Eighteen years ago, I held my breath in fear of losing our unborn child to miscarriage. It was a terrifying encounter that deeply affected me and my family, and since then, it has been my mission to alleviate this suffering for others on their fertility journey.

Miscarriage is not only a physical ordeal but also a heavy emotional burden. The mental health implications can be severe, as I have seen in my two-decade-long career supporting those who are struggling to get or stay pregnant.

The UK has stepped forward with a law granting paid leave for two weeks to both parents where there is a miscarriage before 24 weeks. Recognizing the depth of grief born out of pregnancy loss is a significant step towards empathetic and fair legislation. However, it saddens me that in our country, people are still expected to use their sick leave to cope with the weight of their loss.

The Labour Party have tried their best to tackle this issue with the Reproductive Health Bill 2021, which was further supported by the government commissioned report in January last year PLACES: Pregnancy Loss (under 24 weeks) in Workplaces. Yet in spite of this, no action has been taken.

Mental health professionals widely agree on the traumatic impact of pregnancy loss. A study conducted by the Imperial College London in 2020 found that 29% of women who experienced early pregnancy loss suffered from post-traumatic stress.

Providing paid leave in the aftermath of a miscarriage could significantly reduce the burden of mental distress and help those affected to begin their healing journey appropriately.

For the well-being of parents, for the recognition of their pain, for a society that acknowledges pregnancy loss as a valid grief that needs time and space for mourning, let's ask our government to follow the UK's example and establish a law that grants paid leave for those who go through a miscarriage before 24 weeks.

Please sign this petition and show your support for a more compassionate approach to dealing with miscarriage and its effects.

Let us cement the path towards kinder, more empathetic legislation for those on their fertility journey.