Welcome to The Work Couch, RPC's podcast that covers everything employment.

As we mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, in part 2 of our mini-series on pregnancy loss, we look at the practical ways in which businesses can support their people who are affected by pregnancy loss.

With around 20 to 25% of all pregnancies sadly ending in miscarriage, we will either experience pregnancy loss ourselves or know someone who is affected. While everyone's experience is unique to them, pregnancy loss can adversely affect a person's physical and mental wellbeing and the return to work can be especially difficult.

So how can employers, managers and colleagues best support people affected by pregnancy loss? Ellie Gelder talks to Vicki Robinson, deputy director at The Miscarriage Association, about:

What the term "miscarriage" means and the different types of pregnancy loss;

• Recognising the impact on non-child bearing partners and those who were expecting a baby via a surrogate;
• Progress of The Miscarriage Leave Bill;
• Why support at work is so important;
• How to help someone who is starting to experience a loss at the workplace;
• The impact on mental health;
• Practical measures to support people, including signing up to The Miscarriage Association's Pregnancy Loss Pledge; and
• The key dos and don'ts of pregnancy loss support.

If you would like to find out more about pregnancy loss, you can access further guidance and support from The Miscarriage Association, Tommy’s Miscarriage Information and Support or Antenatal Results and Choices.

References

1. Miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy may trigger long-term post-traumatic stress (2020 article by Imperial College London reporting on research published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology)

All information is correct at the time of recording.

The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice. Opinions expressed by the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of RPC.

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