'Emotional' day as first baby loss certificates applied for in NI

Bereaved parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy in Northern Ireland have begun applying for a certificate in recognition of their loss.

The Baby Loss Certificate scheme went live on Monday and applies to losses before the end of week 24 of pregnancy, or before week 28 for losses before 1992.

Until now there has been no formal way to acknowledge losses before 24 weeks of pregnancy in Northern Ireland.

Belfast mum Ellie Goan described a launch event for the scheme as "very emotional".

An ambassador for the baby loss charity Cradle, Ellie had two miscarriages between the births of her two daughters.

She was sent a link to apply for her own baby loss certificates on Monday afternoon.

"I promised myself I was going to take a bit of time, but then had my certificates ordered within minutes," she said.

"Plenty of tears involved in what has felt like quite the journey."

Babies who are born dead after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy are classed as stillbirths and their deaths are officially registered.

However, this does not happen when a baby dies before that stage.

Pregnancy loss before 24 weeks is the most common complication of pregnancy and is estimated to affect about one in five women in the UK.

The scheme was introduced by the Department of Finance, which is responsible for civil registration services in Northern Ireland.

Finance Minister John O'Dowd said making the certificates available for parents had been "one of the most significant and impactful achievements of this mandate".

"I fully understand a baby loss certificate cannot alleviate the profound grief experienced by parents following such losses," he said.

"However, it is my hope that by formally recognising their loss the certificates may offer them a degree of comfort."

'Commemorating our losses'

Kelly Barnes, a Sands baby loss charity volunteer who has experienced 11 pregnancy losses before 24 weeks, welcomed the launch of the scheme.

"Nothing can take away the pain of losing your baby," she said.

"But something as simple as a baby loss certificate can help to carry some of the emotional weight by officially commemorating our losses and providing support to bereaved parents as we navigate our grief journeys."

Parents do not have to apply for a certificate if they do not want one and the certificates are not legal documents.

Similar schemes are already in place in England and Scotland, while work is under way to introduce one in Wales.