Baby Loss Awareness Week highlights the mental toll of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss

Plus, a celebrity raised awareness for endometriosis, sparking widespread conversation.

Baby Loss Awareness Week on October 9 to 15 sparked online conversation about miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss, with some posts receiving millions of views. Meanwhile, actor Dylan Sprouse raised awareness about endometriosis, which his wife has, sparking an uptick in social media posts about the condition. Posts also responded to a letter from 51 Republican senators urging the Food and Drug Administration to reevaluate its decision to approve a generic form of mifepristone, with some falsely claiming that the medication is unsafe. Additionally, after a lawsuit alleged that the birth control shot Depo-Provera causes brain tumors, some social media users falsely claimed that all birth control shots and pills are unsafe.

In response, communicators may circulate mental health resources for people who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss and share information about endometriosis, medication abortion, and birth control.

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What’s trending nationally in conversations about reproductive health:

Social media users across platforms called attention to parents’ experiences with miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss during Baby Loss Awareness Week, which falls within Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Many shared their experiences with losing pregnancies and infants, and one Instagram post about multiple miscarriages received approximately 17.2 million views as of October 21. Commenters on the post shared their own stories; expressed gratitude for partners, friends, and health care providers who supported them through those experiences; and discussed the mental health challenges they experienced after miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.

On October 15, actor Dylan Sprouse attended the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to support his wife, a model in the show who has endometriosis. Sprouse wore an endometriosis awareness pin, passed out pins to others, and encouraged men to speak out about the condition. Social media users across platforms praised the actor’s efforts, which sparked widespread conversation about endometriosis. Many commenters shared their experiences with endometriosis and highlighted its symptoms. Several noted that endometriosis affects one in 10 people with a uterus who are of reproductive age and acknowledged that many struggle to get diagnosed and treated.

On October 9, a senator shared a press release stating that 51 senators sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary commending their efforts to review the safety of the abortion pill mifepristone. The letter also urged Kennedy and Makary to reevaluate the FDA’s September 30 decision to approve a generic version of the medication, falsely suggesting that it’s unsafe. In the past week, articles and social media posts discussed the letter. Many users expressed concern about potential restrictions or a ban on mifepristone, which would prevent people from accessing medication abortions. Others worried that restrictions could increase the maternal death rate since the medication is also used to treat potentially life-threatening health emergencies like miscarriages and postpartum hemorrhage. Social media users also repeated false claims that mifepristone is unsafe and equated abortion with murder, suggesting that all abortion methods should be banned.

In late September, articles reported that more than 1,000 women are suing Pfizer, alleging a link between brain tumors and its birth control shot, Depo-Provera. Online conversation about the class-action lawsuit continued this month, and several recent X posts urged people to stop using Depo-Provera, especially Black women, who use it at nearly double the national rate. Some posts falsely claimed that all birth control shots and pills are unsafe.

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Recommendations for public health professionals

Each week, the Infodemiology.com team will provide messaging recommendations in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. These helpful tips can be used when creating content, updating web and FAQ pages, and developing strategy for messaging about reproductive health. 

While Baby Loss Awareness Week has ended, October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Since awareness months often lead to an increase in conversation and questions, communicators may want to share information about miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss and their potential causes. Sharing mental health resources for people who have lost pregnancies and infants is recommended, including online support groups, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, and the Postpartum Support International HelpLine.

Conversations about endometriosis provide an opportunity to continue raising awareness about this condition. Messaging may explain that endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the endometrium—the inner lining of the uterus—grows on organs outside of the uterus, causing severe pain. Symptoms may include pelvic pain and cramping before or during periods, heavy periods, bleeding or spotting between periods, pain with bowel movements or urination, pain during or after sex, fatigue, nausea, bloating, and infertility. While doctors can only confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis through surgery, other testing—like a pelvic exam, ultrasound, or MRI—can help identify unusual tissue that may indicate endometriosis. Endometriosis can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications; hormonal medications, including birth control, to either stop menstruation or facilitate lighter periods; and surgery to remove the endometrial-like tissue. Since social media users expressed difficulty finding diagnosis and treatment, sharing information about local health clinics where people can seek care for reproductive health issues is recommended. Communicators may also want to circulate virtual support groups for those living with endometriosis, such as the Endometriosis Coalition Patient Support Group and MyEndometriosisTeam.

Given ongoing questioning of mifepristone’s safety, messaging may continue to reiterate that medication abortion accounts for nearly two-thirds of abortions in the U.S. and that the risk of major complications is less than 1 percent. Communicators may also direct people to Plan C, which offers information about accessing abortion pills in every state.

News about a lawsuit against the maker of Depo-Provera may cause a rise in concerns about the safety of birth control. In response, communicators may reiterate that birth control options are safe and effective, but like all medications, they come with some risks. Messaging may encourage people to consult a health care provider about the best birth control option for them. Sharing information about the different types of birth control and their effectiveness is recommended. Communicators may also direct people to local health centers or health departments that offer free or low-cost contraception.