Miscarriage Support: Paid Leave Is Finally Part Of The Discussion
One thing we don’t talk about very often on these pages is miscarriage and loss — but it’s a very real part of pregnancy that cannot be ignored. As many as 11-22% of clinically recognized pregnancies result in a miscarriage. Clinically recognized pregnancies are those that are confirmed by the presence of the hormone hCG in blood tests.
While that sounds like a scary stat and “too common” of an experience, it’s important to know that the large majority of miscarriages occur in the first 6 weeks of pregnancy, and repeated miscarriage is much less common. Only 1% of women experience what’s called recurrent pregnancy loss, and research has found that couples who conceive within 3 months after a miscarriage are actually less likely to have a subsequent miscarriage. But at the end of the day, the rates of miscarriage — something experienced by nearly 1 in 4 women — are too high for it to be a hush-hush topic. In fact, talking about it more is exactly what we have to do.
Regardless of when someone experiences a miscarriage and how soon they want to try to conceive again, they deserve support to process and grieve this kind of loss. It’s not something anyone should ever have to move through on their own or in silence. With that in mind, there is some hopeful news on the horizon. Recent headlines have hinted that, globally, we’re moving in a more positive direction when it comes to recognizing the need for support after miscarriage and opening up dialogue about pregnancy loss.
Earlier this year, New Zealand approved new legislation to provide 3 days of paid leave for couples that experience a miscarriage at any point in their pregnancy. It hit the newswires and made waves, being applauded as the first legislation of its kind. It is a critical departure from existing policies, which had previously provided for paid leave only following a loss after the 20th week of pregnancy, as it now considers all instances of miscarriage and extends leave benefits to partners as well.
In recent weeks, other countries have started following suit. In the US, new legislation was just presented to offer 3 days paid leave for employees who experience a pregnancy loss. This is just one clause in the Support Through Loss Act, which would also fund research into pregnancy loss and provide resources and miscarriage support through national public health agencies. In a country where there is no federally mandated paid maternity leave, this is a significant step in recognizing the importance of maternal health and wellness.
Currently in the UK, there are no statues in the country that are directed towards miscarriage (or any loss experienced before 24 weeks of pregnancy) and there doesn’t seem to be anything stirring in Parliament just yet. However, private companies are starting to take action in this deserved wave of attention on maternal wellness. In the past few months, 4 large companies have announced internal policies that will provide for 2 weeks (10 working days) of paid leave to mothers who experience a loss.
Australia is also pushing for new laws that will provide for 2 days paid leave for individuals, or their spouses, whom experience a loss. This will be voted on in August as an amendment to the existing Fair Work Act; so, similar to the US, it remains to be seen what will happen. In Canada, the current bereavement policies, which provide for paid time off following the death of a family member, do not include pregnancy loss. However, it’s clear the Canadian people are in favor of change. A recent online survey that was representative of the national population found that 78% of Canadians support enacting similar laws to those recently passed in New Zealand.
However, these countries are not the first to instate such laws. In India, the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961 (yes, 1961!) states that women are entitled 6 weeks of paid leave immediately after a miscarriage. However, the law does require that women provide proof of their loss and it’s not clear how many women are aware of the policy and utilize it accordingly. Similarly, in the Philippines, women are now entitled to 60 days of paid maternity leave following all instances of miscarriage — as part of an expansion of existing maternity leave policies that was signed into law in 2019. What’s more, in certain provinces of Pakistan that are covered by the Sindh Maternity Benefits Act of 2018, women are entitled to 1 week of paid leave following miscarriage.
The recent actions of New Zealand, and proposed bills in the US and Australia, have definitely garnered worldwide attention and needed discussion around an important topic. However, the concept of providing support for mothers at all stages of their pregnancy (and regardless of the outcome) is not new. What is new is a more global conversation and recognition of just how critical maternity support and women’s health is to the broader society.
The pain of a miscarriage cannot be healed by a few days off work. But not having to worry about pay loss in those days is a small step in the right direction, and we’ll be eagerly awaiting (and hoping for) positive results of these legislative efforts around the world.
If you have any questions about miscarriage and pregnancy loss that you’re looking for additional support on, please share in the comments below or send us an email at support@baby2body.com.
