New bereavement leave law recognises the impact of pregnancy loss 

Pregnancy loss at any time is traumatic for women and their partners. Loss prior to 24 weeks gestation has not been recognised in the workplace for bereavement leave. In this article the Miscarriage Association spell out changes made in employment law to recognise the loss for women and their partners and the responsibility of those in maternity services.  

 

In July 2025, the UK Government confirmed that pregnancy loss before 24 weeks will be formally recognised in bereavement leave legislation for the first time. The change, part of the Employment Rights Bill, marks a historic moment in the recognition of early pregnancy loss as a bereavement, not just a medical event. 

When the legislation comes into effect, likely to be in 2027, it will entitle employees to a minimum of one week’s protected bereavement leave from day one of employment. Importantly, this will apply not only to the woman or person who physically experiences the loss, but also to partners and fathers. While we expect the leave to be unpaid, its inclusion in law represents long-overdue recognition of the emotional and physical toll of miscarriage and other forms of early pregnancy loss, including ectopic and molar pregnancies. 

At the Miscarriage Association, we have long called for statutory bereavement leave to cover pregnancy loss at any stage. Too often, the significance of pre-24-week loss is minimised or misunderstood. For those affected, the absence of formal support has meant navigating grief while facing pressure to return to work. 

This new legislation changes that. It acknowledges what so many already know, that pregnancy loss can be felt as a bereavement like any other, and those affected, if they wish to, deserve the time, space and understanding to grieve. 

Why this matters for midwives and maternity teams 

As midwives, you are often the first healthcare professionals people speak to at the time of a loss and your role in acknowledging, validating and supporting that loss cannot be overstated. 

This legislative change presents an opportunity to reflect not only on workplace rights, but also on how we talk about pregnancy loss, how we support those affected, and how we advocate for them beyond the clinical setting. 

Navigating conversations around pregnancy loss to those who have just experienced, or are experiencing it, is a vital part of their journey. It’s important to acknowledge how they may be feeling and deliver the information in a sensitive and simple way. When in distress, it can be hard to take in complex information. In addition to what was said, patients will also remember how they felt during these initial conversations, so helping them feel supported, listened to, and acknowledged in their grief is key. 

You may already work in a trust or board that offers paid bereavement leave for pre-24-week pregnancy loss. Many NHS organisations have led the way with supportive policies, recognising the emotional impact of loss at any stage. However, policies vary, and awareness among staff and patients is often inconsistent. This new legislation will provide a national baseline but there is still work to do to ensure implementation is sensitive, inclusive, and widely understood. 

The Miscarriage Association’s role 

The Miscarriage Association has played a central role in pushing for this change through our Leave for Every Loss campaign. We worked closely with Sarah Owen MP, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, whose 2024 inquiry and report were instrumental in making the case for change. We were proud to have contributed evidence, alongside the voices of our community, to demonstrate why statutory recognition of pregnancy loss matters. 

This legislation is a direct result of that collective effort but it’s also just one part of the picture. Our vision is for a society where pregnancy loss is met with understanding, compassion and meaningful support, both in healthcare settings and beyond. 

What you can do 

Whether you are supporting someone through a miscarriage, caring for a patient after an ectopic or molar pregnancy, or helping a couple navigating their grief, your role is vital. This legislation offers a new framework, but your care can help translate it into real, lasting impact. 

Some simple ways to help your patients during these difficult appointments are:  

• Acknowledge their loss. Whether you’re delivering the news of their loss, or seeing them for their follow up appointment, it’s important to acknowledge what they’ve been through.  

• Mirror their language. If your patient refers to their loss as their baby, their miscarriage, or their loss, mirror this language. Chances are the terminology is their way of coping and coming to terms with what has happened, and, for example, some may find the word baby too triggering or upsetting, while others will absolutely want to use this terminology 

• Explain what has happened, and the next steps, with care and understanding. Many of your patients will be experiencing some level of distress or anxiety, which makes understanding what has happened, and why, more difficult. Where possible, take your time and make it as easy to understand as you can. Give them information to take away and contact details they can call if they wish to speak to someone.  

• Acknowledge their partner and their experience, too. If your patient comes in with their partner, it’s important to validate their experience and what they are going through, too. Some partners can feel sidelined, or are focused on being strong, and it can become an isolating experience or something they feel detached from.  

If you’d like to ensure that you are doing all you can to support your patients affected by pregnancy loss, our free and interactive e-learning resource addresses best practice support, language and terminology, difficult conversations and being aware of your own needs. Find out more, and access this resource, here. 

Miscarriage Association advisor Dr Sarah Bailey coordinates care of women experiencing recurrent miscarriage – you can find her insights into recurrent miscarriage and pregnancy after loss here. 

You can find more advice on how to help patients through anxiety-inducing appointments, including those for a subsequent pregnancy, here. 

Dedicated support and further resources 

The Miscarriage Association is here to provide support for anyone affected by pregnancy loss. Support is available by calling 0303 003 6464, emailing info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk or via live chat on our website – https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/  

To keep up to date with research opportunities, updates from the Miscarriage Association, and how you can support our work, you can sign up to our healthcare professional newsletter here. 

If you’d like to find out more about the new legislation, our Leave for Every Loss campaign, or our training and guidance for healthcare professionals, visit:
https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/information/for-health-professionals/  

Our Professional Pause sessions, monthly online groups for healthcare professionals working in early pregnancy, are facilitated by ourselves and The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust. They are an opportunity to discuss and reflect on challenging aspects of work in an open forum, enabling healthcare professionals to share experiences, and offer each other support and advice. You can book on to these sessions through our Eventbrite platform. 

Miscarriage Association 

July 2025