The pain of infertility has always been part of life and how we make sense of ourselves

For couples experiencing infertility and miscarriage, the venerated ideal of the family must have been challenging to see, writes Niamh NicGhabhann Coleman 

Infertility was often an experience associated with sadness and stigma, particularly in societies which prioritised and privileged the family above all else. File picture

Last month, new laws were passed in Northern Ireland which granted paid leave to parents following a miscarriage. 

This was welcomed by campaigners as an important step forward, moving away from a culture of silence or the pressure to simply ‘move on’ from pregnancy loss.