If you’ve experienced the loss of a pregnancy, you know that it can be difficult to find ways to remember your lost loved one. Sure, it’s easy to buy or make something like a stuffed animal, but it can be more difficult to figure out how to honor the life that could have been if only the pregnancy had progressed normally. It can be hard to help your other children deal with the emotions of a pregnancy loss as well.
Here are some tips on how to honor your pregnancy loss appropriately.
Remember Them
Keep your loved one’s memory alive. You can do so in many ways — Surround yourself with pictures of ultrasounds, wear jewelry that has their name engraved, and keep their baby clothes or blankets as mementos. Even simply talking about your loved one can make you feel closer, reminding you of all those good times spent together and how much you’ll miss them. It’s important not only to remember your loved one but also yourself, as well as any other people who may have been hurt by their death.
Get Creative
Once you’ve come up with a solid plan for how you’re going to honor your loved one, it’s time to get creative. That doesn’t mean being outlandish, but it does mean being true to yourself and those who have been affected by losing their life too soon. Think about things that have meaning for you as an individual and what your loved one would appreciate as well. Maybe you want something quiet and spiritual such as gifts for miscarriage or maybe something loud and filled with laughter is more your style. Allow yourself time to grieve but also give yourself room for celebration of a life that will never be forgotten—it just ended too soon! Remembering those we love always means living our lives fully.
Share Their Story
Share their story through writing or social media. Don’t forget to honor other loved ones who may have also lost someone. Give them space to mourn, but also let them know you’re there for them. Make sure your loved one knows that while they might not be physically present like a rainbow baby gift, they will always be remembered and honored by you and others. Create your own ceremony to honor your loved one. This can include lighting candles, planting flowers in their memory, dedicating something special in their name, etc.
Be sure to honor and remember your loved one in a special way every year. If you’re not ready for an elaborate ceremony, simple ways to remember and honor your baby can be very healing: maybe it’s planting flowers or lighting candles, taking a walk, or getting together with family and friends. Whatever you choose to do, don’t give up hope—by remembering and honoring your lost baby, you can keep them alive in spirit.
