By Donal McMahon
A South Down councillor has made an emotional plea for a Northern Ireland baby loss certificate scheme amid a current system where bereaved parents are forced to travel to Britain for post-mortems.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) chamber burst in to applause during the call for an all island approach to paediatric pathology, as an emotional elected rep spoke on a matter close to her heart.
Slieve Croob Sinn Fein rep, Roisin Howell brought forward the motion to recognise the need for Stormont legislation to acknowledge the grief and pain of bereaved parents that lose a baby during pregnancy.
Cllr Howell said: “I have no doubt that there isn’t a member in the chamber that hasn’t been impacted by or knows of a family, which has been impacted by baby loss.
“A baby loss brings incredible grief that stays with families for the rest of their lives. Pregnancy loss affects approximately one in four pregnancies and sadly when this loss occurs prior to 24 weeks, the lack of support and acknowledgement for that baby and their family, is stark.
“Receiving the earth-shattering news that your baby has sadly passed away is the worst pain imaginable for parents. Those words haunt parents for the rest of their lives.
“Having received that news myself at 28 weeks pregnant with my little girl, Blánaid in 2010, I can put my hand on my heart and say that it felt like our world had ended.”
In November 2018, the Belfast Trust announced that it had been unable to fill a consultant paediatric pathologist position resulting in post-mortems for infants and babies who die in later pregnancy in Northern Ireland, being carried out for the foreseeable future at the Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool.
Cllr Howell added: “Unfortunately, bereavement care and support is also an issue that needs to be addressed and one I feel needs to be included in a maternity strategy.
“The heartbreak of losing a child is the reality of countless families around us. The introduction of a baby loss scheme will send a message to parents that their baby existed and that their love was real and that their grief is valid and that they aren’t alone.
“The devastation of a loss is only further compounded when families face the heartbreak of having to take their child to Liverpool’s Alder Hey children’s hospital for post-mortem services.
“In 2010, we were informed that due to circumstances of that time if we wanted a post-mortem carried out on our child we would have to travel to Liverpool.
“While we had so many questions we wanted answered, we could not bear to be separated from her and did not want her to go alone.
“We also wanted and needed to be with our other children as the loss is not just felt by parents, but also the siblings.
“To this day it is very hard to understand why we could not access the service here, on the island. We still have so many unanswered questions.
“All any parent wants is to spend as much time with the baby before the burial, whilst all the time trying to come to terms with what has happened.
“To be separated from your baby is something that is extremely difficult and many, many parents never get over it.
“Access to an all island service would ease that burden on families who are already experiencing such trauma and devastation. It is time to deliver these post-mortem services on the island.
“I hope you can all support this motion and put your arm around those who carry this grief.”
Cllr Howell’s motion states: “That this Council acknowledges the grief, pain and trauma caused by the loss of a baby during pregnancy; recognises that the trauma felt is exacerbated by bereaved parents having to travel to England for a post-mortem due to the absence of a local perinatal and paediatric pathologist; further recognises the potential of an all-island paediatric pathology service so bereaved parents can access post-mortems on the island of Ireland; believes parents should have the option to have their child’s memory recorded with an official certificate free of charge; and supports the intention of the Finance Minister to develop a Baby Loss Certificate Scheme for those parents that have lost a baby during a baby pregnancy before 24 weeks.”
It was passed with unanimous support.
ENDS
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