‘Two weeks will make such a difference’: UK first as NI brings in miscarriage leave
New Policy in Northern Ireland
For the first time in the UK, Northern Ireland has introduced a policy allowing parents to take two weeks of paid leave following a miscarriage at any stage of pregnancy. This change aims to provide emotional support during a vulnerable period, as highlighted by Erin Sharkey, a volunteer with the Miscarriage Association. She described how the loss of a child can feel like “all your dreams for gorgeous happy moments come crashing down,” shifting focus from personal milestones to profound grief.
Support and Societal Pressure
Erin emphasized that the new entitlement offers “validation for their feelings” and time to process the loss together. While her employer was supportive, she faced societal expectations to return to work quickly. “People were texting, saying they were thinking of me,” she recalled. “But then that stopped. I thought I must have hit the point where people expect me to be OK.” Her partner, she noted, had not taken time off work, influenced by others who followed similar patterns.
“If she had been there with me for two weeks, that would have reduced my trauma significantly.”
Leave Details and Coverage
The two-week leave is paid at the statutory rate of just over £194 per week, or 90% of the parent’s weekly pay, whichever is lower. It can be used as a single block or split into two separate periods within 56 weeks of the miscarriage. Importantly, parents do not need to provide medical evidence—only a declaration of the event. This contrasts with the previous rules, which granted two weeks of paid bereavement leave only after a stillbirth at 24 weeks or more, with a 26-week employment requirement.
Broader UK Context
While the rest of the UK still follows the older bereavement leave rules, the Westminster government plans to expand access in England, Scotland, and Wales by 2027. This will include unpaid leave for at least one week following a miscarriage, regardless of gestational stage. The policy shift has been praised by experts in the field of baby loss counseling.
Personal Stories and Emotional Healing
Selina Casey, founder of the White Butterfly Foundation, shared her experience of losing her third child in 2021. “I was told there was no heartbeat during a routine appointment,” she said. “Three days later, I delivered my son and left with him in a tiny casket and a leaflet for a support group.” She added that the initial shock took time to settle, with grieving beginning only after the funeral.
“Allowing couples time to spend grieving together after a loss is in itself extremely therapeutic.”
Megan Crowe, a therapist at the foundation, noted that the leave provides “an opportunity for people to take control of their journey,” rather than reverting to pre-loss routines. “They can be in the present moment to help them get support early,” she explained. The foundation’s counseling room in Portglenone, County Antrim, features dozens of hand-crafted ceramic tiles, each honoring a lost baby. Among them is Freddie, the son of Rebecca Hutchinson, who lost her child in 2025.
“The fact that all parents are now entitled to two weeks’ leave, from day one, is amazing— it’ll make such a difference.”
