If you choose to take the pregnancy remains away with you after treatment – it is important that you understand the following information.
The law allows you to take the pregnancy remains away with you and to make your own arrangements for them. We will place the remains in a container which is opaque (you cannot see through it), water-tight and made of biodegradeable material. If you intend to leave items (such as containers or mementoes) in public areas where the remains are buried or the ashes are buried/scattered - all materials used should be biodegradable.
You could contact a funeral director to arrange a service, burial or cremation. If you would like specialist help with the service, for instance from a Humanist adviser or a community faith leader, a funeral director should be able to provide you with a relevant contact. You can contact a cemetery or crematorium direct. There will probably be a cost to you for a service, burial or cremation - but this need not be expensive. It may be worth approaching a number of funeral directors for information about their costs and services.
You may bury the remains in your own garden or in another place which has a special meaning for you. Woodland or natural burial sites are available too (the Natural Death Centre can advise).
If you wish to bury the remains on private land, you need to know that:
If you intend to bury the remains in your garden, you should consider how you will feel if you move house, or if the land is used for a new purpose.
If you choose a communal cremation, no ashes are available afterwards. Because of the nature of the cremation process and the fragility of the pregnancy remains, there may be no ashes left after individual cremation either. If you feel that it is important to scatter ashes, you should discuss this with your funeral director or crematorium well before the cremation.
If you do have ashes, you can scatter or bury them:
You may scatter the ashes on water but not:
The clinic can provide you with advice and contact details of funeral directors, cemeteries or crematoria.
Other organisations and authorities which can offer advice include:
Sands (stillbirth and neonatal death charity) - call: 020 7436 5881
National Association of Funeral Directors - call: 0845 230 1343
British Humanist Association (BHA) - call: 020 7324 3060
Natural Death Centre - call: 01962 712 690
Environment Agency - call: 03708 506 506