Baby Loss: Covid-19

Ms Richardson shared her personal experience of baby loss during the SARS outbreak in 2003, raising concerns about a potential link between viral illnesses and increased miscarriages. She discussed the profound impact on mental health and the importance of support systems for those experiencing grief.

Ian Paisley Jnr shared the story of a constituent, Donna, who experienced consecutive miscarriages and pregnancy loss during the pandemic. He highlighted that each year, 14 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth in the UK. Due to restrictions imposed by the pandemic, Donna was unable to have an early reassurance scan, which led to further distress when her twins were lost. Donna is now on a waiting list for nine months to see a specialist due to shielding measures. Paisley emphasised the emotional and mental health impact of these experiences and called for support for vulnerable individuals. Ian Paisley Jr. thanked Olivia Blake for addressing the impact on expectant fathers, highlighting the need for comprehensive services that address the needs of both mothers and fathers during pregnancy complications.

Jeremy Hunt expressed gratitude for the contributions of Cherilyn Mackrory and Sarah Owen, highlighting their work on baby loss issues. He pointed out that the UK loses about 3.9 babies per 1,000 births in neonatal deaths compared to Sweden's rate of around half. Hunt advocated for an expansion of testing facilities during the pandemic and emphasized the importance of changing from a blame culture to a learning culture within the NHS.

Expressed understanding and empathy for the Chair's grief, mentioning similar experiences in his own family. Jim Shannon thanked members for their contributions and highlighted the impact of baby loss, citing statistics from 2018 where daily in the UK there were 2,060 babies born alive, 515 miscarried, 144 born pre-term, and eight stillborn. He shared personal experiences with miscarriage and emphasised the importance of support for those experiencing such losses.

Olivia Blake shared her personal experience of miscarriage during the pandemic, highlighting issues such as partners not being allowed to attend appointments and the lack of emotional support. She urged the government to increase investment in covid-secure provision for all parents and called for more mental health support and protection of spaces for memory making.

I thanked the hon. Member for Truro and Falmouth for her opening speech and shared my experience of a stillbirth in 2009, highlighting the impact of such losses on parents who often feel robbed of their child's potential. I raised concerns about increased stillbirths during the peak of the pandemic and the isolation grief brings to those losing a baby, especially with restrictions limiting funeral attendance and support from charities due to social distancing measures.

Ms Allin-Khan highlighted the importance of breaking down stigma around baby loss and praised fellow MPs for sharing their personal experiences. She emphasised the need for immediate mental health support for bereaved families and stressed that maternity and neonatal care should not be curtailed during the pandemic.

Mr Saqib Bhatti highlighted the emotional impact of baby loss, noting statistics from his constituency in the west midlands where 12% of perinatal deaths and 14% of neonatal deaths occur. He discussed initiatives like the Woodland House appeal at Birmingham Women's Hospital aiming to raise £3.5 million for a tailored bereavement suite and the Lily Mae Foundation providing memory boxes and one-to-one support to grieving families.

She thanked and paid tribute to Cherilyn Mackrory for initiating the debate, emphasising the importance of emotional support during pregnancy scans due to coronavirus restrictions. Sarah highlighted the critical role of Luton and Dunstable University Hospital in allowing visitors at scans and urged the Government to continue supporting such practices. She shared her personal experiences with miscarriage and the significance of having someone's support during difficult times. Expressed gratitude towards Patricia Gibson for her bravery in sharing personal experiences of baby loss and thanked her for representing constituents who have gone through similar situations. Expressed sadness over the loss of Mary Agyapong, a constituent, and called for continued Government support for her family. Raised concerns about black, Asian and minority ethnic women experiencing higher rates of stillbirths and miscarriages during pregnancy, exacerbated by the pandemic.