Everyone grieves differently. If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth or medical loss, or you lost a baby to illness or another cause, remember that there’s no “right” way to mourn or recover. Your experience is yours alone, and you should do whatever helps you heal in a healthy way. For some women, finding a way to honor a lost pregnancy is part of the healing process.

Some parents plant a tree to commemorate their baby, while others might buy a special piece of jewelry or plan a ceremony with close family. Joining online support groups can also help parents connect with other families who have gone through similar experiences. (If this sounds like something you're interested in, the What to Expect Grief and Loss group might be a helpful resource.)

Below, parents who have gone through this kind of grief themselves share how they're honoring their lost pregnancies.

“I had just gotten home from the hospital this morning after an extremely painful miscarriage. On my way home, I bought a beautiful evergreen shrub that flowers around baby's due date and a small wooden box that I'll engrave baby's name into.” — Elshee

“We’re putting up a couple pictures of [our baby] along with a canvas print that has two birds and a nest and says, ‘Forever in our hearts, nestled you will be.’ It has his name and birth date on it. We plan to plant a rose bush in our garden also.” — Lyrose

“I found Project Robby on Facebook. They knit blankets, a hat and angel wings to gestation size. I find it’s nice to have something physical to hold to remember my angel baby.” — rebeccarosesusko

“The hospital gave us a candle and small flower seeds to plant. We're also going to get tattoos.” — L1v

“We have all his hospital items in a lovely box the hospital gave us. I found a scrapbook kit on Etsy specially made for babies who were stillborn, miscarried or passed away that I am putting all his pictures in, as well as hospital bracelets, items from his funeral, cards, pregnancy tests, ultrasound pictures, etc.”  — Lyrose

“I ordered a bracelet that says ‘Too beautiful for Earth.’ We are also planting a shower tree ... My husband and I are also going to get dragonfly tattoos for our angel boy. The day after he passed, a dragonfly hung around our porch, and the next day my husband rescued one from a spider web.” — HIislandlife

“For Mother’s Day, I got a 'Mom' necklace and added the birthstones and angel wings for the two miscarriages. I have subtle touches of rainbows to honor the babies we lost and our precious rainbow baby.” — MrsSpecialEdTeacher

“I found a shop on Etsy; this lady knits blankets for miscarried children by the age they’re conceived. So that way, they’re the size of your miscarried child. I felt this was a good way to memorialize our baby.” — haleyrsmith

“I've found that talking about him and remembering him helps me heal. We buried [our baby] in a cemetery not far from our house and we ordered a lovely headstone that should be ready in a few weeks. We find visiting helps us also. We don't visit too much but [go] every few weeks.” — Lyrose

“We bought and named a star to remember our baby. When I look up at the night sky, I’ll know that it’s up there twinkling for us.” — Mhallaran