Honoring the Invisible: Recognizing All Types of Loss on Bereaved Mother’s Day
Honoring the Many Faces of Motherhood and Loss
The Sunday before Mother’s Day is known to many as Bereaved Mother’s Day—a sacred and tender space to honor women whose motherhood includes grief. For some, this day marks a private ache. For others, it is a moment to speak their child’s name aloud, to remember, and to be remembered.
Loss in motherhood isn’t always visible. It isn’t always named. And yet, it profoundly shapes the hearts of those who carry it.
The Different Types of Loss Mothers May Grieve
There is no one way to be a bereaved mother. Loss can take many forms:
Miscarriage – The loss of a pregnancy, often unseen by others but deeply felt.
Stillbirth – Giving birth to a baby who never takes their first breath, yet whose life is deeply known and loved.
Infant loss – The devastating grief of losing a baby shortly after birth.
Termination for medical reasons (TFMR) – Making a heart-wrenching decision out of love and protection.
Recurrent pregnancy loss – The compounded heartbreak of multiple losses.
Infertility – The grief of hoped-for pregnancies that never come, and the identity of motherhood that feels out of reach.
Loss of a child later in life – A grief that is ever-present, no matter the child’s age.
Adoption loss or disrupted placements – The unique grief of loving a child who does not remain in your arms.
Medical trauma or birth trauma – Even when a child survives, mothers may grieve the pregnancy or birth experience they never had.
Each of these losses carries a story. Each deserves compassion, validation, and space.
You Are Not Alone: Finding Support
If you're grieving, you don't have to walk this path alone. Support can take many forms, and healing is not a linear journey. Some options that may help:
Support Groups: Whether in-person or online, spaces like Return to Zero: HOPE, Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support, or Postpartum Support International offer connection with others who understand.
Therapy: Talking with a therapist trained in grief, perinatal mental health, or trauma can help you navigate the complex emotions of loss.
Rituals and Remembrance: Lighting a candle, planting a tree, wearing a piece of remembrance jewelry, or writing your baby’s name in a journal can be deeply healing.
Books and Podcasts: Stories help us feel seen. Books like “It’s OK That You’re Not OK” by Megan Devine or “The Brink of Being” by Julia Bueno offer words that validate and support.
Art, Movement, and Nature: Gentle practices like journaling (this link will take you to our FREE Download for Journaling Prompts resource) walking outdoors, or creating art can give expression to emotions that are hard to put into words.
Why Therapy Can Help
Grief is not a problem to be solved—it is a story to be witnessed, honored, and gently tended to.
Therapy offers a non-judgmental space to:
Name your loss (even if no one else does).
Process the guilt, sadness, anger, and numbness that often accompany grief.
Rebuild identity after a loss shakes your sense of self or motherhood.
Explore spiritual questions or rebuild meaning after loss.
Learn gentle coping tools to care for your nervous system in a trauma-informed way.
At Restoring Heart and Home, I hold space for all forms of loss. Whether your loss was recent or decades ago, whether your story is widely shared or held close to your chest—you are welcome here.
If this post speaks to something you're carrying, I invite you to explore more resources on my Events & Resources page, or schedule a free 15-minute consultation. You don’t have to grieve alone.
With compassion,
Amanda Gibbons, LCSW-C, PMH-C
Restoring Heart and Home, LLC
www.restoringheartandhome.com
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