SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter has urged greater public awareness of the trauma caused by miscarriage and called for funding of counselling services.
Ms Hunter hosted an event at Stormont on Thursday during Baby Loss Awareness Week, welcoming the White Butterfly Foundation, which is dedicated to breaking the silence and stigma surrounding baby loss, miscarriage and neonatal loss.
She emphasised the need for stronger support systems for grieving parents.
East Derry MLA Ms Hunter said:
"Miscarriage is an all too common experience, but one that rarely receives the attention it deserves. Whilst miscarriage before 24 weeks happens to around 1 in 8 expecting mothers, the pain and trauma that this experience leaves has not been sufficiently recognised in public discussion. Mirroring the lack of discussion, has been a lack of services and structures to support parents in their grief.
"It has been an honour to sponsor today's event at Stormont presented by the White Butterfly Foundation. Selina Casey, a Kilrea woman who herself has experienced this loss, founded the organisation to provide counselling services for the bereaved, and to offer community and support for those who all too often feel isolated and alone in their grief.
"One mother explained how she left the hospital with just a leaflet - no other support. That's not good enough. These parents desperately need support at a very difficult time in their lives.
"I welcome plans to bring Northern Ireland into line with other jurisdictions in introducing a baby loss certificate; this certificate is an important official gesture to make those impacted by this loss feel seen and validated.
"I hope that today's event and the work undertaken by the White Butterfly Foundation will rightly bring this issue into greater focus and I will be pushing the Executive to make more money available to facilitate this much needed work.”