September 6th: Stillbirth Remembrance Day

This post is a very sad one I'm afraid, but it's a fact of life that needs addressing. The tragedy of stillbirth is a more frequent occurrence than it should be, but the causes of these deaths are varied and only an approximate 40% of postmortem cases can be identified. September 6th is recognised in some states of the USA and Canada as Stillbirth Remembrance Day, remembering babies that have died due to complications in pregnancy, miscarriages, and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). It is also a day to pay respect and empathize with the unfortunate parents who have to come to terms with their loss.
    Shockingly, in the USA, stillbirths occur devastatingly often with an average of 26,000 deaths each year, which equates to one every 20 minutes. If those are the figures for the USA, an affluent country with ample resources and medicines; then I can't imagine the realities of poorer nations lacking even the most basic standards of hospitals and health professionals. As stillbirths tend to only happen in full-term pregnancies, they are not to be confused with miscarriage but can be detected using Ultrasonography. 
    September 6th was nominated as the official day of remembrance due to the case of Breanna Lynn Bartlett-Stewart in the year 2000. The painful news of Breanna's death as a newborn affected many people in her home state of Arkansas, so after much public lobbying, the state's government declared what would have been her first birthday, Stillbirth Remembrance Day. By Breanna's 5th birthday, 39 states of America had followed in Arkansa's footsteps and dedicated September 6th to this lamentable cause, proving that stillborn babies will never be forgotten, and that they should have the same recognition as other children.
   Most recently, the nation witnessed the saddening outcome of Gary Barlow's baby, who was also a victim of this distressing occurrence. Although the press have somewhat left the Barlows alone during this terrible time, it has left the public shaken. Learning about Stillbirth Remembrance Day has made me realise that if a baby isn't blessed with life, then it is our duty to honour that person, and remember them just as if they had lived until 100 years old. To be not even given a chance to live is a depressing thought, so we should feel infinitely lucky that we have.