Frequently Asked Questions for Support Staff: Miscarriage,
Products of Conception and the MVA Procedure
Frequently Asked Questions about Miscarriage
1. When did my baby die? Why did my baby die?
“It’s often hard not to have a definitive answer and we do know that about 20% of pregnancies end
in early miscarriage for many reasons. I also know that your provider would be able to address these
questions and concerns much more completely with you. Shall I let him know that you have
questions?”
2. Did my baby have a heart beat before it died?
“Heart beats (cardiac activity) usually can be detected at about 6 weeks of pregnancy. However, we
are not sure when or why you had the miscarriage so I cannot answer this question exactly. Would
you like to talk more with your provider about this?”
3. Could you tell if my baby was a boy or girl?
“The external organs that indicate the baby’s sex can usually be seen on ultrasound after 14 weeks
and you were too early in your pregnancy for us to be able to tell. I know its often hard to not have
all the information about your pregnancy”
“I don't know the answer to your question, but I can find someone who will be better able to discuss
this with you.”
4. Based on the tissue taken out, how many weeks pregnant was I?
“The report from the ultrasound shows that you were_____weeks. If you have additional questions, I
can have someone talk to you about how many weeks pregnant you were based on the tissue
examination.”
5. Can I try to get pregnant right away again? How long do I have to wait until I try?
“It is my understanding that most women can try to get pregnant as soon as they are emotionally
ready; and that can vary from person to person. I also encourage you to talk with your provider more
about future pregnancies.”
“These are questions that I cannot answer. I can let your provider know that you have questions
concerning future pregnancies.”
6. I have heard that women having abortions have an increased risk of breast cancer from the
hormones and tissue involved. Since my miscarriage is a type of abortion, do I have a greater risk
of breast cancer?
“This is something that has been studied extensively by scientists and thus far, no connection has
been established between miscarriages, abortion and breast cancer.”
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7. Did this miscarriage happen because of something I did wrong?
“Many women share your concern, that it was something they did that caused them to miscarry. I
can tell you that we that about 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage often without any specific
reason why. It can be emotionally hard not to know why it happened. It sounds like it might be
important for you to talk with your provider more about this would you like for me to let your
provider know your question?”
8. This is my third miscarriage. I feel so angry and like such a failure. I don’t understand why this is
happening to me.
“This sounds like a very frustrating and sad time for you. You are asking very good questions and it’s
important to remember that a wide range of feelings are very normal. I’m sorry that I cannot answer
all your questions, but shall I alert your provider that you would like to talk with him. Is there
anything else that I can do?”
9. I am so sad. I apologize for crying in here but I could not cry in front of my husband since he was
so upset.
Often it helps the patient to just be silent and allow her to grieve and cry in your presence. If it feels
comfortable, ask permission to hold her hand.
“Crying can help one’s grieving process and please do cry if you feel like it. May I sit with you while
you do? I want to assure you that a wide range of feelings are really normal and that this is a safe
place to cry. “
10. We did not want this pregnancy and I am relieved that I am miscarrying, but I am also feeling
guilty.
“It sounds like you are struggling with some feelings right now - and women have a wide range of
emotions after a miscarriage. No one knows what causes a miscarriage to happen and you cannot
hold yourself personally responsible for this. It may be helpful for you to know that over half of all
pregnancies are unintended and your feelings sounds very normal.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Pregnancy Tissue/Products of Conception
1. What did my baby look like?
It is often helpful to ask first, “What do you think your baby looked like at this stage of the
pregnancy?”
“At the time of your miscarriage, you were ____ weeks pregnant. Would it be helpful to see a copy of
the ultrasound or a picture of what the tissue looks like at this stage?”
2. What does the tissue look like?
It may be helpful to normalize the question by affirming the need to see the tissue by saying:
“It’s normal to want to see the tissue and we want to do whatever we can to help you through your
miscarriage. I want you to know that the tissue looks different based on the number of weeks of the
pregnancy. Would you like to see a picture of tissue at the same number of weeks pregnant that you
were?”
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3. I want to take my baby home.
“That is a request that many of our patients make and unfortunately, we cannot grant it. When you
have a miscarriage in a facility such as a hospital or clinic, they must follow federal and state rules.
Some of these rules state that patients may not take tissue home; however, there are variations in
interpretations, so let me inquire about this institution’s policies.”
4. I want to take something home with me because I want to have a ceremony to say good-bye to
my baby.
“As a health care institution, we are not allowed to provide tissue to you. Would it be helpful to talk
about other ways to honor your pregnancy (a good-bye letter, planting something, picture of
ultrasound)?”
Know your institution’s policies about releasing a picture.
5. Do you donate my pregnancy/my baby for research?
“Pregnancy Tissue would never be donated without the written permission of you, the patient.”
Know the policy of your institution in regards to tissue donation.
6.
What do you do with the tissue?
“There are federal and state guidelines that say how the tissue is handled and that is the same for all
other blood and blood products. Would you like more information?”
If the answer is yes, then you can say, “Tissue from each miscarriage is put into a separate container,
picked up by anther agency and disposed of according to biomedical directions.” If patient presses
for more information, you can also say it is then incinerated or burned.
It is important to honestly answer the question and avoid words like “medical waste” or “biohazard
material.”
7. I want to see some of the tissue so I can baptize it.
“I can arrange for you to see the tissue to do this. Before I do this, what do you think the tissue will
look like? What do you need to perform the baptism?”
8. Do other women ask to see their baby’s tissue?
“Many women ask to see their baby’s tissue, and we are happy to show it to you.”
9. Have you ever had a miscarriage? Do you know how I feel?
“That is a very good question. Each individual woman’s feelings and experiences are all so different
and this visit is focused on you. We need to be sure that your feelings and questions are addressed so
that your needs are met.”
Frequently Asked Questions about the Uterine Evacuation Procedure
1. Can you explain what the provider will do during the procedure?
Clarify just what the patient wants to know – is it the step-by-step process or just the actual
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procedure? You might ask the patient: “What would be the most helpful for you—to have each step
of the procedure told to you as it occurs or would you just like a summary of the procedure?”
2. Can my husband/partner/friend be with me the entire time?
Be familiar with your institution's policies about this before telling the patient yes. Some will allow
partners in the room and recovery area while others do not. If partners are allowed in the room, be
certain of where you wish to seat them and give them directions on what to do.
“Yes, your husband may be in the room. We will provide directions for him so that both of you are
comfortable.”
3. Will my husband/partner see anything?
“We will seat your husband/partner near your to offer support and in that position, he will not see
anything.”
4. Will this hurt?
“Every woman's experience will be very different. In general, we will work with you to make this
procedure as comfortable as possible. It will be important that you let us know when it is
uncomfortable for you.”
5. What will it feel like?
Clarify with the patient what “it” means to her. Once that is clear, the patient’s question can be
answered more precisely.
6. Is this a safe procedure?
“Your procedure is being performed by an experienced provider in an institution that is known for its
quality of healthcare in the community. This is also a procedure that is performed often and the
techniques that have been developed have been proven to be successful most of the time.”
7. How does the provider know they have gotten all of the tissue?
“Usually at the end of the procedure, the provider will examine the tissue. Based on the number of
weeks pregnant that you were, the provider knows what to look for when they examine the tissue. If
they see it all, which is the usual situation, they return to the room and tell you that they are finished
and you may get dressed.”
8. What do I need to do for follow-up?
“The staff in the recovery area will provide specific instructions for you to follow for the next few
weeks. You might also want to talk to your provider if you have additional questions after that.”
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