Some Donegal parents are suffering untold grief because their stillborn babies are not included on a national register, according to the Aontú political party.
Aontú is submitting a Bill, for a second time, which would see all stillborn babies included on a national register irrespective of the length of their gestation or their weight.
Currently only stillborn babies born at 24 weeks or more and weighing 500 grammes or more are included on the register.
“We are calling for a meeting between the Departments of Health, Social Protection, and parents of the stillborn babies who are desperately seeking recognition of their baby’s existence.
“This issue has been dragging on and on with little progress and it is simply not fair,” said Aontú’s Mary T Sweeney.
Aontú representatives met with campaigner Caroline Smith, who has been a tireless advocate for such a register. Ms Sweeney, who’s seeking a seat on Donegal County Council in June’s elections, has pledged her full support to ensure that legislation is brought forward without further delay.
“The lack of such a register is continuing to cause untold grief to parents and it also has practical adverse ramifications for women’s Maternity Leave. If their stillborn babies are not on any register, the women have no entitlement whatsoever to maternity leave,” explained Ms Sweeney.
The State doesn’t acknowledge that baby Stephen Smith, from Meath, existed at all because he was born before the 24-week cut-off point. His mother, Caroline, recounts memories of her precious little baby Stephen, born sleeping in 2015.
“He had ten fingers and ten toes and he looked just like his Daddy. Stephen didn’t ‘meet the criteria’ so we have no official recognition whatsoever of his birth.
“It is a very cold and blunt instrument. Stephen was born at 20 weeks and 2 days. He weighed 420 grammes. He was tiny but he was real. He was precious to us and we want him recognised,” insists Caroline.
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