Mums who went through the agony of a stillborn birth earlier than 24 weeks have launched a bid to have their children legally recognised.
They are distraught that their “sleeping” children get no birth certificate or help with burials.
All deaths earlier than 24 weeks of pregnancy are treated by law as a miscarriage, even if they are delivered.
Racheal Guinan, whose baby girl Kiara was born “sleeping” in March, at just 19 weeks and one day, says her suffering was made worse knowing her loss had to be recorded as a miscarriage rather than a stillbirth.
As well as getting no funeral grant, it meant Kiara cannot even appear in official records used to build up family trees.
Racheal said: “According to the law, it seemed Kiara had never existed. I physically gave birth to our beautiful baby girl, so it was no miscarriage.
“I went through everything I’d have gone through after a full-term pregnancy.”
Racheal, 28, has now launched a petition to demand a change in the law. If it succeeds, “Kiara’s Law” would allow babies who die before the 24-week threshold to be officially classified as stillborn.
Her petition has more than 7,000 signatures, needing just 3,000 more to force a government response.
Racheal, of Skelmersdale, Lancs, and partner Kieran, 29, already had sons Lucas, five, Kobi, four, and Leo, three, when Racheal fell pregnant last year.
She went into labour early and Kiara’s heart stopped during birth. A local company gave a funeral free of charge.
Every year, around 1,000 babies are born dead before 24 weeks in the UK.
Racheal is backed by Chelsea Cullen, who lost two baby boys a year apart, both at 19 weeks.
Chelsea, who has been told she has a weak cervix, lost Caiden on June 29, 2010, and Caine on June 18, 2011.
She said: “After Caine I felt empty and lost. I had to arrange a funeral again – my only request was for my boys to be buried together. I was told it wasn’t possible so I had to raise over £2,000 to have that done.”
Chelsea, of Lancashire, has since had “three beautiful children”, Cole, nine, Cara, six and nine-month-old Acacia.
Nicci Cowdell-Murray was induced at 18 weeks after medics could no longer detect a heartbeat. She said: “I had to wait two days to be induced. When it was over they took the baby away in a blue plastic tray.
“There was no dignity. We didn’t even know if our child was male or female. There was no birth certificate, no death certificate, no acknowledgment of there being a birth.”
Nicci, 44, of Dukinfield, Tameside, Gtr Manchester, added: “Our baby was cremated in a mass ceremony – I was too upset to go.”
She and husband Chris, 43, a panel beater, went on to have daughter Evelyn, who is now eight.
Erica Stewart, of baby loss charity Aching Hearts, agreed “miscarriage” was hurtful but said: “There has to be the 24-week line because that’s also the limit for a termination. There’s no hierarchy in grief, we offer support across the board”.
Jenny Kurinczuk, of MBRRACE-UK, which collates birth figures, said: “As the deaths aren’t registered we’ve no idea how many parents are affected, and it hampers research into causes.”
You can see the petition here
