A mother from north Norfolk has shared her relief upon receiving a baby loss certificate in acknowledgement of her unborn child.
Rebecca Fisher, of Burnham Market, was just eight weeks pregnant when she lost her baby in January 2019.
The 29-year-old mother said: “It was an unexpected pregnancy, so it came as both a surprise and a shock.
“It was devastating to leave with only a printed-out leaflet and nothing to acknowledge that my baby was real and alive at one point.”
Previously, parents faced having no formal acknowledgement of their pregnancy or the baby they lost.
But now, a change in the law means bereaved parents who have lost a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy have a legal right to receive a certificate in recognition of their loss.
Expressing her relief upon receiving her certificate, Mrs Fisher added: “I was very happy to see that the certificates were being brought in.
“It feels like it has been a long time coming but I am glad that it has.
“For me, it made me feel a sense of relief that my baby was actually 'real' - even though to me and my partner, they were real and were here for a little while.
“The certificate helps, and I now have something that reminds me that they were here even if it was such a short amount of time.
“The certificate gives me that bit of closure that I needed back in 2019.”
Local pregnancy loss charity TimeNorfolk has also welcomed the introduction of baby loss certificates for parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks.
Its chief executive, Fiona Gosden, said: "Early pregnancy losses can go unseen or unmarked.
“So, having this option to have their baby officially acknowledged through the baby loss certificate validates this grief especially when the loss was before 24 weeks."
The significance of the legal provision has also been underscored by the charity’s patron, William Armstrong.
He added: “The change in the law - this new legal provision - recognises the impact of an early pregnancy loss which can be devastating physically and emotionally.”
- More information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/request-baby-loss-certificate.
- Find out more about TimeNorfolk via the www.timenorfolk.org.uk or on social media @TimeNorfolk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here