Hampshire mother who miscarried says more needs to be done around bereavement leave
It comes on Baby Loss Awareness Week
A Hampshire mother who miscarried twice says the new bereavement leave's a step in the right direction but more needs to be done.
The government scheme means those suffering a bereavement will be legally allowed two weeks of unpaid leave.
Alex Mayer lost two babies and works freelance as a journalist.
She said: "It was horrible, it was probably the saddest, hardest thing I've ever had to go through.
"We have never forgotten that first little spark, that first little spark that you create.
Alex went on to have two children.
She said: "At the back of my mind, there was always the miscarriage and the anxiety that goes with that, and the fact that you never have a pregnancy that's not clouded by worry or by anxiety by what's going to happen at any second."
She's telling us her thoughts on the bereavement leave scheme which has been introduced.
Alex said: "I was really pleased when I heard that Andy Burnham was doing miscarriage leave, but looking into it, I don't think it goes far enough.
"I think it's a really good first step.
"I think the fact it's unpaid versus paid sick leave, which doesn't have a specific amount of time off attached to it is not that great.
"I think recognising it, legitimising it, saying to women going through it that this is horrible and we understand that, is good.
"That's really helpful and it takes away a bit of the stigma around it because I think there still is a stigma around it.
"But I think the fact it's unpaid is unfair."