What Is International Bereaved Mother’s Day?

Observed every year on the first Sunday of May, International Bereaved Mother’s Day is a special day to honor and acknowledge mothers who have lost a child—whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, infancy, or at any stage of life.

In 2025, this heartfelt observance falls on Sunday, May 4.

Unlike traditional Mother’s Day, which often overlooks grieving mothers, this day creates space for their pain, strength, and enduring love to be seen and respected.

The Origins: A Mother’s Grief Turned into a Movement

This day was founded in 2010 by CarlyMarie Dudley, an Australian mother who lost her son Christian. She created International Bereaved Mother’s Day to ensure that mothers like her—those who mourn silently—are recognized, remembered, and supported.

CarlyMarie’s initiative resonated globally and has grown into a movement of remembrance, compassion, and solidarity.

Who Is This Day For?

International Bereaved Mother’s Day is for:

• Mothers who have lost a child to miscarriage, stillbirth, illness, accident, or any cause.
• Women who consider themselves mothers even if they have no living children.
• Mothers who have experienced pregnancy loss or fertility struggles.

It’s a day to say: Your motherhood matters. Your grief matters. Your love endures.

The Emotional Importance of This Day

Traditional Mother’s Day celebrations can be painful for bereaved mothers. Seeing flowers, cards, and celebrations often reminds them of what is missing.

This day offers an opportunity for:

• Validation: Recognizing their motherhood, even if their arms are empty.
• Space: Allowing grief and remembrance to coexist with love and hope.
• Connection: Uniting grieving mothers across the world in mutual understanding.

How Mothers and Families Observe the Day

🔹 Personal Acts of Remembrance:

• Lighting a candle for the lost child.
• Visiting a memorial or sacred place.
• Writing letters to the child or journaling.
• Creating memory boxes or keepsakes.

🔹 Community and Online Observances:

• Sharing names and photos on social media.
• Joining remembrance groups and online events.
• Supporting or donating to grief support charities.

🔹 Artistic Expression:

• Creating artwork, poetry, or music in memory.
• Planting trees or flowers as a living tribute.

How You Can Support a Bereaved Mother

If you know someone who has experienced child loss, here are gentle, meaningful ways to support them:

• Say the child’s name. It’s not taboo—it’s comforting.
• Listen with empathy. Don’t try to fix, just be present.
• Send a message of remembrance. A simple “I’m thinking of you today” goes a long way.
• Avoid minimizing grief. Phrases like “at least you can try again” are painful, not helpful.
• Respect her identity as a mother. Even if you never saw her child, her bond is real.

Comforting Quotes for Bereaved Mothers

“A mother is not defined by the number of children you can see, but by the love she holds in her heart.” – Franchesca Cox

“There is no footprint too small to leave an imprint on this world.” – Unknown

“Grief is just love with no place to go.” – Jamie Anderson

Helpful Resources and Support Groups

• Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep – Remembrance photography for grieving families.
• SHARE Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support – Support groups and counseling.
• The Compassionate Friends – Peer support for bereaved parents and siblings.
• Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS) – Resources and helplines worldwide.

Conclusion: Love Beyond Loss

International Bereaved Mother’s Day 2025 is not about sorrow alone—it’s about honoring the resilience of mothers who continue to carry love, memory, and grief in their hearts every day.

To all bereaved mothers:
You are not forgotten. You are still a mother. Your love is eternal.

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