Miscarriage leave urgently required – Nelson Murray

The introduction of miscarriage leave would be a real step to making sure women and families get the support they deserve in pregnancy, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

This week the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party unanimously supported a motion brought by Senator Linda Nelson Murray calling for the introduction of miscarriage leave.

There is currently no legal right for time off for women who miscarry before 23 weeks. The Fine Gael Senator said this needs to change.

“I’ve had multiple miscarriages myself, so I know that heartbreak firsthand. And I’m far from alone,” Senator Nelson Murray said.

“Thousands of women and families across Ireland go through it every year, often while trying to hold it together at work and at home like nothing’s happened.

“One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage. But right now, there’s no legal right to time off to recover, physically and emotionally, unless the loss happens after 23 weeks, which is covered by maternity leave.”

Senator Linda Nelson Murray, who is now temporary chair of the cross party Oireachtas group on pregnancy and infant loss, has worked for the past year, with Leinster House colleagues, in pushing this really important issue of miscarriage leave. They have also worked with the Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Féileacáin, as well as Minister Peter Burke and officials in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Minister Burke is preparing to bring proposals to Cabinet to introduce paid pregnancy loss leave for the first time in Ireland for mothers who miscarry before 23 weeks.

The initial plans have been looked at by the Attorney General and are now with officials at the Departments of Health, Education and Public Expenditure.

Senator Nelson Murray said the work of advocacy organisations and campaigners has been instrumental.

“The Pregnancy Loss Research Group and Féileacáin have done incredible work – their expertise and compassion, combined with the work of our cross-party group on pregnancy and infant loss, has got us here.

“This has been a team effort across parties and organisations, all pulling in the same direction to support families going through one of the hardest things imaginable.”

She also highlighted the need for the lifting of taboos around the subject.

“Miscarriage is still surrounded by silence. Women often grieve alone because of discomfort around it, or people don’t know what to say, or because there just aren’t the words for this kind of loss.

“This is about sending a message – that this loss matters, that grief deserves to be recognised, and that no woman should have to go through this in silence.

“This is personal for me; I know the difference miscarriage leave would’ve made for me. I hope every woman in Ireland who goes through this soon has the support she needs.”