The certificate would be free to request, not confer any entitlements or require medical confirmation and would cover all types of pregnancy loss before 23 weeks. The certificates would be an official document but not a legal document. The certificate is not a form of official registration and is not intended as a method to count the number pregnancy losses. Separately, national clinical data should be collected regarding pregnancy losses <23 weeks.

England, Scotland and Australia have launched pregnancy loss certificates with further countries/jurisdictions planning their introduction (e.g. Northern Ireland, Wales). In Scotland the scheme is managed through the National Records of Scotland. The NHS Business Services Authority manages the scheme in England. In all cases, the scheme is voluntary, free, and no proof or record at hospital is required. The scheme launched in England in Feb 2024 and by April 2025 over 100,000 certificates have been issued.

A separate certificate could be requested for each pregnancy lost, including in multiple pregnancies, with permission and email address required from the other parent for their name to be included. The certificate would include the following fields: Certificate reference, date of issue, name and surname of parent, name and surname of any other parent, name of baby (optional), sex (if known), date of loss (if known) and place of loss (if known).   

This voluntary certificate to acknowledge pregnancy loss before 23 weeks provides parents with an opportunity to recognise their experience more formally. 

The pregnancy loss certificate is distinct from stillbirth registrations, which, from 2024, applies to babies born with no signs of life at 23 weeks gestation or later, or with a birthweight of 400g.