Certificates recognising the heartbreak of losing a baby extended to all parents in South Yorkshire
Baby loss certificates have now been extended with no backdate to all parents who've experienced a loss
All parents who have experienced losing a pregnancy can apply for a certificate formally recognising their loss, the government has announced.
Baby loss certificates were first launched in February 2024 but were only available to those who had experienced a loss since September 2018.
From today, this voluntary service will be extended with no backdate allowing all parents who have suffered an historic pregnancy loss or a future loss to apply. More than 50,000 certificates have been issued so far.
The government is committed to ensuring bereaved parents are supported during this difficult time, and that the impact and importance of their loss is recognised. Certificates are free and remain optional for parents.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
“Losing a pregnancy can be deeply distressing - there is so much love and so many dreams for the future wrapped up in a tiny life. That's why it is important for bereaved parents to have the option to officially recognise the existence of their babies and how much they matter.
"I'm pleased we can now ensure all parents are able to apply for these certificates, no matter how long ago they lost their pregnancies. This government will always listen to women and families as we overhaul our health system to ensure everyone gets compassionate, safe and personalised care.”
The extension of the service marks Baby Loss Awareness Week which is held every year from the 9th to 15th October.
Baroness Gillian Merron, Minister for Patient Safety, Women's Health and Mental Health, said:
“I would like to thank all of the women and campaigners for their ongoing work on raising awareness around baby loss – without your bravery, this wouldn’t be possible.
“We are committed to ensuring that women are listened to during every stage of pregnancy, as we work to improve maternity and neonatal services across the country.”
The government is working to improve women’s health services and improve maternity outcomes. This week, the Department for Health and Social Care announced the launch of a training pilot for staff in maternity units to help avoid brain injury in childbirth.
The Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam - who's experienced miscarriage herself - is Olivia Blake:
"These certificates allow parents to fully recognise their loss. It's a really important step forwards.
"This will allow women who've experienced this type of loss to go through a better experience by going through a formal recognition.
"It will allow them to realise their loss really mattered, whilst they'll also feel understood by the system.
"I've met many families in the past whilst campaigning on miscarriage who've had a loss of around 23 weeks, and they haven't been able to formally recognise the loss of their child.
"So, these certificates are incredibly important, and the fact they're free as well is crucial, as people shouldn't be priced out of having a baby.
The government has also pledged to train thousands more midwives and ensure that NHS trusts failing on maternity care are robustly supported into rapid improvement.