New Bill Introduced In The Senate & The House: Addresses The Impact Of Pregnancy Loss

Whether you are trying to reproduce on your own with the help of assisted reproductive medicine or just pursuing surrogacy or adoption, family building is a happy and challenging experience at the same time.

There is no guarantee that starting any such processes will lead to welcoming a kid. And most people also face loss along the journey. 

While often not reported, it is estimated that pregnancy loss typically takes place in 10 to 20% of all known pregnancies. Unsuccessful adoption, surrogacy, or fertility treatments are also very common. All the while, due to some kind of stigma, the absence of awareness, or the hustle culture, most Americans are expected to keep working in spite of the physical, emotional, and mental impact caused by such experiences. 

That is a major gap in the federal labor laws. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and D-Ill are all committed to exploring and addressing with the help of a new bill. Only yesterday, on 26th October, both the House and the Senate introduced the bill. The Support Through Loss Act is an appropriate act.

What Does The Support Through Loss Act Aim To Do?

We have divided The Support Through Loss Act into two sections:

• Paid Leaves.
• Education and Research.

Specifically, this bill covers the following areas:

Paid Leaves:

If the bill is passed, then it will require employers to offer at least 7 days of paid leave for employees. That way, employees can simply process as well as address their health needs. These needs are inclusive of mental, emotional, and physical aspects after a pregnancy loss. 

In this context, Senator Duckworth shared a few words. He said, “We need to make sure that no one loses pay simply because they need time to grieve. And we need to understand that there’s a universal loss and grieving process that comes from not being able to grow your family [however] you’re pursuing [that].”

Education:

The Support Through Loss Act would also direct the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to build as well as disseminate multiple educational resources regarding loss of pregnancy and the collection of treatment alternatives for the public, including recurrent loss of pregnancy. 

In this context, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley shared a few words as well. She said, “Pregnancy loss is a very common thing to happen, but when you’re going through it, you feel very alone. Sitting there not in [my] doctor’s office, in my patient gown, I felt like it was just me. Especially as more people are participating in fertility treatments, this is a very common experience, and we need to be more upfront about it.”

Research:

The bill also provides 45 million dollars in annual funding for NIH to expand, coordinate, and intensify research programs. This is done for pregnancy loss in an attempt to offer better care for patients. 

Congresswoman Pressley shared a few words. She said, “This will help us to increase data collection to better understand the prevalence of pregnancy loss. And how we can support those who experience it.”

Additional Reading:

• Protein In Urine During Pregnancy? All Questions Answered
• Is Diarrhea A Sign Of Pregnancy Implantation: All Questions Answered
• What Liquid Turns A Pregnancy Test Positive: How To Use An hCG Solution To Get A Positive Reading