The issue of whether to implement paid leave for parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks has been up for debate in the House of Commons. One in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage with most of these happening for unknown reasons.
The topic has now been debated in parliament with some MPs wanting to use New Zealand as a blueprint for a UK system. Under the proposals, spearheaded by the SNP's Angela Crawley, every parent who suffers a miscarriage during any stage of pregnancy would receive three days paid leave.
The current system in the UK offers paid leave if you suffer a miscarriage at 24 weeks of pregnancy or later. This is treated as a stillbirth.
Read more: 'Grief is not a holiday' says MP as paid miscarriage leave is debated in Parliament.
Existing legislation doesn’t serve all parents, depriving some of the right to grieve a loss in the first 23 weeks of pregnancy. We asked our readers: "Should parents who suffer a pregnancy loss receive paid miscarriage leave?" Those who replied were almost unanimous in their support for this type of leave with some sharing with us their own experiences of miscarriage. We have chosen to leave those personal stories out of this article.
Jude Davies said: "I can’t believe we are still debating this. It should have gone through a long time ago. Any parents who suffer a miscarriage should absolutely receive paid miscarriage leave. Miscarriage is the loss of a baby so incredibly precious. Gestation shouldn’t come in to it. A loss is a loss. I think all companies should be introducing a miscarriage policy too. If anyone needs support please visit Morgan’s Wings. They are a not-for-profit based in Cardiff."
Linda Jones added: "Yes, it must be horrendous to suffer one and nobody should have the worry of finance at such a sad time."
Many people pointed out that miscarriage is like the loss of any other relative. They say that it should be treated in the same way as losing a loved one by employers.
Lydia David said: "Most employers give compassionate/bereavement leave for the loss of a parent, spouse, child etc. Miscarriage is losing a child so should be treated the same, compassionate leave should absolutely be given 100%." Alison Rees said: "It's a loss just like any other. Of course they should. Both parents. I think it should be classed as 'Bereavement Leave' though."
Some WalesOnline readers mentioned the heavy emotional and physical toll that miscarriage has on parents. They said people need time to recover from such a significant trauma.
Tami Bullock said: "Absolutely, a miscarriage at any stage, and stillbirth is a physical, mental and emotional trauma. Parents can’t just bounce back straight away like it never happened, they should have support and time to grieve without having to worry about work."
Bethany Perkins said: "Yes early miscarriage as well as later miscarriage. It doesn’t matter if the baby is two weeks or 18 weeks the loss is tragic regardless and should be able to take leave from work."
Rachel Andrews said: "Yes. Don't know how this is even up for debate. It's a no-brainer. It's not even just the emotional turmoil and devastation that you feel but what your body goes through during and after."
During the parliamentary debate on March 17 Angela Crawley MP said: "Comprehensive policies of paid miscarriage leave have been introduced in nations such as New Zealand and Australia. Just last month the Northern Irish Assembly legislated to introduce paid miscarriage leave, making it the first place in Europe to do so.
“A UK-wide policy of paid miscarriage leave would ensure parents receive the support they deserve during that tragic time and that no-one falls through the cracks of the existing system. I do not believe that the current legislation gives enough support to women and their partners through the experience of pregnancy loss in the workplace.
"The government continues to insist that sick pay or annual leave are acceptable provisions for those who experience miscarriage. They are not. Grief is not a holiday, it’s not an illness. This is more than changing policy – it is about changing workplace culture in the UK."
Most MPs were supportive of the motion to extend miscarriage leave in the UK but Conservative MP Paul Scully suggested it was something which is covered by flexible working. He said: "I am saying that it is one of the tools for employers to value their people, which is why we want to ensure that we can have a tailored response to people’s life events."
