Woman surprised baby loss law change took so long

Charlotte Hadley said she felt angry that the loss of her twins was not recognised

A Worcestershire woman who miscarried four times has said she is "surprised" baby loss certificates had not been introduced sooner.

Charlotte Hadley, 40, from Bromsgrove, described her miscarriages as "possibly the most traumatic thing any mum" could go through.

From Thursday, parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy can apply to receive a certificate that provides recognition of their loss.

Traditionally a loss before 24 weeks was treated as a medical incident rather than a death.

The government has launched a voluntary scheme to allow parents to record and receive a certificate to provide recognition of their loss

The change was campaigned for by baby loss charity The Mariposa Trust.

Explaining the need for the change, Ms Hadley said: "This has needed to happen for a long, long time and finally we get that acknowledgment that no matter if that baby is nine weeks or 24 weeks that baby is still a baby.

"I am so surprised it has not come sooner but I am so glad for the campaigners who have worked tirelessly."

'Pain washed over me'

Seven years ago she lost her twins and the deaths were not recognised as a loss.

She described feeling “angry” at the time, adding the medical terminology surrounding miscarriages “just makes you shudder”.

Recalling the events that led up to her miscarriage, Ms Hadley told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "It was like something I had never ever experienced before and it just took my breath away."

"I was in my car and I clutched my steering wheel and the pain just washed over me.”

Later that day she discovered she had been carrying twins, and had lost one of them.

She later lost the other twin, named Erin, at 24 weeks.

Not giving up, Ms Hadley and her husband gave birth to a girl called Alice two years later, who started school in September.

Providing advice for other parents experiencing baby loss, Ms Hadley said: "Although it feels like your world is over right now, it does get easier.

"It never gets better but it does get easier.

"Every single morning you wake up is an accomplishment."