[lettie]

I know that I haven't posted for a while and this is an emotive thread to post in. I can confirm that Margaret was indeed on the committee to change how we care for women with any kind of foetal loss and how the remains are dealt with. In our local area, this has been done very sensitively for years.

Women who have lost a baby are not put on wards with heavily pregnant women or newborns. If the loss is early (less than 12 weeks), chances are they will either be at home anyway or go home asap. If they are 12-20 weeks they will go home asap, women are given the option to take foetal remains home with them to bury as they wish. Most women don't take up this option but some do. It is not illegal to bury foetal remains on your property, there are some conditions to this in order to protect water supplies and declaring the burial if you sell your house but this option is perfectly legal and available to all women. Anybody over 20 weeks goes to the Birth Suite. They are nursed in a self contained apartment with it's own bathroom, living area/kitchen. This is separate from the rest of the ward and the women who are cared for here rarely complain. Again, women are given the opportunity to take their baby home for a funeral or burial on their property.

If the baby is over 24 weeks this is classed as a stillbirth (even if it's a termination). Women are entitled to a termination at any time if the baby has severe abnormalities that are classed as incompatible with life. Therefore, in these circumstances, a woman can terminate a pregnancy right up until full term. These poor babies rarely survive labour and usually arrive asleep.

The family are cared for in Birth Suite's self contained apartment. They can stay as long as they like, relatives are encouraged to visit. They are given mementos such as a lock of hair, photographs, hand and footprints. We also do this for any baby from about 18 weeks to full term. If the baby is over 24 weeks, the birth needs to be registered (even if it's a termination), until registration a funeral or any other form of disposal cannot be legally arranged.

Whatever the gestation or circumstances we try to treat our women and their families with respect. They are given choices around their care, disposal of remains, aftercare and ongoing family planning. This is done as sensitively as possible and a lot of staff have worked very hard over the last 20 years to ensure that we have the best possible standards locally.

I hope that this post has clarified a few issues and maybe answered a few questions about what happens now. I cannot guarantee that other areas of the country follow the guidelines which we use locally.