Oxfordshire baby loss charity wants twins and triplets to be recognised on same certificate
Currently parents must apply for a certificate for each baby
Last updated 17th Apr 2025
A charity based in Oxfordshire are telling us they would like to see twin and triplet baby losses formally recognised on the same certificate, as "it will mean the world" to bereaved families.
As it stands, bereaved parents of multiple pregnancies must apply for a baby loss certificate separately for each of their children, and they would like this to go further.
The government say they are “exploring how baby loss certificates can continue to evolve based on bereaved parents’ needs”.
Suzie Scofield co-founded Footprints Baby Loss which supports families who experience the death of one or more of their twins or triplets.
She said: “We've had a few families who would really like their twins to be on the same certificate, but at the moment that's not possible.
“I think it would be really meaningful because when you know when you're pregnant with twins, it's all one pregnancy, it's all the same thing for you.
“It's very connected and I think particularly for the families where they lose identical twins, but equally for any twin or triplet pregnancy, I think if having a certificate where all the babies can be named together is really important.”
Sam Kempton is from Cambridge and is supported by the charity after she lost identical twin girls who sadly died at 17 weeks old.
She said: “I really do hope the certificates would help with moving forward for people who find themselves in a similar situation.
“It would just acknowledge the gravity, trauma, and process of everything that you’ve been through.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Losing a pregnancy can be devastating, and it is important that bereaved parents have the option to formally recognise the existence of their babies.
“Baby loss certificates are clearly making a difference to bereaved parents – with over 100,000 certificates issued so far – and we are exploring how baby loss certificates can continue to evolve based on bereaved parents’ needs.”