‘Two weeks will make such a difference’: UK first as NI brings in miscarriage leave
UK first as NI brings in miscarriage leave
Northern Ireland has become the first region in the UK to introduce paid leave for parents following a miscarriage, offering two weeks of time off to process their loss. For Erin Sharkey, a volunteer with the Miscarriage Association, the policy change represents a significant shift in support, allowing couples to take time together after experiencing a pregnancy loss. Prior to this, she and others often faced uncertainty about how much time to allocate for grief, with societal pressures pushing them to return to work quickly.
“Two weeks will make such a difference,” said Erin. “It gives people the validation for their feelings and time to process the loss together.” She described the emotional toll of miscarriages, likening it to “all your dreams for gorgeous happy moments come crashing down,” from initial hopes of parenthood to a complete sense of loss.
The new entitlement provides paid leave at the statutory rate of just over £194 per week, or 90% of weekly pay if that is lower. The leave can be taken as a single block or split into two periods, available within 56 weeks of the miscarriage. Unlike previous rules, parents do not need to submit medical evidence to claim it—only a simple explanation of the event is required.
Previous Regulations in Northern Ireland
Before this update, parents in Northern Ireland were only eligible for two weeks of bereavement leave after a stillbirth occurring at 24 weeks or later, provided they had worked for at least 26 weeks. This standard remains in place across the rest of the UK, but the Westminster government is set to introduce unpaid leave for one week following a miscarriage at any stage by 2027.
Couples’ Emotional Journey
Psychotherapist Selina Casey, founder of the White Butterfly Foundation, highlighted the importance of shared grieving time. She shared her experience of losing her third child during a routine checkup, when she was told there was no heartbeat. Three days later, she gave birth and immediately took her son to the graveyard for a burial, accompanied by a support group leaflet. “Five days on, that’s when I was able to start grieving,” she recalled.
“Allowing couples time to spend grieving together after a loss is in itself extremely therapeutic,” Selina said. “They need to hold each other in those early stages of grief.”
Megan Crowe, a therapist at the charity, emphasized how the leave could empower individuals. “The two weeks of leave will give such an opportunity for people to take control of what they want for their own journey,” she explained. “They can be in the present moment to help them get support early.” The foundation’s counselling room in Portglenone, County Antrim, features dozens of handcrafted ceramic tiles honoring lost babies, including Freddie, a son lost by Rebecca Hutchinson in 2025.
“I had just been for my 20-week scan and all was looking well,” Rebecca said. “But a week later I went into early labour. The time from when I went into labour until Freddie’s funeral was exactly a week. Looking back, it just felt chaotic because it all happened so quickly.”
Rebecca noted the lack of formal support before the new policy, relying on sick leave as her only option. “We were lucky because our employers were so understanding,” she said, “but that’s not always the case. The fact that all parents are now entitled to two weeks’ leave from day one is amazing—it’ll make such a difference.”
Victoria Wylie came…
