The Facts
Miscarriage.
A pregnancy that ends on its own before the 20th week is known as a miscarriage. Most miscarriages happen in the first trimester before the 12th week. A second trimester miscarriage is one that happens between the 13th and 19th weeks and happens far less often. It is a common misconception that because a miscarriage happens early in pregnancy that it is not as significant of a loss. This is NOT true, and the loss of a baby due to miscarriage should be grieved just as any other loss would be. Miscarriage, like any loss, is devastating, difficult, and heartbreaking.
Stillbirth.
When a baby dies in the womb after 20 weeks of gestation, it is known as a stillbirth. Stillbirth occurs in about 1 in 160 pregnancies each year in the United States. The cause of stillbirth is not always known, and in fact, up to half of all stillbirths happen in pregnancies with no known complications. Delivery of a stillborn baby is one of the most difficult things a woman could go through. The shock of learning her baby has passed away, followed by what is required to deliver a baby, is an unfair combination. Women who have had a stillborn baby often blame themselves and wonder what if.
Infant Loss.
The term infant loss is used when a baby passes away after birth and within the first year of life. In 2018 (the latest available year for data from the CDC), over 21,000 infants died from various causes. The top five causes of infant death include birth defects, preterm birth and low birth weight, maternal pregnancy complications, sudden infant death syndrome, and injuries. The loss of an infant is both heartbreaking and shocking. There are times when a reason cannot be identified, leaving parents with many questions in their grief. And even when an explanation is found, it does not erase the pain of loss.