More parents who lost a baby early in pregnancy will now be able to apply for a certificate formally recognising their child’s life.
First introduced in February, the government has expanded the baby loss certificate scheme for those who lost a child while pregnant.
There will now be no time limit on the initiative, whereas at first it was only offered to parents who lost a child since 2018.
Any parent who lost a child before 24 weeks, or 28 weeks if the loss happened before October 1992, will now have the option to apply for a certificate.
The certificates – which are not compulsory – are official but not legal documents, and were introduced to recognise the impact of losing a child early on during pregnancy.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the loss of a child during pregnancy “can be deeply distressing – there is so much love and so many dreams for the future wrapped up in a tiny life”.
He added: “I’m pleased we can now ensure all parents are able to apply for these certificates, no matter how long ago they lost their pregnancies.
“This government will always listen to women and families as we overhaul our health system to ensure everyone gets compassionate, safe and personalised care.”
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Chief executive of the Miscarriage Association Vicki Robinson said the charity had been “extremely keen to see the scheme extended”.
“Today marks a significant milestone for those who have waited for this recognition,” she said.
“For many, even the earliest of losses can be deeply distressing, both emotionally and physically, but having a formal acknowledgement as a marker of their loss can be a meaningful part of the grieving process.
“We know from the people that we support how much the certification scheme has helped those who have experienced pregnancy loss, so this is great news that people whose losses were previously not acknowledged now can be.”
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Samantha Collinge, bereavement lead midwife at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and co-chair of the Pregnancy Loss Review, said she had been campaigning for a standardised care pathway “since I was appointed as a bereavement midwife in 1998”.
“Removing the restrictions around the application process will give all bereaved parents of pre-24 week baby loss the official recognition that their babies did exist and that their babies’ lives, however brief, really do matter,” she added.
