While the birth of a child brings joy to the entire family, and bring with it celebrations and happiness, the loss of a child, whether by way of a miscarriage or still-birth is often something that the parents, and more importantly, the mother, tends to internalise. Unfortunately, in cases of miscarriages, the physical and emotional trauma that the mother goes through is most of the times overlooked. Cramping, heavy bleeding, feeling extremely fatigued and weak are some of the symptoms that women who have gone through miscarriages face. 

Yet, even though the physical pain heals, emotional healing takes a lot longer. In many countries working women, having to go back to the office without a break to process and heal from miscarriages, does sound insensitive and inhumane. Now the New Zealand’s Parliament on unanimously approved a law that would give couples who suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth three days of paid leave. Ginny Andersen, the member of Parliament who drafted the bill said, “I felt that it would give women the confidence to be able to request that leave if it was required, as opposed to just being stoic and getting on with life, when they knew that they needed time, physically or psychologically, to get over the grief,” 

In India, the miscarriage leave is over and above New Zealand’s three days. The Maternity Benefit Act 1961 states that in the case of miscarriage, a woman will be entitled to paid leave for six weeks immediately following the day of her miscarriage. However, many women are not aware about this rule and end up going to work even after their miscarriage. 

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