‘Two weeks will make such a difference’: UK first as NI brings in miscarriage leave

UK first as NI introduces miscarriage leave for couples

Northern Ireland has become the first region in the UK to offer parents two weeks of paid time off following a miscarriage, a policy that aims to support couples during their emotional journey. This change provides a structured approach for both the mother and her partner to take time to grieve and recover, something that was previously lacking in the region. The new leave is available at the statutory rate of over £194 per week or 90% of weekly pay, whichever is lower, and can be split into two separate periods within 56 weeks of the loss. No medical evidence is required—only a simple explanation from the employer.

Erin Sharkey’s experience with the new policy

Erin Sharkey, a volunteer with the Miscarriage Association, described how the policy will offer “validation for their feelings” and create space for shared mourning. She highlighted the societal pressure to return to work quickly, noting that her partner often didn’t take time off. “If she had been there for two weeks, that would have significantly reduced my trauma,” Erin said. Her miscarriages, she explained, felt like “all your dreams for gorgeous happy moments come crashing down”—a sudden shift from hopeful planning to profound loss. “During the first few days, people were texting, saying they were thinking of me. But then that stopped,” she recalled. “I thought I must have hit the point where people expect me to be OK.”

“Two weeks will make such a difference,” Erin added, emphasizing the importance of allowing couples to process their grief together.

Impact on relationships and emotional recovery

Selina Casey, founder of the White Butterfly Foundation, noted that the leave entitlement could “save relationships.” She shared her own story of losing her third child during a routine prenatal appointment, when she was told there was no heartbeat. Three days later, she gave birth and left with her son in a “tiny casket and a leaflet for a support group,” heading straight to the graveyard for his burial. “Then, five days on, that’s when I was able to start grieving,” she said. In her work, she has seen how miscarriage trauma can strain partnerships. “Allowing couples time to spend grieving together is extremely therapeutic,” Selina explained. “They need to hold each other in those early stages of loss.”

A personal journey through grief

Megan Crowe, a therapist at the charity, described her own miscarriage at 12 weeks as a turning point. “The two weeks of leave will give such an opportunity for people to take control of their journey,” she said. “Instead of falling back into the lifestyle they felt before the loss, they can be in the present moment to seek support early.” The foundation’s counselling room in Portglenone, County Antrim, features dozens of hand-crafted ceramic tiles, each a tribute to a lost baby. Among them is the story of Rebecca Hutchinson’s son Freddie, who was born in 2025 after she went into early labour just a week following her 20-week scan. “The time from when I went into labour until Freddie’s funeral was exactly a week,” Rebecca said. “Looking back, it felt chaotic because everything happened so quickly. It took time for the shock to hit me.”

“The fact that all parents are now entitled to two weeks’ leave, from day one, is amazing,” Rebecca added.

Previously, Northern Ireland offered two weeks of paid bereavement leave only after stillbirths at 24 weeks or more, provided the parent had worked for 26 weeks. The rest of the UK still follows this rule. However, the Westminster government plans to extend unpaid leave to England, Scotland, and Wales by 2027, granting parents a minimum of one week off regardless of pregnancy stage. For many, the new policy in Northern Ireland represents a meaningful step forward in recognizing the emotional toll of miscarriage.