Women who miscarry to get certificate 'to recognise grief'

A Government baby loss certificate scheme designed to recognise the grief of parents who lose a baby early in a pregnancy has been launched.

The voluntary scheme offers those who experience a loss pre-24 weeks' gestation a certificate to formally recognise the devastating impact. Babies stillborn before 24 weeks do not need to be officially registered, leaving some parents feeling ignored.

The new certificates, which are not compulsory, will be official but not legal documents. The idea was formed as part of the Government's response to the independent Pregnancy Loss Review, with parents able to access the free service from 9am today.

The certificates will be available for either parent to access following a loss under 24 weeks since September 2018, with the Government planning to expand eligibility in the near future.

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On a visit to a family bereavement centre at the maternity unit, Maria Caulfield, Minister for the Women's Health Strategy, said parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks can feel there is a "lack of recognition of that baby".

Speaking at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south-west London, she said: "Getting an official certificate means a lot. Parents feel it's so important to see their baby's name on a certificate that they can share with family, and friends and remember that baby.

"We've had parents user-testing the system which is why it's taken a little bit longer to get up and running than we would have liked. It's a very difficult time for parents, even if they don't do it straight away... so we want to make it as easy as possible."

The minister was shown around the unit's specialist bereavement suite,