Placing your baby in the womb-like environment of the vessel, allows family members to cuddle and rock the baby without worrying about skin breakdown. Also, the clear vessel provides a wonderful opportunity to take beautiful pictures.  

For a warmer feel, wrap the vessel with a vessel cover or blanket. Vessels are included in Heaven’s Gain miscarriage kits, casket orders, and can be purchased in small quantities. For larger babies that are too big to place in a vessel, a large saline bathtub is used at many hospitals and funeral homes. Hospitals usually have their own saline on hand to fill up the bath. 

We recommend gently rinsing your baby with clean water (distilled water preferred) prior to placing them in the vessel to clean off any blood, vernix, or uterine tissue.  By rinsing the baby prior to placing them in the vessel, you get the clearest view of your baby while in the vessel, which is really helpful for pictures.  As the baby’s redness decreases the water may become more pink.  In this situation, you may wish to carefully change the water in the vessel.

These are written remarks about the helpfulness of the vessel: 

• Thank you for recommending the vessel. I must say, I was amazed at the difference it made in our son’s appearance.

• When he was floating in the solution, I could see his little fingers and toes. They moved a bit as the water flowed between them.

• It was so  much easier to see the details when he was in the water.

• He just looked at peace, as I imagine he did in my wife’s womb.  Anthony

• The change was amazing. My baby looked so much better. He was beautiful. I am so glad I tried it. I highly recommend using the saline water in the bottle with the baby. His improved appearance was very important to my healing.

• It was amazing to see my beautiful babies in a natural environment. It was as if I could look into my womb and freeze a moment in time.

• I could count fingers and toes as he floated in the water.

• In the bottle with the saline solution, my baby’s body was supported by the buoyancy of the water, and his skin had a better color (more peach than tan/gray). I could take time to marvel at how beautifully and perfectly he was formed, even at such a young gestational age. Without the Saline Solution Technique, I wouldn’t have been able to get over how limp and fragile his body was.

• This really helped me to see one of my twins so much better, I’m grateful I was able to use the saline.

• In the bottle with the saline solution, my baby’s body was supported by the buoyancy of the water and appeared a healthier color (more peach skin tone than tan/gray).

The ratio of water to saline is as follows for each size vessel to achieve the 0.9% solution. 

• Extra small, 4 ounce vessel: Add ½ a packet of saline to 4 ounces of water to create a 0.9% saline solution.   
• Small, 8 ounce vessel: Add 1 packet of saline to 8 ounces of water to create a 0.9% saline solution.  
• Medium 16 ounce vessel:  Add 2 packets of saline to 16 ounces of water to create a 0.9% saline solution.  
• Large vessel, 32 ounce vessel : Add 4 packets of saline to 32 ounces of water to create a 0.9% saline solution.  

Salt is a natural preservative and it has been used for preserving for thousands of years. The specific 0.9% (m/v) NaCl is recommended. Too much NaCl (hypertonic solution) will cause human cells to shrink, crenation. Too little NaCl (hypotonic solution) can cause cells to swell, hemolysis. That is why we recommend 0.9% m/v.

Fill the bottle to the very top so that there are few if any bubbles.

It is recommended that you place the baby so the feet at the lid end of the vessel. That allows a better view of the baby’s face.

Some changes will appear immediately, while others take 3-4 hours. The fingers and toes start to float immediately, but the decrease of redness may take up to 4 hours.

Yes that is not a problem but, of course, be very gentle.

The baby’s appearance will be improved after taking them out of the vessel. The baby’s redness should continue to be less. The baby can start to dehydrate if left out for a prolonged period.

We recommend that families place the baby in a cold, not frozen, place (such as the refrigerator or a cooler) when not viewing the baby, to also slow the deterioration. These techniques can be used for 2-4 days until burial.

Explain that the baby was peacefully floating in the womb prior to birth and that this is a way to recreate the womb environment where the baby will peacefully float. The water allows the baby to transform to an even more beautiful appearance. It also allows the fingers and toes to gently move through the water and the head to appear less gelatinous.

If the baby is being embalmed (only possible at later gestation such as 37+ weeks), saline is not needed. However, some families may prefer saline to embalming. Also, in the hospital before the baby is transferred to a funeral home, the saline can still be a meaningful method for viewing and taking pictures of the baby. 

We do not recommend freezing the vessel or the baby.  The baby like all of us is primarily made of water and water expands and cracks so we do not recommend freezing the baby in the vessel.

The water will turn pink from any blood that seeps out. The water can be changed as often as the family wishes. Many parents like to change the water every 3-4 hours like they would change a diaper. It gives the family another way to parent their child.

Salt is a natural preservative but this is not a long term preservative for a baby. Saline water only slows the deterioration of the baby and does not prevent it. Saline Bath technique is a natural way to temporarily preserve the baby a few days until burial. When not being viewed, the baby in the saline bath should be in a refrigerated place to further slow the deterioration.

No, that’s totally up to you. If you are uncomfortable burying the baby in the vessel, it can simply be used temporarily to help preserve your baby thus improving his/her appearance in and out of the water.  It is fine to place your baby in the casket without the vessel.

Yes, the vessels are made of plastic to allow some expansion if the ground freezes.

Call our Heaven’s Gain Hotline 16 hour a day (8am to midnight eastern time) at 513-888-4200 for any additional questions. One of our Advocates for Parents of Perinatal Loss (APPL) will be happy to answer your questions to the best of her ability.

If you purchased a miscarriage kit, a sturdy card handout is included. On this card handout, you will find a QR code link to written instructions with more details on the proper use of the miscarriage kit.