Perinatal Loss
If you are looking at our page on perinatal loss, you may have had a perinatal loss. Maybe your baby’s heart stopped beating at some point in your pregnancy; or you’ve had to make the difficult decision to stop the pregnancy for medical reasons; or you had a miscarriage.
Whatever the reason may be, we want you to know that we are here to offer you support for your loss and to give you resources to help you and your family heal from this event.
If you are coming to deliver in our facility following a perinatal loss, you can consult our short pamphlet "You are going through a difficult moment"
During your hospital stay, the nursing team will ask you delicate questions regarding your preferences related to the birth of your baby. Feel free to consult the Perinatal Loss Birth Plan that will be discussed with you.
Looking for information on grief? You can consult our booklet on perinatal loss.
Information about maternity leave
What to expect with your body after delivering
If you have questions about your follow-up appointment with your obstetrician or regarding the autopsy:
- Please call the obstetric clinic or your obstetrician to make a follow-up appointment 8 to 10 weeks after you delivered.
- If you mention that you had a perinatal loss, the clerk may give you the first appointment of the day, so you do not have to wait.
- Autopsy results:
- Preliminary autopsy results may be available at the time of your appointment with your doctor. Make sure to ask him or her about results.
- The final autopsy results may only be available 6 to 12 months after delivery. If you haven’t had news from your doctor, please call them to find out if the results are available.
Here is some useful information regarding funeral arrangements for your baby:
- If you decide to let the hospital make funeral arrangements:
- The hospital will arrange for your baby to be cremated and buried. Your baby’s ashes will be placed in an individual urn and the urn will be buried in a common plot with other urns of babies that have passed away.
- You have 2 weeks to change your mind and inform the hospital that you wish to make your own funeral arrangements
- If you decide to make the funeral arrangements for you baby on your own, here are some useful tips:
- Many funeral homes will do a cremation of your baby for free. All you would need is to bring your own urn (container for the ashes) or you can buy one from the funeral home.
- Many funeral homes have a reduced fee for funerals for a baby. Make sure you mention it when you contact them.
- Please DO NOT CALL the hospital to know when the baby’s body is ready to be picked up. It is the funeral home’s responsibility to make the arrangements with the hospital’s Admitting department.
- When the funeral home calls the hospital, make sure that they mention the mother’s last name. It is often easier to find the information through the mom’s chart.
Resources
Some websites offer information and support to parents who have lost their baby.
The MUHC library lends books about perinatal loss to patients and families. For more information, muhclibraries.ca
Contact
- Obstetrical Triage: 514 934-1934 ext 34770 (health-related questions)
- Obstetrics Advanced Practice Nurse: 514 934-1934 ext 34778 (baby pictures, other questions)
