The experience of pregnancy loss, particularly stillbirth, is a subject often kept in the shadows of societal discourse. Statistically, 1 in 4 pregnancies end in some form of loss. This blog post is a summation of ‘A Conversation on Pregnancy Loss’.

This was a recorded conversation between Raising Illinois, Gifts from Liam & Evelyn James and Company on pregnancy loss and how policy can better support grieving families.

The video shares heartfelt stories by two women, Anna and Vallen, who are transforming their personal grief into advocacy to change how society and healthcare support families enduring the trauma of stillbirth.

Anna, a mother who lost her child, Liam, to stillbirth in 2016, expressed the painful journey that ultimately led her to create the nonprofit, Gifts from Liam. Her organization supports families by providing bereavement resources, advocacy, and legislative efforts. Her latest success, “Liam’s Law,” addresses the inadequacies in the recognition of stillborn babies, aiming to provide grieving families with a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth rather than solely a death certificate. Anna’s work emphasizes the importance of visibility, as she explained, "Many families are left in the dark with no support systems in place or basic education about pregnancy loss. We need real, compassionate resources, and acknowledgment for families who endure this loss."

Vallen’s story is equally compelling. In 2019, she experienced the stillbirth of her daughter, Evelyn, during her husband’s deployment. She recalls the isolation and emotional devastation compounded by a lack of understanding from medical providers. Left to navigate decisions alone, Vallen’s experience underscores a gap in compassionate care and advocacy within the healthcare system for bereaved families. “I had to face these decisions without guidance, and the lack of empathy I encountered added another layer to an already overwhelming situation,” she reflected. Inspired by her journey, Vallen now works as a bereavement doula, supporting families through the grief of pregnancy loss.

Their shared experiences reveal alarming deficiencies in bereavement care. Both Anna and Vallen point to a need for hospitals to adopt standardized protocols for pregnancy loss support. As Anna highlighted, “There’s no standardization of care or training for nurses, doctors, and birth workers. Bereaved parents are often left with a pile of pamphlets and no real person to guide them through the emotional or physical recovery.”

In addition to standardizing bereavement support, both women advocate for financial relief for grieving families. Many parents face unexpected costs for funeral arrangements, time away from work, and ongoing mental health support following a stillbirth. Some states have enacted one-time tax credits to aid families financially. Anna expressed hope that Illinois will join this movement, stating, “Losing a child comes with a financial cost many families are unprepared for, and these families deserve some relief as they process their loss.”

Both women are calling for greater education and awareness around the possibilities of pregnancy loss and the need for accessible, empathetic care in every healthcare setting. When healthcare professionals lack training, parents are left to navigate an emotionally raw experience on their own. Normalizing conversations around pregnancy loss is essential, and with advocates like Anna and Vallen leading the way, they’re hopeful for a future where families are supported, informed, and respected as they journey through loss.

As we work towards breaking down the stigma surrounding pregnancy loss, it’s vital to remember the families who endure these painful experiences. Their voices should drive policy changes and societal awareness, helping us ensure a compassionate, well-informed community and healthcare system that supports all parents, regardless of their pregnancy’s outcome.