Taunton dad praises baby loss certificate milestone
More than 100,000 have been given out.
A Taunton dad has been telling us he was able to find some closure when he received a baby loss certificate for his little boy.
Rob McDonald and his partner lost their baby boy named Olly at 17 weeks in their pregnancy.
As a family, they weren't given anything to show that Olly had existed, like thousands of others across the country.
Now more than 100,000 baby loss certificates have now been issued to parents who have lost a pregnancy, allowing them to formally recognise their loss.
Baby loss certificates offer a way of providing comfort and support to bereaved parents, who have gone through an unimaginable loss. They provide acknowledgement that their baby existed and mattered.
Support groups have long campaigned for these certificates and have welcomed this news.
The government is also committed to ensuring bereaved parents are better supported, and that the impact and importance of their loss is recognised.
Rob McDonald said: "I think going for it myself, it's acknowledgement that he was a person.
"The fact that, yeah, we can actually know that he actually existed.
"Because before that it was almost like no, didn't exist, not there.
"So, we applied as soon as it came out. And yeah it's there as a reminder, I mean, we'll never forget, but yeah, it's it's just something to say yes, he was a real person.
"Because as I say before that it didn't seem like he existed in the system and it was a bit sad really."
Sands’ Chief Executive Clea Harmer said: “It’s wonderful that baby loss certificates have enabled so many bereaved parents in England whose lives have been touched by pregnancy loss to get official recognition that their babies existed and matter.
“The certificates are an important part of many people’s bereavement journey, and while we recognise they are not something everyone wants, we would like all bereaved parents to have that choice.
"Sands is here to offer understanding and emotional support for every bereaved parent and family, for as long as they need this.”
Since the loss of baby Olly, Rob helps run Taunton SANDS United. It's a football club for bereaved dad's to go and find support and meet others who have experienced baby loss.