July Is Bereaved Parents Awareness Month

Every July, the world pauses to recognize one of the most profound and often silent forms of grief: the loss of a child. July is Bereaved Parents Awareness Month, a time dedicated to honoring the millions of mothers, fathers, and families who carry the unimaginable weight of pregnancy loss, stillbirth, infant loss, miscarriage, any aged child loss. 

If you have experienced the loss of a baby or child at any stage, this month is for you. Your grief is real. Your child mattered. And you are not alone.

At Chasing the Rainbows, we walk alongside bereaved parents every single day — not just in July. We offer free virtual support groups, peer mentorship, and care packages to families navigating some of the darkest moments of their lives. Everything we offer is completely free because we believe no grieving family should ever face a financial barrier to support.

This includes:

• Miscarriage — loss during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy
• Stillbirth — loss after 20 weeks of pregnancy
• Infant loss — loss of a baby in the first year of life
• Pregnancy loss at any stage — including ectopic pregnancy and molar pregnancy
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The month serves two purposes: to create space for bereaved parents to feel seen and validated, and to raise awareness so that communities, employers, healthcare providers, and loved ones better understand how to support grieving families.

1 in 4 pregnancies ends in miscarriage, and approximately 21,000 stillbirths occur each year in the United States alone. These are not rare events — and yet the grief they create is often treated as invisible.

Bereaved Parents Awareness Month says: we see you.

Why this Month Matters for Grieving Families and Loss Parents

Grief after pregnancy and infant loss is uniquely isolating. Many bereaved parents describe feeling pressure to move on quickly, to grieve in private, and to avoid making others uncomfortable by talking about their baby.

Society often lacks the language and the space to hold this kind of loss. A miscarriage at eight weeks is still a lost baby. A stillbirth at 36 weeks is still a child who was deeply loved and anticipated. An infant who lived for three days still had a name, a face, a family who will carry them forever.

Bereaved Parents Awareness Month creates cultural permission to grieve openly — and to reach out for support without shame.

For many families, July is also a month of bittersweet milestones. Due dates that passed. Birthdays that were never celebrated. Nurseries that were prepared but never used. This month acknowledges all of it.

Light a Candle

On July 1st, many bereaved parents light a candle in memory of their baby. You can do this privately at home or share a photo with a community of others who understand. The light is a symbol — your baby’s life continues to matter.

Say or Write Your Baby’s Name

One of the most painful parts of pregnancy and infant loss is that many babies never had the chance to be known publicly. Write your baby’s name. Say it out loud. Share it if you feel ready. Their name deserves to exist in the world.

Connect with Other Bereaved Parents

Grief shared is grief that doesn’t have to be carried alone. July is a powerful month to take that first step toward community. Our free virtual support groups meet regularly and are filled with parents who truly understand what it means to walk this road.

Create a Small Ritual or Memorial

Plant a flower. Release a balloon. Write a letter to your baby. Frame a photo. Whatever feels right for your family is exactly right. Rituals help us process what words cannot fully hold.

Reach out for Support

If you have been waiting for a sign to ask for help — this is it. Grief after pregnancy or infant loss often needs more than time. It needs community, professional support, and people who understand. Our peer mentorship program connects you one-on-one with a trained mentor who has lived through a similar loss.

At Chasing the Rainbows, we exist because we believe that every bereaved parent deserves access to compassionate, community-based support.

Here is what we offer:

Free Virtual Support Groups
Our free virtual support groups meet regularly and are open to anyone navigating miscarriage, stillbirth, pregnancy after loss, infertility, or infant loss. There is no cost, no waitlist, and no insurance required. Just a safe, compassionate space to be heard.

Peer Mentorship Program
We match bereaved parents one-on-one with trained mentors who have experienced similar losses. This is not clinical therapy — it is human connection from someone who has walked your path and wants to walk alongside you.

Free Care Packages
We send free care packages to families shortly after their loss. These packages are thoughtfully assembled to provide comfort during the most acute phase of grief — when many families do not know where to turn or what they need.

All of our services are free. All of them. Always.

If you or someone you love is a bereaved parent, we would be honored to support you this July and beyond.

Say the baby’s name. It will not remind them of their loss — they think about their baby constantly. Saying the name shows you remember too.

Do not rush their grief. There is no timeline for this kind of loss. A bereaved parent may still be actively grieving years later, and that is completely normal.

Ask instead of assuming. “How are you doing this month?” is a more powerful question than you realize. Many bereaved parents are simply waiting for someone to ask.

Share resources. If you know a bereaved parent who might benefit from support, share information about Chasing the Rainbows. Knowing that free, no-barrier support exists can be life-changing.

Show up in small ways. Drop off a meal. Send a text. Acknowledge due dates and loss anniversaries. The small acts of remembrance carry enormous weight.

What is Bereaved Parents Awareness Month and when is it observed?

Bereaved Parents Awareness Month is observed every July. It is dedicated to honoring parents and families who have experienced the loss of a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, or any other form of pregnancy or child loss. The month creates space for grief to be acknowledged publicly and for bereaved families to find community and support.

How can I participate in Bereaved Parents Awareness Month?
You can participate by lighting a candle in memory of your baby, sharing your story if you feel ready, connecting with a support community, honoring a bereaved parent in your life, or reaching out for support for the first time. There is no single right way to participate — whatever feels meaningful to you is the right choice.

Is Chasing the Rainbows support really free?
Yes. Every service offered by Chasing the Rainbows — including virtual support groups, peer mentorship, and care packages — is completely free of charge. There is no waitlist, no insurance requirement, and no cost. We believe financial barriers should never stand between a grieving family and the support they need.

When should I reach out for support after pregnancy loss?
There is no wrong time to reach out. Some families connect with support groups within weeks of their loss. Others wait months or even years before feeling ready. Wherever you are in your grief journey, support is available and you are welcome exactly as you are.

What types of loss does Chasing the Rainbows support?
We support families navigating miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, infertility, pregnancy after loss, and ectopic or molar pregnancy. If you have experienced the loss of a pregnancy or baby at any stage, you belong in our community.

How do I find a free support group for bereaved parents?
Chasing the Rainbows offers free virtual support groups that meet regularly. You can sign up through our website with no cost and no waitlist. Our groups are facilitated by trained volunteers and provide a safe, compassionate space for parents at all stages of grief.

Chasing the Rainbows is here every day of the year. If you are ready to take a step toward support, we would be honored to walk alongside you.

[Visit our free support group page] · [Learn about our peer mentorship program] · [Request a free care package]

Chasing the Rainbows is a nonprofit organization providing free support groups, peer mentorship, and care packages for families navigating pregnancy loss, stillbirth, miscarriage, infant loss, and pregnancy after loss. All services are completely free.