Baby Loss Awareness Week a time for reflection and remembrance
Date published:
Finance Minister John O’Dowd and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt have joined Sands, the pregnancy and baby loss charity, in marking Baby Loss Awareness Week 2025 (9-15 October).
Baby Loss Awareness Week is an opportunity for everyone in the baby loss community and beyond to come together to remember and commemorate their much-loved and missed babies.
Minister John O’Dowd said: “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.
“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. 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 Mike Nesbitt said: “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.
“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.”
Pregnancy and baby loss charity Sands plays a pivotal role in the organisation and promotion of the Week and since 2014 has taken a lead role to promote the week as part of its work raising awareness of the issues surrounding pregnancy and baby loss in the UK.
Sands has welcomed the plans to make the Baby Loss Certificate Scheme available to bereaved parents in Northern Ireland.
Sands’ Chief Executive Clea Harmer said: “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.”
Notes to editors:
- Photo caption: 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.
- Baby Loss Awareness Week runs from 9th to 15th October and is an opportunity for those affected by pregnancy and baby loss and their families and friends to unite with others across the world to commemorate their babies’ lives and lost pregnancies. The Week helps raise awareness of how pregnancy and baby loss affect thousands of people each year across the UK. It is a unique opportunity to help people commemorate their babies, whether it be in public or private, and feel less isolated and alone by giving them the opportunity to join with others. The charities leading Baby Loss Awareness Week are committed to raising awareness of pregnancy and baby loss in the UK and providing support to anyone affected. By working with health professionals and other organisations, the week aims to drive for improvements in care and support, and to reduce the incidence of pregnancy and baby loss. www.babyloss-awareness.org
- The Baby Loss Certificate Scheme forms part of The Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill, will be open to parents who have experienced the loss of a baby prior to the end of the 24th week of pregnancy.
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