Mother's Day is an incredibly special day to honor the unconditional love, care, and sacrifice of mothers. However, Mother's Day can be bittersweet. The holiday can be a painful reminder of what could have been for those of us who have suffered a pregnancy loss.
Coping with a pregnancy loss as you prepare to celebrate Mother's Day without a child in your arms can be overwhelming.
In this post, MyJuly27 will discuss how to handle Mother's Day after a pregnancy loss with acknowledgment, sensitivity, and kindness:
Acknowledge Your Feelings
One essential step to coping with pregnancy loss is acknowledging your feelings. Be real and honest with yourself. It is quite normal to experience a range of emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion. Mother's Day tends to amplify these emotions. You might also feel a sense of emptiness or longing for the child you lost. You may feel envious of other mothers who are celebrating the day with their children. It is crucial to acknowledge these feelings and not suppress them. Give yourself permission to grieve and express your emotions in a healthy way.
Plan Ahead
Whether your loss was at 5 weeks, 5 months, or 5 days postpartum, you ARE a mother, and that’s a title worth celebrating.
It is best to make a plan ahead of time to manage your emotions. If your Mother’s Day experience is solely based on how others will treat you or address your loss, you will very likely be disappointed. Grief is often uncomfortable, so those around you might act awkward or avoid discussing your loss.
You can spend the day alone, with your partner, or with close friends and family who understand what you are going through. You can also plan activities such as visiting a memorial site, creating a miscarriage keepsake, or writing a letter to your child. Planning what you'll do can help you feel more in control of the day and reduce the chances of unexpected triggers.
Find Support
Grieving the loss of a child can truly be isolating and lonely. It is essential to find support from people who understand your experience and can empathize with you. You can join a support group for parents who have suffered a pregnancy loss, talk to a therapist or counselor, or connect with other mothers online. Finding support can help you feel less alone and validate your emotions. It is perfectly okay to ask others for help and lean on others for support.
MyJuly27 has a personalized resource guide HERE, filled with no-cost healing resources.
Honoring Your Child's Memory
Mother's Day can be an opportunity to honor your child's memory and celebrate your love for them. You can create a miscarriage keepsake, like a photo album, jewelry, or a unique art piece that reminds you of your child. You could also write a poem about and for your child, expressing your love and gratitude for the time you had together. Honoring your child's memory can be a healing and comforting way to cope with the loss.
Self-Care
Coping with a pregnancy loss can affect your physical and emotional well-being. It is crucial to practice self-care and take care of yourself on Mother's Day and beyond. You can engage in activities that bring you joy, such as reading a book, going for a walk, or taking a relaxing bath. You can also treat yourself to something that makes you feel special, such as buying yourself flowers, getting a massage, or watching your favorite movie. Self-care can significantly help you feel more grounded and emotionally stable.
Here is a list of Mother’s Day self-care ideas from The Joyful Mourning:
“1. GET A SPA TREATMENT OR HAVE YOUR OWN SPA DAY AT HOME
2. GO FOR A WALK
3. PLANT SOMETHING
4. MAKE YOUR FAVORITE BREAKFAST TREAT OR ORDER TAKE OUT FROM YOUR FAVORITE BRUNCH SPOT
5. WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR BABY OR JOURNAL
6. GET CREATIVE: MAKE SOMETHING OR DO A LITTLE COLORING
7. LOOK & REMEMBER: LOOK THROUGH PHOTOS & KEEPSAKES
8. BUY YOURSELF FLOWERS
9. VISIT SOMEWHERE YOU WISH YOU COULD TAKE YOUR BABY
10. TEXT A FRIEND WHO MIGHT BE HURTING”
https://www.themorning.com/blog/episode159
Conclusion
Mother's Day after a pregnancy loss can be extremely challenging and emotional. However, with the right planning and support, you can navigate the day with acknowledgment, sensitivity, and kindness. Try to acknowledge your feelings, plan ahead, find support, honor your child's memory, or intentionally practice self-care. Remember that you are not alone, and it is okay to grieve and express your emotions, even if it does make someone a bit uncomfortable. Take care of yourself, and know that healing takes time.
MyJuly27 focuses on paying tribute to the precious lives we parents have lost by creatively capturing their footprints and giving you a miscarriage keepsake that is truly special. We are here to share YourJuly27 story, whether you've experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, or the untimely passing of a young child. Learn more about our custom miscarriage keepsakes today, or consider purchasing a Mother Day gift for miscarriage.
