you'd like to share your baby's story, contribute to our newsletter, or suggest topics you'd like to see covered, please reach out. Your voice matters, and your baby's life deserves to be honored.
"There is no footprint too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world."
Our Founder's Journey
Ethan's Embrace blossomed from the profound love and unwavering spirit of Rhonda L. Sumlin (R'Lynne), a resilient Black single mother, founded as a living tribute to her cherished son, Ethan Alexander.
Ethan, a precious soul, graced R'Lynne's womb for 22 tender weeks before he was stillborn on that somber day, November 24, 1998. In the wake of this devastating loss, R'Lynne faced a heart-wrenching prognosis from her OBGYN: she was told to brace herself for the possibility that the gift of motherhood might forever be beyond her reach. Yet, hope defied despair; against all odds, her spirit prevailed. In 2000, a beacon of joy arrived—her rainbow baby—followed by the blessing of a second daughter in 2005.
Though Ethan's journey on earth was fleeting, his precious life ignited an unwavering mission within R'Lynne: to extend solace, understanding, and steadfast support to other families navigating the desolate path of infant loss, ensuring no one walks this journey alone.
Until We Meet Again
To every parent reading this newsletter: your baby mattered. Their life, however brief, was significant and real. Your grief is valid, your love is eternal, and you are not alone on this journey.
Whether your loss was yesterday or decades ago, whether you speak your baby's name every day or hold it quietly in your heart, know that this community sees you, supports you, and walks alongside you.
May you find moments of peace amidst the pain, may you feel your baby's love surrounding you, and may you always remember that grief is love with nowhere to go—and that love never dies.
You are not alone
Millions of families understand this pain and stand with you in solidarity and support.
Your baby's life mattered
No matter how brief, your baby left an indelible mark on your heart and on this world.
Healing is not forgetting
As you heal, you carry your baby with you always—their memory is a treasure you'll hold forever.
With love and remembrance,
R'Lynne Sumlin, Ethan's Embrace