For couples and families, the arrival of a baby is a momentous occasion, a joyous blessing that fills their lives with love and laughter. This was no different for stars Alexa and Carlos PenaVega, who have experienced the joy of welcoming multiple children into their lives.
The actors, who were expecting another child together, recently announced that their daughter Indy was “born at rest.”
The couple shared a joint statement about their “painful journey” on social media with fans
The “Spy Kids” actress and the Big Time Rush singer’s message to fans detailed the grief that they’ve experienced throughout their journey. They noted how their daughter Indy has “completely changed their world.”
“There are never the right words to say when it comes to loss. After a beautiful and peaceful delivery our daughter ‘Indy’ was born at rest. It has been a painful journey. But in the pain we have found peace,” their joint statement began.
It continued, “God continues to comfort and hold us in his arms. The prayers from the community around us have been so sustaining in this difficult season. This little girl has already changed our lives in so many ways.”
They noted how their daughter “looked just like” her “Love in the Limelight” papá. Their message explained that “she was absolutely beautiful” and had “dark hair.”
“Grief has come to us in waves. Moments of feeling absolutely gutted… then moments of feeling blessed by just getting a moment with her. We can’t understand why things like this happen and we may never get those answers,” they added.
The PenaVega’s use of their platform for sharing their grief surrounding the stillbirth opens up discourse around the topic
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 21,000 stillborn babies in the United States every year. That accounts for at least one in every 175 births. The CDC cites that the number has gone down due to medical advancements in prenatal care over the years.
While there can be many factors that can cause a stillbirth, the CDC explains that the later into the pregnancy, the more difficulty doctors have finding a cause. Stillbirths that carry an unknown cause are referred to as unexplained stillbirths.
ProPublica cited that a report by The National Institutes of Health found the number of stillbirths “unacceptably high.” It found that in 2022, “more than 20,000 pregnancies every year are lost at 20 weeks or more, and the expected baby is born dead.”
KFF reports that African American, Indigenous, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women all had higher stillbirth rates than their Asian, Latina, and Caucasian counterparts.
A 2020 CDC chart details how out of every 1000 births, African American women averaged at 10.34, Indigenous and Alaska Native women averaged at 7.84, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander women averaged at 10.59.
The numbers were lower for Latinas, Caucasian women, and Asian women. For every 1000 births, Latinas averaged 4.86, Caucasian women averaged 4.73, and Asian women averaged 3.93.
Reports show that any number of factors can cause stillbirths
In addition to The NIH’s report, ProPublica also conducted a separate investigation. Its findings shed light on the multitude of reasons behind the nation’s persistent stillbirth rates: from medical professionals dismissing pregnant patients’ concerns to insufficient research and limited autopsy practices.
This was compounded by the alarming racial disparities in stillbirth rates, which served to exacerbate the crisis.
ProPublica’s investigation uncovered a lack of prioritization in stillbirth-focused research, data collection, and analysis by federal health agencies. Moreover, both state health departments and medical providers have fallen short in raising awareness about the risks and prevention of stillbirths.
Despite widespread belief, research indicates that up to 25% of stillbirths may be preventable, challenging the notion of their inevitability.
Unfortunately, ProPublica’s investigation found that a reason for the lack of research is due to the lack of autopsies performed on the babies. Many parents are dissuaded from requesting one from doctors or find that the cost may be too high as insurance doesn’t cover the procedure.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) denies coverage because autopsies do not fall under their “medical assistance” definition. ProPublica cites that the Stillbirth Working Group of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Council challenged this.
They pointed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) as a precedent. Many states consider SIDS a public health crisis and cover autopsies in suspected cases. This is significant because stillbirths occurred at a rate 15 times higher than SIDS deaths in 2020.
Experiencing a stillbirth alters the way parents see the world
The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) cites that “both parents can be significantly affected by the stillbirth of their baby.”
The PenaVega’s statement made clear how present their “grief” has been, something that the PMNCH cites as a common emotion.
The organization says that parents who have experienced a stillbirth will undergo feelings of anxiety, fear, and grief. The couple will shift their views on life and death, something that will often affect future pregnancies, parenthood, and child-rearing.
While the celebrity couple has admitted to “feeling absolutely gutted,” they’ve also noted how their daughter’s “blessing” has changed their lives.
“Indy Rex PenaVega, you completely changed our world. You moved us to a new place. You gave us the community we have been longing for. We love you can’t wait to see how many other lives you change,” their message concluded.
