International Bereaved Mother’s Day is traditionally on the First Sunday of in May. The day is designed to acknowledge and honor the motherhood of women who have lost children to miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, and other types of pregnancy or infant loss; particularly for those who feel forgotten on traditional Mother’s Day.

Bereaved Mother’s Day was founded by Carly Marie Dudley following the death of her stillborn son, with the aim to provide support for grieving mothers. Ironically, the original Mother’s Day was founded by Anna Jarvis in honor of her own bereaved mother.

You can honor bereaved mothers and their children by lighting a candle, attending a support event (such as remembrance walks), by planting a tree/plant or making a donation in honor of the child.

If you know someone who has lost a child, please reach out to them and just let them know you are thinking of them. As a mother who has lost a child, I’m always grateful when someone remembers my baby boy!