Supporting Providers Through Pregnancy and Infant Loss

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, a time to remember the babies and pregnancies that were lost and the families who continue to carry those losses.

It is also a time to recognize the providers who walk alongside families through these moments.

Kentucky's public health data track several outcomes related to pregnancy and infant loss, including fetal, perinatal, neonatal, and infant mortality, as well as very preterm birth and very low birth weight. 

In 2024, Kentucky's infant mortality rate was 5.8 deaths per 1,000 live births. This was a decrease from 2023. 📄 https://www.chfs.ky.gov

These numbers help us understand the scope of loss across Kentucky, but they cannot tell the whole story. Behind every number is a patient, a family, and often a care team that remembers the experience, too.[AC1] 

There are no perfect words.

When a patient experiences a loss, you do not have to find the perfect thing to say. Most people want to feel seen and not alone.

Simply acknowledging how hard or devastating the loss is can be meaningful care.

“I’m so sorry. This is really hard.”

“You don’t have to go through this alone.”

“I’m here with you.”

You do not have to fix the pain. Validation and your presence matter.

Providers grieve, too.

Caring for families through loss can stay with you. You may remember a patient, a room, a name, or a due date long after the experience.

Take a moment when you need it. Talk with a colleague. Debrief after a difficult experience. Give yourself permission to say, “That was hard.”

You spend so much of your day caring for others. Remember to care for yourself, too.

The care you provide matters deeply.

So do you.

Learn More: Kentucky Public Health Data

Kentucky Environmental Public Health Tracking
Explore Kentucky data on neonatal mortality and other reproductive and birth outcomes, including infant, perinatal, and postneonatal mortality, very early preterm birth, and very low birth weight.

Explore Kentucky Environmental Public Health Tracking

Kentucky Child Fatality Data Review: 2025 Annual Report
This report reviews 2024 Kentucky child fatality data and includes information on infant mortality, preterm birth, congenital anomalies, perinatal conditions, SIDS and SUID, and other causes of child death.

📄 Read the 2025 Child Fatality Data Review Annual Report

Supporting a patient through pregnancy or infant loss does not mean having the perfect words or every answer. It means showing up, acknowledging the loss, and helping the patient and family find the support they need.

KyCOMPASS is here to support Kentucky providers caring for patients through perinatal loss. Reach out to us to help identify resources for your patients or to learn more about our bereavement discussion group, where hospital, clinic, and other professionals can connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.

If you would like to learn more or join the conversation, email kycompass@ky.gov.