The debate on Baby Loss was held yesterday (October 13) at the House of Commons.
We extend our deepest sympathy to all those who have experienced the devastating loss of a baby.
We thank Michelle Welsh, Chair of APPG on Maternity, for securing this important debate. The Secretary of State’s presence signals that this issue is being taken seriously and we value that.
A human rights approach
However, a human rights-centred approach remains the missing foundation of meaningful change both in the debate and in wider discussions about the crisis in maternity care.
As Birthrights, we want to be clear – focussing on deprivation is not enough as a framework. Embedding maternity care in a human rights framework means naming and tackling systemic racism, structural inequality, power imbalances, and violations of autonomy.
A human rights approach offers the solutions to the issues raised in the debate: safety, listening, and accountability. True safety, and the path to reducing negligence claims, lies in respectful, rights-based, personalised, and equitable care.
Racially minoritised communities, LGBTQ+ people, Deaf and disabled people, those with English as an additional language, without British citizenship, or in prison or detention, still face unacceptable barriers to basic maternity care. As we know, it is a life and death issue with Black women three times more likely to die during pregnancy compared to white women, and the disparity in baby loss is also stark. That is why we call for systemic racism and discrimination to be confronted head-on.
We demand a maternity care system where the human rights of all women and birthing people – including safety, dignity, autonomy and equality – are respected and upheld. This must include their right to have the birth partners of their choice present at their births, without fear of harassment, persecution or retribution for either themselves or their support people.