Miscarriage Kits
The purpose of the miscarriage kit is to collect the baby and placenta, and to measure blood loss. There is a video for instruction on this page and written directions below.
To parents who are experiencing the loss of a baby…
We are so sorry that your baby has died. Those of us involved in the Heaven’s Gain ministry understand first-hand how devastating a miscarriage can be, and are sorry for all you are going through.
We pray daily for those experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. We are called to this ministry so that all parents have respectful delivery options, and the chance to grieve for their child. When facing decisions about fetal or infant loss, parents should be fully informed and not be rushed into any decisions. Naturally, we advise you to listen to your doctor’s advice. Usually there is enough time to consider many of the necessary choices.
We would like to make a few recommendations that we hope will help as you grieve and heal:
Pray to God for physical emotional and spiritual strength as you deliver your miscarried baby.
While you are waiting, ask your doctor about the warning signs for medical issues such as excessive bleeding, fever, or infection. Waiting for the baby to deliver can be very frustrating. Wondering when the baby will deliver and what will happen can make you anxious.
Please understand it is not unusual for a baby to deliver as long as three to four weeks after he or she has died. The placenta usually keeps growing until the baby delivers.
To prepare for the delivery, you can buy a miscarriage kit from this site, or create your own. We recommend an expandable colander, squirt bottle, re-sealable plastic bag for storage of placenta, a vessel in which to place the baby, and rubber gloves. You may also want to locate a picture of a baby the age and size of your baby at the same gestational age.
Below is our recommendation for using the miscarriage kit. Consult with your doctor for his/her medical direction.
Please note: this information is not medical advice. For all medical questions, contact your physician. Your doctor may suggest delivering in a hospital if you experience symptoms like excessive bleeding, fever, or infection. Ask your doctor what to watch for, as some symptoms may be life-threatening.
Heaven’s Gain Miscarriage Kit includes:
- White collection pan to measure blood loss
- A squirt bottle to rinse the colander contents
- Colander to catch the baby
- A vessel in which to place the baby
- Pictures of baby development
- Disposable gloves
- Blood loss measurement chart
- A bag to place the placenta in for possible chromosomal testing
- 2 Thick resealable bags to store the miscarriage kit and colander
Client Directions for Using the Miscarriage Kit:
- Once you start spotting, bring the miscarriage kit into the bathroom with you.
- Remove the contents of the miscarriage kit.
- Fill the squirt bottle with water.
- Put on the gloves. If you choose to use them.
- Place the collection pan in the toilet to measure blood loss. Remove during urination.
- Expand the blue colander by gently pushing down the center area & place it in the white collection pan.
NOTE: During urination, the blood collection pan is removed, but you will need to hold the colander to catch anything that may pass as you urinate. Use of the colander will allow your urine to pass through while retaining clots.
- Once you see contents in the colander, bring the colander to the sink and place the collection pan to the side to maintain an accurate blood loss measurement. Use the squirt bottle to rinse off the blood to reveal the contents in the colander at the sink.
- If there are any contents in the strainer, examine those contents.
- Discern and distinguish blood clots from the placenta, sack, cord, and baby. Use the pictures of baby development to find the baby. Please understand, your baby may not look the same due to chromosomal abnormalities or decomposition that may have begun.
- Each time you empty the collection pan, record amount of blood loss onto the blood loss chart.
- Repeat until the baby and placenta have passed. This may take many trips to the bathroom.
- If you find the baby, carefully place your baby in the vessel. The very small baby’s body is fragile and can be placed in the vessel with water (preferably saline solution/contact solution) to keep the fragile baby’s body safe and to view the baby. When not viewing the baby, please keep the baby in the vessel in the refrigerator until burial.
- If you choose to use the saline bath to preserve the baby, fill the vessel with saline solution (contact lens solution will work). This will recreate a womb-like environment. Place the lid on the bottle and lay it on its side. Observe your baby peacefully floating in saline solution. You may wish to take pictures.
- Finding your baby’s body does not always happen. Breakdown sometimes happens before delivery.
- The placenta is usually thicker than a clot. One side is bloody while the other side is iridescent, and you can usually see some veins. The placenta can be placed in the bag for future testing or to be viewed by the doctor. If you are having genetic testing, put the placenta in the small resealable bag, and refrigerate it until you can bring it to the hospital or doctor. If not choosing to test, you may dispose of the placenta in the toilet.
- If you do not find the baby, clean the colander and let it air dry. Discard gloves and place the colander back in the large storage bag until the next trip to the bathroom. Start the process again on the next trip to the bathroom.
Miscarriage caskets for burial can be found at https://heavensgain.org/1st-trimester-miscarriage-caskets/
For more information contact Heaven’s Gain Ministries @ (513) 607-6083 to talk to one of our Advocates for Parents of Perinatal Loss (APPL). Your assigned APPL can prepare you for the miscarriage and is available via phone during the miscarriage. APPL’s are advocates only and do not provide any medical advice. Please contact your doctor with all medical questions.
All support services are free. Please refer to the enclosed brochure for more information.
Group support is available on the second Thursday of each month on Zoom. Call (513) 619-0100 for more information about available group support, and to access the Zoom ID + password.
Individual and couple support is also available.
More information on support services can be found at https://heavensgain.org/services-2/
***Note: For informational & educational purposes only, does not substitute for medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.
