A mum whose baby was stillborn at 23 weeks has supported the call for bereavement leave for parents who have a miscarriage before 24 weeks. Kay Collier, 43 lost her unborn son Joseph James Collier at 23 weeks on December 2, 2018.
Currently, only those who lose a child or a baby after 24 weeks are entitled to two weeks of paid leave. However, a group of MPs is calling for an upcoming bill on employment rights to extend this to all pregnancy loss - irrespective of how far along the pregnancy is.
Kay, from St Austell, Cornwall, said: "It is fundamental that the topic of miscarriage is brought to the forefront of people being aware of the devastating effects families go through. It is your family that is a part of you. 24 weeks should not make it ok for you to be able to have bereavement leave - it is not different, the emotions are still the same."
Kay and husband Darren, 53, were thrilled when they discovered they were pregnant with their first child after IVF, in 2018. But after Kay contracted an infection, her waters broke at 21 weeks, and Joseph had to fight for his life.
Tragically, he was stillborn two weeks later. The report, published by the cross-party Women and Equalities Committee, noted that several employers, including NHS Trusts and the Co-op, do have policies in place for employees who experienced baby loss at all stages of pregnancy but said this was far from universal.
Committee chairman, Labour MP Sarah Owen, said: "I was not prepared for the shock of miscarrying at work during my first pregnancy. Like many women, I legally had to take sick leave. But I was grief-stricken, not sick, harbouring a deep sense of loss."
The report described sick leave as an "inappropriate and inadequate" way of supporting staff through baby loss. The report also said low rate of statutory sick pay meant some people were unable to afford taking adequate time off.
Kay Collier said: "We have recently opened our charity Rest With Joseph and Friends to help all stages of miscarriage as we know it affects all. We will get our garden to give a place for our babies to lay to rest and be remembered and provide a tranquil garden families can go to heal and be close to their child.
"A dedicated area for them to be known and a safe space to be with those who have suffered the same."
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