Understanding why your baby died may be the most pressing question you have.
One of the key key processes that might provide some answers is a hospital review. The hospital review – or the Perinatal Mortality Review Tool (PMRT) is done for ALL baby deaths after 22 weeks, and the only type of review done for 90% of babies.
You have a right to be part of this review and have your questions and concerns answered.
You might also be offered a post mortem examination for your baby. This is undertaken by a specialist known as a perinatal pathologist and tries to understand the pathological cause of death – the medical reason. A senior health care professional should talk to you about your options for having a post mortem, dependent on when your baby died and what’s already known about their death. Only in rare cases are post-mortems undertaken without your consent.
Below are links where you can find more detailed information about both processes as well as an FAQ section.