Miscarriage & fertility - the right to leave from work

For those of us who have been through a miscarriage or fertility treatment, we know the secrecy, the sadness and the pressure to keep things looking normal on the outside even if we are falling apart inside.

Both experiences are obviously incredibly different but they require a similar response- that is that those women who go through either event should have a right to leave from work.

Yesterday, I was so proud to be at the launch of Senator Ivana Bacik’s Bill on Reproductive Leave- 10 days leave from work for those going through fertility treatment and 20 days leave for those who have suffered a miscarriage. Huge credit must go to my colleague Cllr Alison Gillilland and the INTO for pushing for this.

I know for many, they can’t bring themselves to talk about what is going on. At one stage, I was one of them.

But it’s time that we afford some dignity and empathy to the women and couples who find themselves in these situations.

There’s a lot of us out there.

The HSE estimate that many women experience up to three miscarriages in their lifetime and that one in five of all pregnancies are lost in the early weeks. They also estimate that one in six heterosexual couples experiences infertility.

Link to the Bill is here.