Bereaved mums reject ‘dehumanisation’ of unborn babies

Mothers who have suffered a miscarriage would prefer medics to use “humanising” terminology such as “baby”, new research has found.

‘Acceptability in pregnancy loss language’, by Dr Beth Malory and Dr Louise Nuttall, analysed survey responses from 391 women in the UK who lost a baby over the last three years, in order to inform the best language to use on websites and in policies.

The study found that, at 91 per cent, the “overwhelming majority of respondents considered baby the most acceptable word to use regardless of the gestation at which the loss occurred”.

‘Baby’ is better

Overall, the researchers found that terms which “dehumanise what is overwhelmingly considered to be a baby” were rated negatively.

Dehumanising terms included “fetus”, which was classed as “unacceptable” by on average 74 per cent whose child died after 14 weeks. 

The researchers recommended that such language should be avoided, concluding that the findings “provide robust evidence that baby should be preferred in mass communication contexts involving the loss of a wanted pregnancy at any gestation”.

Baby Loss Certificates

Since October, more parents in England who lost their baby due to a miscarriage have been able to receive a Baby Loss Certificate.

The certificates were introduced earlier this year, but were restricted to parents whose baby died after September 2018. This cut-off date has now been removed.

Broadcaster and musician Myleene Klass shared: “Previously, women like me had no tangible proof of our babies’ existence, beyond our own memories and the evidence that clung to our bodies.

“Now, at least there is some acknowledgement of the life that was carried, however brief.”