- » Overview
- » When a baby dies before labour begins
- » How you might feel
- » Talk to someone
- » Grief and children
- » Telling your family and friends
- » Memories and keepsakes
- » A ceremony for your baby
- » Deciding about a post mortem
- » Deciding about a funeral
- » Leaving hospital - going home
- » Taking your baby home
- » Postnatal check-up
- » Certificates and registration
- » Rights and benefits
- » Getting a copy of your medical notes
- » Information for grandparents
- » For family and friends
- » Returning to work
- » Another pregnancy?
- » Personal experiences
- » Other support links
Discussing a post mortem
A senior member of staff will talk to you about a post mortem and will go through the consent or authorisation form with you. He or she will explain what is done during a post mortem.
If you don’t want your baby to have a full post mortem examination, you can ask for a partial post mortem, an external examination of your baby, blood tests, or just an examination of the placenta. If you are not sure what to decide, or have any worries, requests or questions, discuss these with the member of staff who asks for your consent.
A post mortem is usually done by a perinatal pathologist, a specialist in post mortemexamination of premature and newborn babies. Not all hospitals have a perinatal pathologist so your baby may need to be sent to another hospital. This may delay the funeral. The person who asks for your consent will be able to tell you where the post mortem will be done and how long it will be before the baby is returned.
Before the post mortem, some parents dress or wrap their baby in a special shawl, or place a small cuddly toy with him or her. The staff should ensure that these items stay with your baby and are returned with him or her.
“ I was so relieved to find that she was dressed in the same clothes and hat that she had been in when we’d last seen her. It is so comforting to know that people had taken such good care of her.” Mother
