Pregnancy loss charities across the country have joined more than 40 MPs in fight for at least three-days of paid miscarriage leave in the UK.
Introduced by Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley, the proposed Miscarriage Leave Bill has gained the support of at least eight charities along with 48 MPs.
The organisations include the Miscarriage Association, Mumsnet, Miscarriage Support, the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, Tommy’s, Sands, SIMBA and campaigner Keeley Lengthorn.
READ MORE: Glasgow set to provide paid leave for women who suffer a miscarriage
As it stands, up to one in four pregnancies will end in miscarriage. However, there is no provision in place to support grieving parents through their loss before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
The Miscarriage Association believes that paid leave would allow parents time off to recover while recognising the significance of pregnancy loss.
National Director, Ruth Bender Atik, said: “For many people, miscarriage is the loss of a baby, however early it happens, and is often felt as a bereavement like any other.
“A period of statutory leave would not only allow people some time off to start their recovery, but it would also be a clear public recognition that pregnancy loss can have a very real and significant impact on those going through it.
“We wholeheartedly support this bill and hope the government will take this opportunity to support people at what can be an extremely difficult and distressing time.”
If approved, the Miscarriage Leave Bill would introduce a statutory right for parents to a minimum of three-days paid leave in the event of a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy.
Countries including Australia and New Zealand have already introduced paid miscarriage leave and Northern Ireland is set to do so before 2026.
Ahead of the bill’s second reading, Angela Crawley MP has written to new Prime Minister Liz Truss and secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Ms Crawley said: “A new Prime Minister brings a change to the heart of government and with that there is an opportunity for them to review and change their stance on miscarriage leave.
“My Private Members’ Bill will return to the Commons in December and I am hopeful that the new government will get behind it and support parents who experience miscarriage.
“By providing a statutory right to paid leave in the event of a miscarriage, we can challenge the stigma and allow parents to properly grieve their loss.
“There is no cut off point for grief so there should not be a cut off point for providing support to parents who experience miscarriage.”
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