Baby loss certificates introduced for loss before 24 weeks
Pregnancy loss can have a profound impact on people’s mental health. Leading experts from Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research and the University of Birmingham found that miscarriage could actually quadruple the risk of suicide and double the risk of depression.[ii]
Their findings, along with a call for reforms around the care of those who’ve had a miscarriage, were published in a series of papers in The Lancet[iii] in April 2021.
Healthwatch therefore welcome the introduction of baby loss certificates which have now been introduced for parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks. All parents who have experienced baby loss since September 2018 can now apply by visiting the government website. There is also a useful guide on Tommy’s website.
We know that nothing can take away the pain of losing a child, but we hope that formal recognition of the impact of this loss early in pregnancy can bring some small comfort.
[i] Overview: miscarriage. NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/miscarriage. Last accessed: March 2024
[ii] Devastating impact of miscarriage laid bare in new research. Tommys. Available at: Devastating impact of miscarriage laid bare in new research | Tommy’s (tommys.org). Last accessed: March 2024
[iii] Miscarriage matters, Lancet series. Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/series/miscarriage. Last accessed: March 2024.
[iv] Miscarriage matters, Lancet series. Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/series/miscarriage. Last accessed: March 2024.
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