Did you know?

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According to a recent report published by United Nations agencies and their partners, approximately 13.4 million babies were born prematurely in 2020. Unfortunately, nearly 1 million of these preterm infants lost their lives due to complications associated with preterm birth. This statistic translates to roughly 1 in 10 babies being born prematurely, which means they were delivered before completing 37 weeks of pregnancy, on a global scale.

Over the past three decades, advances in medical technology have led to significant improvements in prenatal care, effectively reducing the occurrence of late and term stillbirths. However, it's important to note that the rate of early stillbirths has remained relatively consistent during this period.

Grief is a universal human experience, and it is often described as a process that involves passing through a set of stages. The well-known 5 stages of grief include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. However, there is also a 7-stage model that elaborates on these emotional phases, aiming to address the complexities of grief more comprehensively. These additional stages can encompass feelings of guilt and other intricate emotions associated with the grieving process.

The anguish of grief is profoundly intense when parents grapple with the irrevocable reality of never seeing their child again and the abandonment of future hopes and aspirations. As memories of their child inundate their thoughts, they also grapple with an overwhelming sense of emptiness and an unfathomable void in their existence. Grief has a far-reaching impact, not only on a parent's core identity but also on the identity and sense of security of other family members.

The journey through grief is a potent one. However, equally potent is your capacity to facilitate your own healing. By actively engaging in the process of grieving, you are taking steps toward rediscovering a renewed sense of meaning and purpose in your life.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:17-18