Post-mortem
Post-mortem
A post-mortem is often recommended by the medical staff. What can be quite a sensible recommendation from a medical point of view does not necessarily have to be the right thing for the parents. You are free to decide if you want to opt for an autopsy or not. Give yourself time and, if you choose to opt for a post-mortem, take your time beforehand for the farewell rituals.
An autopsy can (but does not have to) inform you what the possible cause of death was.
Sometimes, however, the cause of death cannot even be discovered by an autopsy. It is as if the soul had decided against a life on earth.
An autopsy usually takes up to a week. During that time, parents have no access to the child. Furthermore, the body is opened up, which can result in alienation.
Exception
If there is any suspicion of an unnatural death after birth and the public prosecutor’s office is involved, the criminal investigation department is obliged to transfer the child to the forensic institute. An investigation into the exact cause of death is carried out there. It is important in this situation that the midwives support you as a parent by giving you time with the child before the police take it away from you. In any case, ask for a telephone number to contact them at any time to find out when your child will be returned.
You will not be notified about the ongoing proceedings, but you have the right to see the autopsy results.