‘Two weeks will make such a difference’: UK first as NI brings in miscarriage leave
UK first as NI introduces miscarriage leave
Northern Ireland has pioneered a new policy, offering couples two weeks of paid leave following a miscarriage at any stage of pregnancy. This marks a significant shift for Erin Sharkey, a volunteer with the Miscarriage Association, who previously struggled to balance work and the emotional toll of her losses. The change allows parents to take time off without needing to provide medical proof, simply by informing their employer of the event.
The leave, paid at the statutory rate of over £194 per week or 90% of weekly earnings if lower, can be split into two separate periods within 56 weeks of the miscarriage. Erin emphasized that this support “gives people the validation for their feelings and time to process the loss together.” She noted that while her employer was understanding, societal pressure often pushed her to return to work quickly, leaving her feeling isolated in her grief.
“When I had miscarriages, they felt like having all my dreams for happy moments come crashing down,” Erin shared. “The first few days, people were texting to check in, but then that stopped. I thought I must have reached the point where people expect me to be okay.”
Previously, Northern Ireland granted only two weeks of paid bereavement leave after a stillbirth occurring at 24 weeks or later, a rule still in place across the rest of the UK. However, the Westminster government plans to expand this in 2027 by introducing unpaid leave for at least one week following a miscarriage at any stage.
Psychotherapist Selina Casey, founder of the White Butterfly Foundation, highlighted the potential to “save relationships” through this policy. She recounted her own experience of losing her third child, describing the emotional chaos of the event. “Five days later, I was able to start grieving,” she said, after delivering her son in a tiny casket and receiving a support group leaflet.
“Allowing couples time to spend grieving together after a loss is itself extremely therapeutic,” Casey added. “They need to hold each other in those early stages of grief.”
Megan Crowe, a therapist at the charity, described how the new leave could help individuals reclaim their emotional space. “It gives people the chance to take control of their journey rather than falling back into the lifestyle they had before the loss,” she said. The foundation’s counseling room in Portglenone, County Antrim, features dozens of handcrafted ceramic tiles, each honoring a lost baby. Among them is Freddie, the son of Rebecca Hutchinson, who lost him in 2025.
“I had just completed my 20-week scan when everything changed,” Hutchinson explained. “A week later, I went into early labour. The time from when I gave birth to Freddie’s funeral was exactly a week. Looking back, it felt chaotic because everything happened so quickly.”
Victoria Wylie came…
