This leaflet has been given to you as you have expressed a wish to take your baby home after a compassionate induction, miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. We hope that it provides you with practical information to help you during this difficult time.
Taking your baby home after they have died can have several benefits; giving you more time together to create memories and an opportunity to say goodbye within the comfort of your own home. It can also provide an opportunity to introduce your baby to their sibling(s) and/or extended family and friends.
We recognise that you may need additional support at this time and it is important that you know how to contact the hospital if you have any questions or concerns:
Rosie Bereavement Team: 01223 217619
Rosie Hospital Site Safety Midwife: available 24 hours a day via hospital switchboard, 01223 245151
Paperwork
You will be required to complete some paperwork with the hospital’s Paediatric Pathology team prior to discharge. You will be given some forms by the team caring for you, including a transportation form which can be produced in the unlikely event of you being stopped by authorities on your way home. If you have borrowed equipment from the hospital, you will also receive a loan agreement form and instructions, if applicable.
Getting Home
We would suggest asking a family member or friend to drive you home, as this is likely to be a very emotional journey. Public transport is not advised, however if you plan to use the services of a taxi or a minicab then it is advisable to discuss with the company beforehand.
The team caring for you will advise you of a safe, secure & dignified way to transport your baby home, dependent upon your baby’s size; this could be in a moses basket loaned by the hospital or in your own car seat.
Advice for caring for your baby at home
You can care for and handle your baby as you wish at home, including bathing and dressing them, however frequent handling may increase the progression of some of the expected physical changes. Over time, you may notice:
- skin peeling and changes to baby’s skin colour
- leakage of body fluids
- odour.
There are ways to try to slow these changes and we would suggest the following:
keep your baby cool. The hospital may be able to loan you a “Cuddle Cot” or if not, ice packs from home can be used
- keep all windows closed. This can keep heat out during hot weather spells and also reduces your baby’s exposure to flies/ insects
- always keep pets out of the room that your baby is in.
The next steps
If you have opted for a post mortem, we would strongly recommend taking your baby home once all required tests have been carried out. After a full, or limited, post mortem, there will be marks of therapy but these are usually not visible when your baby is dressed. Should you wish to take your baby home before post mortem, staff will discuss with the Consultant Paediatric Pathologists to ascertain what, if any, impact this may have on the examination.
Before you go home, we will discuss your wishes for what happens next; legal considerations will be dependent upon the stage of your pregnancy. You may decide to appoint your own funeral director to arrange a private funeral or you may prefer for the Rosie Bereavement Team to make these arrangements for you.
Support while your baby is at home with you
The Rosie Bereavement Team will continue contact with you by telephone whilst you are at home with your baby. Your community team will also be informed that you have taken your baby home and they will be able to support you with home visits as required. We would recommend having daily contact with a member of the bereavement or community team, either in person or by telephone during this time.
Changing your mind
We understand that circumstances and feelings change, and you may come to the decision that having your baby at home is no longer the best thing for you as a family. If you have appointed a private funeral director, you can contact them to arrange for them to transport your baby to the funeral home (you can continue to visit baby there until the funeral). If you would like the hospital to arrange a funeral on your behalf, please contact the Rosie Bereavement Team (01223 217619) in the first instance, or the Site Safety midwife (available 24 hours a day via hospital switchboard – 01223 245151). We will then make the necessary arrangements for you to bring your baby back to the hospital.
Contacts/ Further Information
Please scan QR codes for easy access to the following websites:
References and sources of evidence
Privacy and dignity
Same sex bays and bathrooms are offered in all wards except critical care and theatre recovery areas where the use of high-tech equipment and / or specialist one to one care is required.
Clinic 21 is mainly a female patient area only, however partners are allowed to accompany women.
We are smoke-free
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the hospital campus. For advice and support in quitting, contact your GP or the free NHS stop smoking helpline on 0800 169 0 169.
Other formats
Help accessing this information in other formats is available. To find out more about the services we provide, please visit our patient information help page (see link below) or telephone 01223 256998. www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/accessible-information/
Contact us
Cambridge University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Road, Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Telephone +44 (0)1223 245151
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/contact-enquiries/