Parents Rights When Baby Dies in Very Early in Pregnancy

Rights of parents whose baby dies very early in pregnancy

Parents who have experienced an early pregnancy loss should have the opportunity:

To be with each other during any tests, procedures or hospitalisations as much as possible
To be cared for by an empathic staff who will respect their feelings, beliefs and individual requests
To have information presented in terminology understandable to parents regarding their baby’s status and or cause of death (if known), including pathology reports and medical records
To be told all options and to be given the choice (when medically possible) on how to proceed when their baby has died, such as D&C, natural delivery or delivery induced by medications
To be able to see and hold their baby and take photographs if possible
To be given the option to name their baby if they choose to, whether or not the gender is known
To observe cultural and religious practices the parents feel are appropriate to the situation
To be informed of the grieving process and to be given referrals and resources that will help them through their grief
To be offered as many mementos as possible, for example, ultrasound photos, memory box, certificate of life
To be given information on the facility’s disposition policy and offered choices whenever possible.
To be given options regarding farewell rituals such as a hospital memorial service, a balloon release, or a private burial at home
To receive follow-up appointments for medical tests and genetic counseling or to review lab test results.
These rights should be granted to parents no matter how early in the pregnancy their loss occurred

Adapted from “Rights of Parents who Experience and Early Pregnancy Loss” by Perry-Lynn Moffit, co-author of A Silent Sorrow and endorsed by Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc. and pregnancy and perinatal loss support groups and leaders nationally.

Rights of parents when a baby dies

To be given the opportunity to see, hold, touch, and bathe their baby at any time before and/ or after death within reason
To have photographs of their baby taken and made available to the parents or held in a secure place until the parents wish to see them
To be given as many mementos as possible, e.g., crib card, baby beads, ultrasound and / or other photos, lock of hair, baby clothing and blankets, feet and hand prints and/or permanent molds and record of weight and length
To name their child and bond with him or her
To observe cultural and religious practices
To be cared for by an empathetic staff who will respect their feelings, thoughts, beliefs and and individual requests
To be with each other throughout hospitalisations as much as possible
To be given time alone with their baby, allowing for individual needs
To be informed of the grieving process
To be given the option of donating their baby’s cartilage, tissue and/or organs for transplant or donating the baby’s body to science
To request an autopsy. In the case of miscarriage, to request to have or not have an autopsy or pathology exam as determined by applicable law
To have information presented in terminology understandable to the parents regarding their baby’s status and cause of death, including autopsy and pathology reports and medical records
To plan a farewell ritual, burial or cremation in compliance with local and state regulations and according to their personal beliefs, religious or cultural tradition
To be provided with information on support resources which assist in the healing process, e.g., local support groups, perinatal loss internet support, counseling, reading material and perinatal loss newsletters

Rights of the baby

To be recognized as a person who was born and died
To be named
To be seen, touched and held by the family
To have the end of life acknowledge
To be put to rest with dignity

Rights of children when a sibling dies

To be acknowledged as individuals who have feelings that need to be expressed
To be given the choice to see and hold our sibling before and after the death within reason
To be considered in the choices parents are given, we may have opinions on such things as plans for funeral, baby’s name, etc.
To be informed about the feelings of grief in our terms, giving us the choice of a support group or counselor
To be recognized by our society that we will always love and miss our sibling

We are grateful to Nationals Share Office for giving permission to share the above information. 17.12.09

Megan Nichols
Outreach & Public Relations Director
Nationals Share Office
www.nationalshare.org

For information about consumer rights in NZ, contact the code of health and disability services.
0800112233