The UK government recently launched a scheme that allows parents who have lost a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy to apply for a certificate to commemorate their loss. The move has been widely praised as an important step in reducing the stigma surrounding miscarriages and stillborn births. Many women have shared their experiences of pregnancy loss, and the significance of receiving an official document to mark their baby’s existence.
Laura, who suffered a missed miscarriage in 2020, described how having an official document helps to validate and commemorate the experience. Laura said she wants to have an open and honest conversation with her children about pregnancy loss and having a certificate to mark her baby’s existence is important to her. Similarly, Holly said receiving the certificates was cathartic and allowed her to validate the trauma of losing her babies.
But not all women are in a position to apply for a certificate. Lizie, who has suffered three miscarriages, spoke of her confusion about whether to apply for a certificate for each loss or just one. She hopes the certificates will recognize every positive pregnancy that ends in unwanted loss and will give women the confidence to talk about their experiences. In contrast, Hannah, who has had four second-trimester miscarriages, expressed mixed feelings about the certificates. While she agrees the certificates give legitimacy to her losses, she cannot reduce her much-loved babies to a mere piece of paper.
One woman who lost her babies in the late 1970s expressed her sadness at not having anything to commemorate her loss. She hopes the scheme will expand to include earlier losses for the benefit of women like herself. Sarah, who recently lost her first pregnancy but later gave birth to a healthy daughter, said the certificate is an important physical representation of her family’s journey.
The certificate scheme has been praised for its role in breaking down the taboo surrounding pregnancy loss. The government hopes it will provide comfort and an official recognition of the trauma that many women experience
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