Hogan calls for introduction of Baby Loss Certificate Scheme

The January meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District heard that baby loss affects “one in four couples” and is “a deeply traumatic experience.”

The remarks were made by Independent Ireland councillor, Paul Hogan, who received unanimous support from his council colleagues for his motion calling for the introduction of a Baby Loss Certificate Scheme for pregnancy losses before 24 weeks.

Cllr Hogan told the meeting that, at present, if a pregnancy is lost before 24 weeks in Ireland, there is “no record” of the baby, which compounds the grief of the mother and all those close to her. “This scheme I am calling for would be retrospective and voluntary, but it would help people to navigate the grief around the loss of their baby” he said.

The councillor said England and Wales already have a Baby Loss Certificate Scheme in operation and he added that it is “past time” Ireland adopted the same approach. His motion called for a letter to be sent from the municipal district to Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, requesting the introduction of the scheme for all pregnancy losses before 24 weeks.

Cllr Vinny McCormack said he would be “very happy” to second the motion and said it was “the only way to go” for those people who had experienced the “very traumatic” loss of a baby before 24 weeks. There was unanimous agreement among all the elected members for a letter to issue to the Minister.