Baby bereavement first things first.
When baby dies before birth is born stillborn or dies just after delivery......
If you have time you may want to think about how you might like your baby to be wrapped and treated once he/she is delivered? Perhaps you have a blanket you'd like to wrap him/her in Until you can order the baby burial clothes you need..
Who would you like to be present at delivery?
Would you like to wash your baby?
Would you like any other family members to see or hold the baby once he/she is born?
Would you like to take your own camera to hospital to take photographs of the baby?
You may want to think about who you would like to inform of your loss.
Discuss this with your partner and midwives or nursing staff.
Post mortem... sometimes a post mortem may be required.A post mortem examination is another stage in investigating a persons illness. It is a detailed physical examination after they have died. Some post mortem examinations are legally required, others are not.
For more information if you live in England, Wales and Northern Ireland visit: direct.gov.uk/en/RightsAndResponsibilities/Death/WhatToDoAfterADeath/DG066713
For more information if you live in Scotland visit: scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/12094440/4
Legal Requirements
Babies Born Before 24 weeks of Pregnancy.
There are no legal requirements to bury or cremate a baby born before 24 weeks of pregnancy. However many hospitals do offer this service (as does The University Hospital Hartlepool) When a baby is born showing and shows no signs of life parents can decide to bury their child. Parents must co-sign a form with the midwife or attending doctor for the burial or cremation to take place.
Babies Born After 24 Weeks of Pregnancy
When a baby is stillborn the attending doctor will issue a Stillbirth Certificate.
If a baby is born alive and dies shortly after birth at any gestational age, the attending doctor will issue a death certificate. However, it is required by law that the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages issues a birth/death certificate for the baby. This can be arranged for the registrar to visit at the hospital or alternatively an appointment can be made at the Department of Births, Deaths and Marriages. At our local hospital it can be arranged for the registrar to visit in your own home.
When a Registrar of births receives the death or stillbirth certificate parents are issued a certificate of burial. If the hospital is arranging burial this certificate must be handed over to hospital staff. Alternatively, parents who decide to make their own funeral arrangements must hand the certificate over to the Funeral Director.
Funerals
A funeral can be arranged very simply by the hospital. If you want to be more involved there are many alternatives for organising a burial, cremation, and funeral and many organisations which can help you.
Cremation Regulations
While most occasions for gift-giving appear to be happy ones - reasons to celebrate or congratulate - unfortunately there are some exceptions: occasions to commiserate. It is important to remember that it can be precisely the tough moments in life that require us to show our support and affirm our friendship. Using words to express ourselves during those times can be difficult because we worry about saying the wrong things and being misunderstood. A gift can be a great way to bypass this concern and express what we mean without having to say it.
It goes without saying that in such a situation of hardship and grief, no gift can take away the incredible pain our loved one is experiencing but as a token of love and support, it can maybe help a little to ease the sadness by conveying the message we struggle to put into words: you are going through tough times but you are not alone - I'm here to support you if and when you need me because I care deeply about you.
Traditionally, there arguably is no such thing as "sympathy gifts", other than the obligatory flowers taken to the funeral to put down on the grave. However, in recent years, a trend towards actual gifts has developed, with more and more shops nowadays also offering this category of gifts.
Bereavement gifts are a tricky subject. What do you give someone who has just lost the most precious thing in the world - another human being? You hardly want to say "Hey, cheer up, life goes on!" when someone is deeply distraught and upset. Likewise, a message in the opposite direction is not in order either as you don't want to make things worse by being unnecessarily downbeat. So getting the tone just right is all the more important.
One choice of bereavement gift that is definitely a safe bet is a sympathy basket: it can be tailored exactly to the likes of the recipient and is easily personalized. You can choose a variety of comfort foods such as chocolate, cookies, some hot drinks like tea or coffee, and maybe a CD with calming music, a small teddy bear, some bath essence for relaxation or a book with inspirational quotes of encouragement. There is a huge variety available at the shops and most retailers let you personalize as little or as much as you want. All you then need to do is to put a few personal words on a card, maybe accompanied by a meaningful sympathy quote and ready is your way of showing your support during those difficult times. No doubt your little token will be much appreciated.
Jenny
Gift Enthusiast
More Than A Gift
Please visit our Bereavement gift section to find out how to make your gift more personal and meaningful: have a look at our gift ideas, quotes, symbols and read what our real-life testimonials have to say about the gifts they have received!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_K
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