The Power of Community

By: Maria Servold EPLA Editor

The grief families experience after losing a child to miscarriage can feel isolating - like no one knows their pain and no one can help them. Last week, we learned that while we may feel lonely after a miscarriage, we are not actually alone.

For three days in St. Louis, several board members from the Early Pregnancy Loss Association attended the International Perinatal Bereavement Conference, hosted by the Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance. The organization is designed to provide awareness and education for leaders in perinatal and bereavement care.

The gathering of medical professionals, bereavement coordinators, loss moms, nonprofit workers, and many others shed light on current issues and questions regarding miscarriage and perinatal loss. While the topic is grim, the fact that so many can come together to try and help suffering families proves there is always reason to hope.

At our EPLA booth in the exhibition hall, we handed out copies of our miscarriage information and resource packet and displayed examples of miscarriage care kits (which we distribute locally) and encouraged conference attendees to create in their own communities.

​It was difficult to talk so much about such a painful subject, but knowing that there are people in communities around the world who care about helping women and families after loss reignited our passion for this cause.

Leaving the conference, the board members of the EPLA are more committed than ever to providing information and resources for families after loss. We are not alone in our wish to comfort and care for you, and you are not alone, no matter how isolated you may feel. There is a caring and committed community ready and willing to help.

Look for features on some of the organizations and people we met at the conference in upcoming newsletters. If you would like to receive our newsletters please email us at miscarriagecare@gmail.com.

Maria Servold is an Editor at the EPLA, Assistant Director of the Herbert H. Dow II Program in American Journalism, and Lecturer in Journalism at Hillsdale College