Parents in Northern Ireland who have lost a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy can now request official Baby Loss Certificates, following the passing of new regulations by the Assembly.

Finance Minister John O'Dowd and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt marked the launch at Parliament Buildings, joined by groups and organisations that support families through infant loss.

Minister O'Dowd said: "Making Baby Loss Certificates available to those parents who have experienced the loss of a baby prior to the end of 24 weeks of pregnancy has 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, however, it is my hope that by formally recognising their loss the certificates may offer them a degree of comfort.

"I want to thank the parents, advocates, and organisations who have shared their stories and campaigned so thoughtfully and courageously for a Baby Loss Certificate scheme. Their voices have shaped this scheme, and their determination has made it possible."

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: "I have met families who have experienced the heartbreak of baby loss and I recognise that there are few experiences more devastating.

"This scheme acknowledges the profound loss faced by families whose babies died before 24 weeks. While nothing can remove that pain, having official acknowledgement of that loss will mean a great deal to many parents. It is a simple but deeply important step, recognising that their baby was here, that they mattered, and that they are loved and remembered.

"I warmly welcome the introduction of this scheme and hope it brings comfort and recognition to those who choose to apply."

Sands' Chief Executive Clea Harmer said: "It is wonderful news that Baby Loss Certificates are available in Northern Ireland to anyone who has experienced pregnancy or baby loss before 24 weeks. These certificates can be an important part of many people's bereavement journey, and while we recognise they are not something everyone wants, it is so important that bereaved parents have that choice.

"We understand how important it is for those who experience baby loss at any stage in pregnancy to have their baby acknowledged and remembered. Baby Loss Certificates are now available in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with work underway to launch a scheme in Wales." Sands NI volunteer and bereaved mum Kelly Barnes said: "For me and so many bereaved parents across Northern Ireland, a Baby Loss Certificate scheme will mean at long last we are able to get a formal recognition of pre-24 week losses, acknowledging our grief and that our babies matter.

"Nothing can take away the pain of losing your baby but something as simple as a Baby Loss Certificate can help to carry some of the emotional weight by officially commemorating our losses and providing support to bereaved parents as we navigate our grief journeys."

Louise Taylor, founder of the Little Forget Me Nots Trust, said "Every day through Little Forget Me Nots Trust, I meet parents carrying the love and grief of a baby the world never got the chance to know. For many families, a scan photo, hospital appointment letter or memory box may be the only physical reminder that their baby existed. Yet they carry them into every birthday, every family milestone and every ordinary day that follows.

"That is why Baby Loss Certificates matter. This is not just a piece of paper. It is recognition. It gives parents permission to say, 'My baby was here. My baby mattered. My baby is part of my family.'

"Baby Loss Certificates won't change what happened, but they can help change the conversation around early loss and create space for parents to speak about their baby openly and confidently. Thank you to the Northern Ireland Assembly and to the parents who bravely shared their stories. Your courage is helping families feel seen, recognised and understood."

Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive of Tommy's, the pregnancy and baby charity, said: "We warmly welcome the introduction of Baby Loss Certificates in Northern Ireland. Parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy deserve recognition and compassion in the same way as those grieving the loss of a child at any time.

"We know how much Baby Loss Certificates mean to the tens of thousands of people who have applied since they were launched in England in 2024. Every one of those families can hopefully take some comfort from knowing that their baby, and the future they lost, is acknowledged.

"We have long called for parents in other parts of the UK to have the same right, and we are grateful to all those in Northern Ireland who have campaigned so hard for this change."

Parents wishing to apply for a Baby Loss Certificate can do so via the nidirect website: www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/baby-loss-certificate-scheme-northern-ireland