On December 3, 2025, the Northern Ireland Assembly passed a landmark piece of legislation—the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill—ushering in new recognition and support for families who have experienced the heartbreak of losing a baby in early pregnancy. The bill, which completed its final legislative stage this week, has been widely welcomed by bereaved parents, campaigners, and politicians alike. For many, it marks a compassionate turning point in how society acknowledges and supports those facing one of life’s most difficult challenges.
At the heart of the legislation is the establishment of a Baby Loss Certificate Scheme, a move described by Finance Minister John O’Dowd as offering “a small candlelight of hope to many families.” According to BBC News, the scheme will provide bereaved parents and families who have suffered the devastating loss of a baby in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy with formal recognition and acknowledgement of their loss. Previously, in Northern Ireland, only stillbirths after 24 weeks were officially recorded, leaving many families without any form of recognition for earlier losses—unlike in England, where such certificates have existed for some time.
Minister O’Dowd, who introduced the bill, paid tribute to the tireless campaigners and the bravery of bereaved families. “It will give bereaved parents and families who have suffered the devastating loss of a baby in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, formal recognition and acknowledgement of their loss. The passing of the Bill today brings us closer to the introduction of this scheme with my intention being that it will be in place by the end of the financial year,” he told the Assembly. He added, “I can’t think of any other piece of legislation I’ve brought that is more important or meaningful.”
For parents like Gemma McGibbon from Portadown, County Armagh, the new certificates are more than just pieces of paper—they are a way to honour the babies lost and to formally recognise the grief endured. Gemma, a mother of two who suffered four miscarriages between April 2022 and November 2023, spoke candidly about the isolation and stigma often surrounding early pregnancy loss. “It’s a way that we’ll be able to honour those babies and formally recognise our loss and it’s something we’ll be able to keep as part of our family story,” she told BBC News. She emphasised the importance of society “formally recognis[ing] baby loss prior to 24 weeks” and giving parents the opportunity to apply for recognition if they choose. “What this is saying is: ‘We see your pain, we acknowledge that this is happening and we want to help you.’”
The certificates, while not legal documents, will be issued by the government and are intended to help break down the stigma surrounding early pregnancy loss. Gemma reflected on her own experience of grief, noting, “We were lucky we had good family support but you are just stuck in a cycle of grief and there is very little support in terms of mental health services and still a lot of stigma.” She stressed that initiatives like the Baby Loss Certificate Scheme are crucial for society to show compassion and support for parents and families experiencing loss at any stage of pregnancy.
Julie-Ann Coll from Londonderry, who lost her baby 22 weeks into pregnancy more than two decades ago, described the news as “fantastic” and “a big step.” She told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme, “To have this bit of paper and acknowledge that this did happen, this is part of your life, you weren’t crazy, the feelings that you felt, you know, we acknowledge them and there’s the proof now.” For Julie-Ann, the certificate will serve as a tangible acknowledgment of her loss—something she has longed for since her own experience.
Jessica Purvis, another campaigner who advocated for baby loss certificates, was present at Stormont for the bill’s announcement. She shared with BBC Good Morning Ulster that she lost her baby daughter 17 weeks into her pregnancy. “It maybe doesn’t ease the pain, but it brings some comfort to families who have gone through a loss similar to myself.” Jessica, who works in law, found it “extremely powerful” that her loss could contribute to shaping legislation that would help others.
The bill has garnered cross-party political support, with Alliance Finance spokesperson Eóin Tennyson MLA describing its passage as a “compassionate step forward for society.” He noted that the scheme will ensure parents who wish to have their loss formally recognised can finally do so. Matthew O’Toole, chair of Stormont’s Finance Committee, called the move a “small but meaningful gesture” to help grieving families. “This legislation ensures that no family will ever find themselves in that position in future,” he said, reflecting on the importance of formal recognition for those who have lost babies.
Deputy Chair DUP MLA Diane Forsythe also paid tribute to those who had campaigned for the change, highlighting that the new law recognises the “reality of early pregnancy loss.” Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan echoed this sentiment, stating that the new certificates were a “small but very meaningful gesture” for families to remember their loss in their own way. “This moment belongs to everyone who shared their story and experience of unimaginable loss,” he said.
Beyond the Baby Loss Certificate Scheme, the legislation makes two other significant changes. First, it places the temporary powers introduced under the Coronavirus Act—enabling remote registration of deaths and stillbirths and the electronic transfer of registration documents—onto a permanent footing. For the last five years, these provisions have eased the burden on grieving families, and now they will remain in place for good. Second, the bill fixes disparities in registration law by ensuring that unmarried and non-civil partnered couples, regardless of whether they are same-sex or heterosexual, have the same options for jointly registering a birth or stillbirth. Minister O’Dowd described this as ensuring “equality in the registration process.”
Other parts of the UK have already begun to implement similar measures: Scotland has maintained a memorial book for pre-24 week losses since 2023, and the Welsh government is planning a comparable certificate scheme. The Northern Ireland legislation, however, stands out for its comprehensive approach—combining recognition, equality, and practical support for grieving families.
Minister O’Dowd concluded that by addressing these three important issues, the Assembly has delivered changes that will make a “real, lasting and positive difference for our constituents.” He added, “This is a powerful reminder of the good we can achieve when we unite and work in partnership.”
For families across Northern Ireland, the new law brings the hope of healing, recognition, and a sense that their loss is finally being seen and understood. As the Baby Loss Certificate Scheme is set to be in place by March 2026, campaigners and bereaved parents alike can look forward to a future where their grief is acknowledged, their stories honoured, and their voices heard.
