North Yorkshire campaigners welcome new certificate to recognise baby loss
Bereaved parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy can apply from today
Parents who have experienced the devastation of losing a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy can apply for a certificate to have their grief recognised from today.
The government is launching a voluntary scheme to allow parents to record and receive a certificate to provide recognition of their loss.
Hayley Patrick-Copeland is from Selby and lost her twin daughters in 2022: "Alya and Aleah died at 24 weeks and three days and then were still born at 25 weeks and I remember Neil, my husband and their Dad and myself saying to each other, they are so clever, well done girls for hanging on in there."
"Had they been born or had their died three days earlier they wouldn't have officially have existed but they would have still been the beautiful, fully formed babies that they were."
"To go to register your children not with them, but clutching their baby blanket in your arms, it was a really hard thing to do, it was one of the only few things that we could do for them to actually go and have them acknowledged and to honour them properly."
"Everybody deals with baby loss differently, grief is very complex of course but I truly believe everybody has the choice and opportunity, had we not been able to acknowledge our girls I think that would have been trauma on top of trauma on top of trauma."
The government says it is committed to ensuring bereaved parents feel supported through their grief and recognise their loss, acknowledging their pain and ensuring they feel heard. The certificates will not be compulsory - it remains the choice of all parents to manage the difficult time of a loss, however they see fit.
Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said:
“Losing a baby can be a hugely traumatic event and the introduction of certificates to formally acknowledge the loss of life is a positive step towards better supporting women and parents affected.
“I’d like to thank charities and campaigners for their continuous work in bringing awareness to baby loss and making the certificates launching possible.
“Improving women’s health care and maternity support is a priority, and this demonstrates progress in delivering our Women’s Health Strategy and ensuring parents feel supported during this heart-breaking experience.”
"We have listened to parents"
Minister for the Women’s Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield said:
“We have listened to parents who have gone through what can be an unbelievably painful experience of losing a baby, and that is why today we are introducing baby loss certificates to recognise their loss, as part of our wider long-term plan for women’s health in our country, the Women’s Health Strategy.
“I would like to thank the tireless work of campaigners and charities for their work in supporting this agenda and making the certificates a reality.”