Northern Ireland Ministers champion Baby Loss Certificate Scheme during awareness week

Finance Minister John O’Dowd and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt with Sands representatives Rachel McGonigle and Kelly Barnes wearing their Baby Loss Awareness Week ribbon pin badges in support of the baby loss community.

In a poignant show of solidarity, Finance Minister John O’Dowd and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt have partnered with the pregnancy and baby loss charity Sands to observe Baby Loss Awareness Week 2025, running from 9 to 15 October.

This annual event serves as a vital platform for remembrance, reflection, and raising public understanding of the profound impact of pregnancy and baby loss on families across the UK.

Baby Loss Awareness Week brings together those affected by the loss of a baby, along with their supporters, to commemorate cherished lives and foster a sense of community. It aims to reduce isolation among bereaved parents and drive improvements in care and support services.

As thousands of families in the UK grapple with this heartache each year, the week encourages both public and private acts of remembrance, while advocating for better healthcare practices to prevent such losses.

Minister O’Dowd emphasised the week’s significance, stating:

“Baby Loss Awareness Week is a time for reflection, remembrance, offering an opportunity for those affected by the loss of a baby to come together, share their experiences, and help raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss.”

He also reiterated his dedication to the forthcoming Baby Loss Certificate Scheme, designed to provide official recognition for parents who have endured the loss of a baby before the 24th week of pregnancy.

This initiative forms part of the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill and follows a public consultation that concluded in September, attracting over 1,100 responses from individuals and organisations.

“I remain committed to introducing the Baby Loss Certificate Scheme, which seeks to offer recognition and support to those who have experienced such profound loss,” Minister O’Dowd added.

“The public consultation closed in September, with over 1,100 individuals and organisations sharing their views. I am deeply grateful for all those who responded. Each response offers valuable insight and will help shape a scheme that truly meets the needs of those affected.

“My officials are now working to analyse the responses and once complete I will publish the consultation report and bring forward the necessary legislation to the Assembly.

“It is my intention that the Scheme will be introduced as soon as possible, offering parents and families who have experienced the heartbreaking loss of a baby a meaningful way for their grief to be formally acknowledged and recognised.”

Health Minister Nesbitt echoed these sentiments, underscoring the emotional toll of such experiences and the importance of responsive support.

“I recognise the profound emotional impact that pregnancy and baby loss can have on individuals and families. I and my Department remain committed to listening to those with lived experience and to ensuring that support services are responsive to those in need,” he said.

“I fully endorse the work being undertaken by the Department of Finance in relation to the establishment of a Baby Loss Certificate scheme here as soon as possible.”

Sands, which has spearheaded the promotion of Baby Loss Awareness Week since 2014, welcomed the ministers’ backing and the progress towards implementing the certificate scheme in Northern Ireland. The charity plays a central role in uniting the community and amplifying voices on pregnancy and baby loss issues.

Clea Harmer, Sands’ Chief Executive, expressed gratitude for the governmental support:

“I’d like to thank the Ministers for their support for both Baby Loss Awareness Week and the Baby Loss Certificate Scheme.

“Baby Loss Awareness Week helps to unite the pregnancy and baby loss community; we come together and speak out across the week to increase understanding of the impact of loss and remember all our much-missed babies.

“Baby loss certificates have already enabled so many bereaved parents in England and Scotland to get official recognition that their babies existed and matter. We hope that bereaved parents in Northern Ireland will soon be able to apply for a similar recognition of their loss, acknowledging their pain and ensuring they feel heard.”

The Baby Loss Certificate Scheme, already operational in England and Scotland, offers bereaved parents a formal acknowledgement of their loss, helping to validate their grief in a society where early pregnancy losses are often overlooked.

In Northern Ireland, its introduction is anticipated to provide similar solace, aligning with broader efforts to enhance bereavement care.

Organised by a coalition of charities, Baby Loss Awareness Week extends beyond remembrance to advocate for systemic changes. By collaborating with health professionals and organisations, it seeks to improve standards in maternity and neonatal care, ultimately aiming to lower the incidence of preventable losses.

Families and supporters are encouraged to participate through events, online tributes, or visiting resources at www.babyloss-awareness.org.

As Northern Ireland moves closer to launching the certificate scheme, this year’s observance underscores a growing commitment to supporting those navigating the enduring pain of baby loss. For many, it represents a step towards healing and ensuring no family feels forgotten in their grief.