41 year old from Belfast supports development of a Baby Loss Certificate scheme
Grianne Carson, owner of Patisserie G in Belfast, lost her first baby when she was just 19 years old.
Last updated 15th Apr 2024
Today, Sinn Féin is bringing a motion to the Assembly supporting the development of a Baby Loss Certificate scheme.
Currently, babies stillborn before 24 weeks do not need to be officially registered.
The scheme launched in England this February.
Grianne Carson, owner of Patisserie G in Belfast, lost her first baby when she was just 19 years old.
The 41-year-old now has two children, but she told us her experiences losing her first child, ‘ruined’ her.
She spoke exclusively to CoolFM/Downtown:
“I did everything by the book. I ate the right things and drank the right things. I think I was between 13 and 14 weeks. They brought me in (for the scan) and there was just silence. It was just silence, and they go – ‘so the baby has no heartbeat.’ I’m sitting there, 19 years old... I couldn’t take it in, you couldn’t process it. They gave me a sheet of paper and told me to come in the next day for a D&C (dilation and curettage) and that was it.”
“I had asked for the scan photograph, I walked out with the photograph, and a sheet of paper, crying. People are just looking at you, the maternity unit is always packed in the hospital. I was walking out looking at all these pregnant women, my whole life was torn apart.”
Grainne said once she had had the procedure, she had no proof her baby existed, apart from the scan photograph, which she asked to keep. “I am petrified, I’m 19…. I was brought down, the procedure was done, and I was sent home… There was no acknowledgment of what you’ve went through, that was it.”
Grainne went on to have two more children but said getting over the loss of Cory was extremely hard. “I was terrified, there was always that emptiness, from when we lost cory. Before we had Emma, there was always an emptiness there, my life wasn’t complete. I always wanted to be a mum.”
“You need just a little bit of acknowledgment to say yes that baby did exist. It’s the what ifs, if I’d done this right if I’d done that… what did I do wrong? That’s the main thing. You need someone to be there and say, ‘it does happen, and it wasn’t your fault.’ Your world falls apart in a second and you’re left to deal with it on your own. It impacts the whole family.”
In a statement, Sinn Fein party health spokesperson, MLA Liz Kimmins said:
“Losing a baby during pregnancy can be devastating and acknowledging that baby can be hugely important for families.
“Sinn Féin will bring a motion to the Assembly supporting the development of a Baby Loss Certificate scheme to ensure that bereaved parents can have an official document acknowledging a baby lost during pregnancy before 24 weeks.
“This follows the welcome commitment from the finance minister last week to review this scheme, working alongside the health minister, which recognises baby loss in early pregnancy.
“Sinn Féin are also conducting an online survey to hear the views of parents and families on the potential of a Baby Loss Certificate for the north.”