Support grows for new Baby Loss Certificate acknowledging loss before 24 weeks
- Love Ballymena
- Jul 6
- 2 min read
More than 300 people have already responded to a new public consultation aiming to introduce a Baby Loss Certificate Scheme in Northern Ireland, recognising the loss of a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Finance Minister John O’Dowd has urged parents and affected individuals to have their say on the scheme, which forms part of The Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill.
If implemented, the scheme will offer official recognition to parents who have experienced miscarriage, a loss that has previously gone unacknowledged by formal documentation.
Finance Minister John O’Dowd pictured with Shauna Quinn, Louise Taylor, Nikcolette McPeake and Nuala Toman from the Little Forget Me Nots Trust.
Speaking after meeting with representatives of the Little Forget Me Nots Trust, a charity supporting families through infant loss, Minister O’Dowd said:
“In the two weeks since the consultation opened the response has been very encouraging with more than 300 responses received so far.
“I want to thank those who have already shared their views. I am determined that this scheme meets the needs and expectations of those who have experienced the loss of a baby. I would encourage everyone to contribute to this important consultation.
“I understand that a certificate can never lessen the pain and devastating loss of a baby but I hope that this new scheme will go some way to provide comfort and solace.”
The consultation, launched on 17 June, runs until 12 September 2025.
The proposed Baby Loss Certificate would be available to parents who have lost a baby before the 24-week threshold – a period currently not recognised by existing stillbirth registration procedures.
The Little Forget Me Nots Trust has publicly endorsed the consultation, calling the initiative a crucial step towards validating the experiences of grieving parents.
Louise from the organisation stated:
“At the Little Forget Me Nots Trust we wholeheartedly support the commitment to formally recognise the loss of a baby through the proposed Baby Loss Certificate Scheme.
“Every day, we walk alongside families who have experienced the heartbreak of losing a baby before 24 weeks’ gestation.
“For many, there has never been an official acknowledgement of their baby’s existence, no formal record to recognise that their pregnancy mattered. This lack of recognition can leave parents feeling unseen as though their grief is not valid or their experience is not important enough to be acknowledged.
“We witness first-hand the deep emotional toll this takes, and the long-lasting impact it can have on mental health and wellbeing.
“That’s why we warmly welcome this consultation and strongly encourage everyone in our community to have their say. We are in a unique and vital position to shape this scheme, not just for the families grieving today, but for future generations who deserve to have their babies’ lives recognised with dignity and compassion.
“Let’s make sure every baby is seen, and every parent is heard.”
The scheme is being seen as an important development in recognising the emotional impact of early pregnancy loss and ensuring that bereaved parents feel seen and supported.
How to take part
The consultation documents and further information are available on the Department of Finance website:
