Reverence for the Unborn Deceased It's a time when many grieving parents and loved ones will rely on their faith and the support of their Church. For this reason, Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes provides a traditional burial for babies who die in pregnancy or at birth, and care and compassion for their parents.
As a general principle, the Church encourages funeral rites for unbaptized infants and stillborn babies.
It is a legal requirement that the body of a stillborn baby or a baby who dies in the newborn period be buried, cremated, placed in a mausoleum or a permanent resting place. To this end you may choose to create a personal or individual service to mark your baby's life in the form of a funeral or memorial service.
Many families are concerned about what has happened to their baby's soul if the child was not baptised before death. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1261 states, “As regards to children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them.
Zelonis said Catholics should respond to the loss of a baby with compassion, understanding and "respect for the life that was and is present to God, even if it is no longer present to the world." Medical professionals also have guidance in responding to stillbirth or miscarriage.
Babies who are stillborn (born dead) after 24 weeks of pregnancy (until 1992, after 28 weeks), or die during infancy, must be buried or cremated. Cemeteries and crematoria are required to keep records of all such burials and cremations.
Although there is no legal requirement to have a burial or cremation, some hospitals offer burials or cremations for miscarried babies. Sometimes a number of babies are buried or cremated together.
However, at any stage of pregnancy loss, you can and may want to have a funeral or memorial service. 1 Some people do not want to have a funeral. If this is you, honor yourself and your wishes. There is no "right" and "wrong" when it comes to funerals after a miscarriage or stillbirth.
Limbo is the nether region where, according to Roman Catholic tradition, unbaptized babies go after death. It's a pleasant enough place, though devoid of the bliss of God's presence.
Making funeral arrangements
A baby who's stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy must by law be formally buried or cremated, although a funeral isn't legally required.
In many cases stillborn babies were buried in a shared grave with other babies. These graves are usually unmarked, though they do have a plot number and can be located on a cemetery plan. In other cases, babies were buried in shared graves with adults. In many cases several babies were cremated together.
Some states may allow burial of a baby on private property, but others do not - be sure to check with local burial officials if you want to bury a baby in your yard. If you belong to a church, you can ask your pastor or priest to conduct a burial ceremony for the baby.
The nurse / midwife will offer you appropriate memory making opportunities, however your options with regards to the care of pregnancy remains remain the same. When a baby is born under 24 weeks gestation and shows no signs of life, there is no legal re- quirement to have a funeral.
Because of the mystery involved, the celebration of funeral rites for an unbaptized child usually requires the permission of the local bishop who considers the pastoral circumstances involved (see Canon 1183.2 of the Code of Canon Law). These rites are usually done more for the sake of the living than for the dead.
If your baby is under 350 grams or less than 20 weeks gestation, you have two options. You may choose to bury or cremate his or her remains through a funeral home. Or, you may choose for the hospital to handle the disposition of the remains at no charge.
If your baby was born dead before 24 completed weeks of pregnancy (legally described as a “late miscarriage”), the death cannot be registered. But the funeral director, or the crematorium or cemetery, must have a Medical Certificate from the hospital before the burial or cremation can take place.
Pregnancy loss is defined differently around the world, but in general a baby who dies before 28 weeks of pregnancy is referred to as a miscarriage, and babies who die at or after 28 weeks are stillbirths.
Although this can be hard, some people want the chance to hold the baby and say goodbye. Hospitals may have trained staff to help support you. You will probably go home the next day.
A rainbow baby is a baby born after miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, termination for medical reasons, stillbirth or neonatal death. The rainbow symbol has been used by members of the baby loss community for many years.
After the birth, you'll be able to choose whether you see and hold your baby. This is a very personal choice which you can discuss with your midwife and doctors looking after you. In the past, many parents who had stillbirths were not allowed to see their babies. Some are still sad they never had this chance.
You don't have to enter a name for your baby in the register, but if you don't add a name, be aware that you can't add it afterwards. When a baby is stillborn, a single stillbirth certificate is issued, rather than a separate birth and death certificate.
What not to say after a stillbirth. Don't call Rhianna's death 'the event', 'that thing that happened', 'the problem', or 'the issue'. Rhianna is and was our baby girl. She isn't 'an event', she is our baby.