Did You Know?
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You are not alone. One in five pregnancies ends in miscarriage in the first trimester.
There are resources available for infertility and repeat miscarriage.
A miscarriage is a baby lost prior to 20 weeks gestation.
A baby lost after 20 weeks gestation is considered a stillbirth and needs a death certificate.
You can name your baby.
If you do not know if the baby was a boy or girl, you can name the baby based on what you feel your baby is. Some people give the baby a boy and girl name if the sex was not known (example: Michael Mary). You can give your baby the name of the saint whose feast day they died on.
You can bury your baby.
Before burial, make sure you know your state's guidelines. Some states do not have guidelines for burial.
Some cemeteries have a dedicated section for babies lost prior to 20 weeks gestation.
Some people get permission from the cemetery to bury on the same site as a parent's or relative's grave.
If you bury on a relative's grave, some cemeteries will allow you to place a small stone or plaque on the existing
monument if you want to mark the site.
If you miscarry in a doctor's office or hospital, you have the right to bring your baby's remains home with you.
If possible, before going to the hospital and/or receiving anesthesia, let staff know what your wishes are, sign any
necessary paperwork, and determine if you need/can bring a burial vessel with you.
If your baby is sent to a lab for testing, you have the right to have your baby's remains returned to you after the testing is finished.
A funeral home may have to pick your baby's remains up from the hospital if the lab will not release them directly to the family. There may or may not be a fee for the funeral home services. Many funeral homes provide free services for babies.
If you did not bury your baby, do not feel ashamed or guilty. You did nothing wrong.
There can be a lack of information given to women regarding the option to bury. You were in a difficult circumstance and made the best decision you could with the knowledge you had.