The Pregnancy Options and Support Centre in Sarnia is welcoming a bill tabled in Parliament to expand parental bereavement leave and introduce leave for miscarriages.
Executive Director Jenn Bennett tells Sarnia News Today that stillbirths and miscarriages can be very traumatizing and emotional.
"A leave would be very valuable to someone who needed it," said Bennett. "Grief affects everyone differently and sometimes all you need is someone to come alongside you to listen and offer support."
If approved, Bill C-211 would amend the Canada Labour Code to expand bereavement leave to eight weeks of unpaid leave for parents who have experienced a stillbirth, the death of a child under the age of 18, or the death of a disabled child in the parent's care.
The act would also recognize the toll of miscarriages for the first time in Canadian history and provide five days of leave for parents who have experienced a loss.
"I think it would be great to have this type of support. I think, unfortunately, miscarriage and stillbirth has been taboo in the past, however it's good that we're talking about this and supporting people, because there definitely is a physical recovery period for those who have suffered a miscarriage or a stillbirth."
The Pregnancy Options and Support Centre in Sarnia. (Submitted)
Canada's current bereavement system includes a generic three days of paid leave and two days of unpaid leave for parents who experience the death of a child.
The Exmouth Street centre offers compassionate care to support grieving parents.
"I would say we do see about five to ten (individuals) a year," Bennett said. "Sometimes their hospital experience can be difficult and they just need someone to listen while they sort out their feelings and process their grief."
Bennett said one in four pregnancies can result in miscarriage or stillbirth and in Ontario there are 7.4 stillbirths per 1,000 total births.
The Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Network also offers support to families in Ontario dealing with pregnancy and infant loss.
