Information for Families
Please be aware that the following information may be distressing to some readers.
We offer our condolences if you, or someone close to you, has suffered the loss of a baby. We understand that the loss of your baby is a painful time, so we are committed to providing the best service to you and your family as you navigate through this difficult experience.
The loss of your baby may raise important questions that can affect your grieving process. Many families choose to have a non-coronial autopsy with placental investigation to help determine the cause of their baby’s death. Although a definitive cause of death is not always found, parents are often reassured by the findings outlined in the autopsy report.
The decision of whether to have an examination of your baby is a personal one and no examination will take place without your consent. Some parents understandably find this request overwhelming at such a difficult time. Please be assured that the examination will not compromise your ongoing contact with your baby, and we will work with you to respect your pastoral, spiritual or religious needs.
A post-mortem examination is performed in such a way that you will still be able to see and hold your baby following the completion of the examination. There are different types of post-mortem examinations available providing varying levels of detail , with more information provided in the frequently asked questions section below. .
The PathWest state-wide perinatal autopsy service is provided at no charge to the parents.
Information about the process can be found here:
Having a post-mortem after the loss of your baby
PathWest also provides additional services such as memento creation, viewings and cremations. Please refer to the FAQ section for more information.
Parent Resources
Having a post-mortem after the loss of your baby - English
Translated Resources
Other information
- Understanding what happened to your baby - Bereavement resource
- Early Pregnancy Loss Guide (less than 20 weeks gestation)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parent resources
- Jiba Pepenny (Star Baby)
- Understanding what happened to bub - Bereavement resource
Australian Government assistance
Frequently Asked Questions
This is an examination performed to provide as much information as possible to explain what happened to your baby. The examination can only be performed with your consent. The examination is performed by a medical specialist called a Paediatric and Perinatal Pathologist who is experienced and specifically trained in this area. A coronial post-mortem is an autopsy for a reportable death requested under the direction of the Western Australian Coroner. The information provided on this webpage does not discuss the coronial post-mortem process, with more information relating to the coronial service found here
A post-mortem or autopsy is considered the most effective way to understand the reasons behind your loss. The decision to progress with an examination is yours and no examination will take place without your consent. Some reasons families decide to have a post-mortem include:
Your baby is kept in Perinatal Pathology at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH)/Women and Newborn Health Service (WNHS).
There are three types of examination: full, limited and external. The consent form contains separate options for each type of examination.
All examinations include:
- Clinical photographs
- A standard set of measurements
- A babygram (x-ray)
- An external examination of the baby
- A detailed examination of the placenta
A full examination is the most detailed type of post-mortem. The internal organs are examined to gain as much information as possible. Incisions are made along the chest, abdomen (tummy) and back of the skull. All incisions are delicately repaired and will not be visible when the baby is dressed. A full examination allows a pathologist to provide a more comprehensive final report. This allows your doctor or clinician to better explain what happened to your baby.
A limited examination is usually performed when the baby is known to have a specific condition, for example with the heart or the brain. This examination is limited only to a specific area as specified on the consent form and usually involves only a few incisions. A limited examination can also be performed when a small piece of tissue (such as muscle) is needed for genetic testing. For example, a small 1cm size of muscle can be sampled through a 1cm cut in the skin of the leg.
An external examination involves clinical photographs, measurements, a babygram and an examination of the placenta only. No incisions are made, and no internal organs are studied.
PathWest perinatal pathology provides a free non-coronial autopsy service to all locations in WA, including transport between hospitals for examination. Memento creations and cremation services (for babies less than 28 weeks' gestation) are also provided free of charge. Appropriate consent needs to be provided.
Following the autopsy, a provisional report will generally be available within 2 to 3 working days, with a final report available in 6-8 weeks, unless there are additional tests or complexities which may extend this timeframe. This report is sent to the doctor/s listed on the consent form. The report will never be sent directly to parents as it may contain information in technical terms that may be distressing.
Following the post-mortem examination the pathologist writes a detailed medical report for the doctor who cared for you and your baby, outlining their findings.
The information gained from this report will hopefully allow your healthcare provider to counsel you regarding why your baby died and what the risks are for future pregnancies. Please note that a post-mortem report is never sent directly to parents as the content can be distressing and the complex medical terminology needs to be interpreted correctly. If you would like to receive a copy of the report, you can request this through your doctor.
We can also prepare a plain language report for you in non-technical language for discussion with your healthcare professional. This report can be requested when completing and signing the post-mortem examination consent form.
For a full or limited post-mortem examination, small pieces of tissue about the size of a pea are routinely taken from every major organ for microscopic examination. Similarly, samples may be taken for testing by other departments (e.g. genetics, microbiology, and virology). A small piece of tissue (usually muscle) is also taken and frozen for storage for future testing (such as genetics) should this be required. The decision of what tissue is taken is determined by the pathologist at the time of the post-mortem. The results of these additional tests are included in the final report.
No. Unless you provide your consent for an organ to be retained, all organs are returned to the body. However, in some cases we may seek special permission to keep an organ for longer. For example, some organs (such as the brain) cannot be examined satisfactorily without chemical treatment (known as fixation). You may be asked by your healthcare provider (at the time consent is obtained) to give PathWest permission to keep the organ a little longer, and to complete part 3 of the consent form. If permission is granted and an organ is retained for fixation, the options for cremation and burial include: This is entirely up to you to decide. Your post-mortem coordinator or doctor will be able to offer advice and support.
Generally, it is best to contact your doctor or other health care provider with specific questions you may have. In some circumstances the post-mortem coordinator may be able to assist you. If you require information about Death Certificates following registration of a death, contact the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages on 1300 305 021 or visit their website (The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (www.wa.gov.au).
No, you don’t. Ideally, a post–mortem should be done as early as possible, but it is more important that you reach decisions you are comfortable with, and we understand that this may take some time. No examination of your baby will be performed without your consent. It is best to advise your treating team that you are still considering an autopsy, so that this information can be passed on to PathWest.
PathWest Perinatal Pathology are permitted by law to cremate babies that are stillborn and less than 28 weeks' gestation, provided we receive parental consent and the correct documentation. Please note that Perinatal Pathology cannot cremate your baby if it showed signs of life at birth (either a heartbeat or evidence of breathing) regardless of gestation. If a cremation is requested, you may choose from two options as indicated on the consent form: Option A – Interment of Ashes Service The Perinatal Pathology department conducts the cremations for the service towards the end of each month and combines the ashes of all babies together, to be placed in the rose garden. For King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital patients, Pastoral Care will provide service details and a booklet. For those parents whose babies are born at other hospitals, service details and booklet are sent to the parents by Perinatal Pathology on behalf of Pastoral Care Services informing them of the details. This service is free of charge. The service is held on the last Thursday of each calendar month (except for December when it is held on the third Thursday) and is conducted by the hospital’s Pastoral Care Service Team. Parents, their family, and friends are welcome to attend. Where consent has been given, the names of babies are read, and each parent and their family are encouraged to inter a portion of the ashes in the site prepared within the garden. The pastoral team contact details are:
Email: kemhpastoralcare@health.wa.gov.au
Phone: 08 6458 1726.
Where is the Memorial Garden?
The KEMH Memorial Garden was started in 1989. As this is a memorial garden, only ashes may be interred. As garden is for everyone, any personal tributes left in the garden will be removed on a regular basis. The memorial garden will be heritage listed and will remain at this site and will continue to be used for monthly services when the new Women’s Hospital is built.
Pictured: King Edward Memorial Hospital Memorial Garden
Option B: Individual Cremations An individual cremation means that the baby is cremated singularly/separately, and the ashes retained to return to the parents. A healthcare facility or department must be nominated and agree to receive the ashes, who will then hand these over to the parents. We ask that parents collecting ashes produce photo ID. If you nominate another person to collect the ashes, they must have written consent from the parents as well as photo ID.
Pictured: Ashes boxes
The Perinatal Pathology staff prepares mementos of your baby if you have given consent for mementos to be taken. The mementos include hand and footprints and photographs. There is no cost involved. Options for collection can be found on either the PathWest Consent for Cremation form (NCC Form 3A) or the PathWest Consent for Mementos form (NCC4). All photographs and hand and footprints are stored digitally and are kept indefinitely. Photographs and hand and footprints may be requested for collection at any time by contacting Perinatal Pathology. Original name bands sent to perinatal pathology cannot be given as mementos. These need to remain with your baby for identification purposes. If you wish to have a memorial name band, please speak to your midwife. You may wish to have mementos prepared by companies outside of Perinatal Pathology at your own cost (e.g. hand and foot moulds, jewellery imprints or professional photographs from Heart Felt). If this is the case, please liaise with Perinatal Pathology. You will be given the choice to decline mementos if you feel for any reason that you do not want photos taken or hand and footprints made. If you wish to decline, please complete the appropriate sections of the cremation consent form (if your baby is being cremated by Perinatal Pathology) or the Mementos Consent form (if your baby is going for a private burial or cremation). If you decline mementos, please understand that mementos will not be taken and will not be available to you in the future. If you are unsure, it may be better to consent to having mementos taken. These will be kept indefinitely and will be available at any time.
Pictured: Ashes boxes, hand and footprint cards
The Perinatal Pathology department have photos dating back to 1980 with hand and footprints dating back to 1990. Please note mementos were not taken on all babies before 2005. If you would like to enquire about photos hand and footprints, please contact Perinatal Pathology.
Yes. Perinatal Pathology can return your placenta upon request. If you would like to take your placenta home, please contact us. You must provide photo identification and sign a disclaimer prior to taking your placenta home. Although it is possible to take your placenta home, please note that it is not suitable for consumption after examination (including encapsulation). Laboratory processing requires the placenta to be fixed in formalin. Formalin is toxic and must not be ingested in any form. When collecting your placenta, you will be given a safety instruction sheet and will be asked to sign a disclaimer. More information regarding the release of human tissue. can be found at Release of Human Tissue and Explanted Medical Devices Policy (health.wa.gov.au)
Yes, you can. For some parents it is important to spend some time with their baby and family and friends in the privacy of their home or other place of special significance. You can choose to do this if you wish, although once released from PathWest Perinatal Pathology we are unable to take your baby back into our care for any reason, including cremation.
If you do decide to take your baby outside of your home or to a public place, it is recommended that you take into consideration the appropriateness of the venue and other people’s reactions to seeing a deceased baby.
You may choose not to take your baby home but rather leave your baby with the Perinatal Pathology Department, if you feel this is the right decision for you and your family. PathWest staff will either facilitate the cremation at KEMH (if your baby was stillborn and under 28 weeks' gestation), or release to your nominated Funeral Director. Please note that KEMH cannot cremate your baby if it had a heartbeat or breathed at birth, regardless of gestation.
To assist you in making decisions regarding transporting your baby from hospital, please read the guidelines below. These have been developed to explain the legal requirements that must be met dependant on your baby's gestation and explain the documents you may need if you wish to take your baby home.
For babies delivered before 20 weeks' gestation:
If your baby was stillborn before 20 weeks' gestation of pregnancy or weighed less than 400 grams (in cases of unknown gestation), there are no legal requirements for burial/cremation. However, when taking your baby from the hospital, you will be required to complete the Authorisation and Release of a Human Fetus or Placenta Consent Form.
You may choose to have your baby cremated at a public crematorium or buried in a cemetery. Alternatively, you may bury your baby in a place of your choosing, providing it is on private property and with the property owner’s permission. When burying on private property, it is recommended to prepare the site to a depth of at least 1 meter below ground and ensure the baby’s body is placed in an appropriately sealed container.
For babies delivered after 20 weeks' gestation:
If your baby was born alive (at any gestation), or born after 20 weeks' gestation, or weighed 400 grams or more, your baby must be buried or cremated in a registered location such as a cemetery or crematorium. If you choose to take your baby home, you will need to have plans in place for an appointed funeral director to collect baby for a funeral/burial/cremation, after you have spent time with your baby. This will need to be communicated to Perinatal Pathology staff and documented when taking your baby home.
Documentation
The following documents need to be completed and given to your nominated funeral director:
- MR295.95 – Permission to Transport Deceased Baby
- Form 7 – Certificate of Medical Practitioner
- BDM201 – Medical Certificate of cause of Stillbirth or Neonatal Death
The above documentation will need to always be kept together with your baby.
Transporting your baby
It is usual for parents to have a funeral director arrange transportation of their baby, although parents may choose to transport their baby themselves. If this is the case, your baby may travel with you in an enclosed carry cot or other suitable carrier, with the appropriate documentation (as above). This is particularly important should you have a car accident on route to your destination, as police, paramedics or ambulance staff will need to know that your baby was deceased when the accident occurred. For smaller babies under 20 weeks' gestation, the hospital may provide you with a sealed and labelled container to carry your baby in.
If you wish to transport your baby via a domestic or international airline, you will need to engage the services of a funeral director. Airlines require that stillborn babies travel in a casket or coffin in the hold of the aeroplane, and not in the cabin. The funeral director will organise this on your behalf. Babies being transported internationally are required to be embalmed prior to the flight, and this can also be arranged by a funeral director.
Caring for your baby at home
The room which you keep baby in must be kept cool and well ventilated. We recommend that you place baby on a bed of ice bricks while you are sleeping or at intervals during the day. Natural changes to your baby’s body will occur; these may include variations in the appearance of baby’s skin, such as peeling or changing in colour and an odour may be noticeable. Keeping baby cool will help to slow down the rate at which any changes will progress.
The Hospital has a Cuddle Cot which may be available; this assists in keeping your baby’s body at a stable temperature.
Please refer to the WA health website at Release of Human Tissue and Explanted Medical Devices Policy (health.wa.gov.au) for further guidelines regarding release of human tissue.
Private cremations and burials involve a registered funeral director. You and your family should contact the funeral director of your choice directly to make the appropriate arrangements for a private cremation or burial. This should be done as soon as possible as PathWest is not able to facilitate long term storage of your baby. The appropriate paperwork will need to be completed and the birth registered if applicable. Funerals with a registered funeral director incur a cost. Pastoral Care Services or Social Work departments can assist parents when considering various funeral options and choices. When arrangements are made, the funeral director will contact us to arrange the transfer of the baby into their care.
PathWest Perinatal Pathology staff cannot advise you on accessing bereavement payments. Please visit the website: What help there is when a child dies - Death of a loved one - Services Australia for more information.