An expectant mother has launched a petition to persuade Parliament to provide better financial support to people who lose their baby before 24 weeks.

Taylor Kilgour from Rickmansworth started the online petition using change.org after seeing a report on Facebook about another woman who launched a similar campaign after losing her baby.

Taylor, a 27-year-old bookkeeper, and her partner Wesley Moss suffered their own heartache in 2016 when 19 weeks into their pregnancy her waters broke, and labour was predicted to start within 72 hours.

She was advised to terminate the pregnancy, but Taylor refused. Baby Bunny was stillborn on November 24, six weeks after she was told labour was imminent.

Little Heartbeats, a support group whose mantra is “where there is a heartbeat, there is hope”, provided care to the couple during this time.

Taylor, Wesley and Mylee

Taylor said despite the few hundred signatures her petition currently holds she hopes to achieve enough support to take the campaign before Parliament.

She said: “The law means two weeks full pay is paid to employed parents who suffer the loss of a child under the age of 18.

“This is a fantastic move in the right direction but still offers nothing to parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks gestation.

“Currently, if you lose a baby after 24 weeks you are as a minimum entitled to statutory maternity leave.

“As these same rights aren’t afforded before 24 weeks, two weeks full pay should be provided as an absolute minimum to parents who have suffered the death of a baby at any stage of pregnancy.

She added: “I just want Parliament to see what mums and dads have to go through losing a baby before 24 weeks.

“I am 22 weeks pregnant now and if I lose the baby now all I get is the statutory sick pay and I don’t think that is fair.

“There should be more taken into account to support people financially, emotionally and physically – indeed all directions.

Taylor said she has also approached charity groups such as Little Heartbeats and Saying Goodbye for support, organisations who offer help to those who have suffered the loss of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or infancy.

To support Taylor’s petition, visit https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-extend-statutory-bereavement-leave-to-pregnancy-loss-before-24-weeks