Baby loss certificates introduced in Northern Ireland

Babies who are born dead after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy are classed as stillbirths and their deaths are officially registered.

However, this does not happen when a baby dies before that stage.

Pregnancy loss before 24 weeks is the most common complication of pregnancy and is estimated to affect about one in five women in the UK.

The scheme was introduced by the Department of Finance, which is responsible for civil registration services in Northern Ireland.

The certificates and can be applied for through the NI Direct website, external.

Finance Minister John O’Dowd said making the certificates available for parents had been “one of the most significant and impactful achievements of this mandate”.

“I fully understand a baby loss certificate cannot alleviate the profound grief experienced by parents following such losses,” he said.

“However, it is my hope that by formally recognising their loss the certificates may offer them a degree of comfort.”