Preparing babies in the mortuary 

I'm a student midwife, I helped a woman deliver her 18 week baby who passed in utero. She didn't want to see the baby, or anything, which I respect, everyone handles grief different. But me and my mentor prepared the baby regardless, dressed it in the smallest clothing we could find, took photos. If that mum ever wants the photos or mementos the hospital keeps them for years. It was a beautiful thing, to respect that tiny life.

I made funeral garments for newborns and premies for years after my daughter was murdered. It brought me a lot of peace.

Everytime I have to pick up a baby, I hold them our entire transportation. I may not be their mum, but atleast they get a mummy's touch on their way to the funeral home

I have been a mortician for thirty years. Babies do tend to dehydrate quickly. I always embalm unless the baby is premature and then I would use a topical gel preservative. Also, I am not sure if other homes do this, but we don't put little children in the back of the hearse, on house removals. We always have a funeral director carry the deceased child in their arms from their home and hold them until we get back to the funeral home. We always request a favorite stuffed toy to go with them. Nice video.

I lost my son when I was eight months pregnant. My Father was in the military, so I was at a military hospital. I was only 17 years old. They took him from me (with my Mom’s permission) and took him to Andrew’s AFB for an autopsy. Well that’s what my Mom told me, I didn’t believe her. The sad thing was I never got to see him or hold him😢 I always wanted to know what they did with his little body? As I am writing this, I am still very messed up over this and this happened in June 1985. My question is what did they do with my little boy’s body? This is the first time I have talked about this because it freaking HURTS!!!! After this happened, I wasn’t able to ever conceive a baby again. I am 55 years old with no children. I think about what would he have looked like today? I probably would be a grandmother now too. Thank you for letting me share my story and my son’s story too. His name would have been Dustin Lee.

I prepped my own baby for burial - 20 weeks gestation. I washed her, patted her dry, dressed her, and surrounded her with flowers. It was a very hard thing to do but was glad to have been able to do something for her myself. She came home from hospital with us and we buried her at dawn next morning.

Lost my son 19th May 2023 40weeks stillborn and the mortuary ladies at the hospital looked after my son before funeral directors got him. They danced with him, sang to him and read him stories and he was in his moses basket while they worked iswell x

My 1 daughter passed at 22 week gestation & another daughter from SIDS at 3 1/2 months full term.The pain is still there at my age of 60..My children are waiting for me & I can't wait to see them again.

Former hospital infant bereavement nurse here in the US. We considered ourselves very fortunate in what we were able to do for the family of our neonatal losses. We had a funeral home willing to do a free cremation for any loss, at any stage/age of the loss. We washed and dressed those of a size to do so. We also kept the body with the family as much as they wanted, whenever they wanted, until the mother was discharged from the hospital. A bassinet was available at bedside for those who wished to use it. As I explained it to nursing students, I couldn't do anything to 'make it better', that perinatal loss was one of the hardest parts of our jobs. My job was to give the family the start to a healthy grief and grieving time. I hope I was successful in that.

I'm in tears reading all the comments. In 1968, we lost our 2nd baby when he was 4 wks old. When he was buried his coffin was put in a grave with four elderly adults. My mum said, he's being looked after by them. I found it comforting, and when you said you put the babies in with adults, I started crying. Thankyou for being so caring 💞

I love the fact that you put babies by an adult in cold storage. That’s just a touching thing to know that babies aren’t alone❤

One of our sons lost their first born son at 21 weeks due to a congenital defect with bis urethra and his kidney’s had shut down so no in utero surgery could be be done. I was at his birth and he passed right after it. The nurse asked my son if he wanted to see his son right after the birth or when he was cleaned up and my son said when he was cleaned up. They came back into the room with his son wrapped up in a blanket with a blue bonnet and he had a white gown on as all babies do in the hospital and there was a blue teddy bear in the bassinet. It was just like he was alive in his bassinet and he was treated with the utmost respect and care. My son said to me “would you like to meet our son” and to this day (it’s been 15 years) it still brings tears to my eyes. He was so proud to show off his beautiful little boy and I can still see Jack in my mind today and who’s features he had. He was cremated and their son and daughter take turns having his urn in their room each week. They choose not to let the situation stop them from having more kids. The kids bake little “Jack” a birthday cake on his special day and they celebrate him. It is such a healthy way to keep Jack’s memory alive today and not having it as a big secret. My son had his tiny hand prints tattooed on his fore arm with his name and his wife had his foot prints tattooed on the back of her neck with his name. The tattoo artist was given the hand and foot prints and he said “oh let me blow them up to size” and they said “they are the actual size” and he fell silent. It was his first time tattooing such small hand and foot prints. Thank you for sharing.

My beautiful niece passed away at 6 weeks old and our local funeral home were wonderful, they told us she had lullabyes played to her and that she was never alone. It was very comforting. Thank you for everything you do Tracy.

I prepped my first newborn last week and I was amazed at how peaceful he looked. It was a very emotional day to say the least!

I donated my wedding dress to a lady who makes gowns for babies who have died.

Knowing they aren't put alone in the cold room is heart warming. That is always a heart breaking thought.

It brought tears to my eyes hearing how you take such special care of the babies and put them with someone else so they are never alone. So thoughtful

I worked in hospital transport for 39 years .Transporting the deceased from their patient rooms to the morgue was one duty .Happily not often - but there would be babies ,children and young people .Special care was always tried to be taken .

The most tragic funeral I've been to was a father and 2 kids died. It was back in the 90s. I don't remember what happened now its been so long. But I have never seen this before or since. Maybe you could discuss it on a video. All 3 were in the same casket. The Father was holding the baby and the younger one was laying against his side on their tummy. It really looked like they were all just laying down for a nap. I remember the wife was just inconsolable. I've never forgotten that one.

Just reading preparing babies in the mortuary makes me ill. It shouldn’t even exist but as a mom who’s lost 4 babies, I know that unfortunately it does exist. You can tell how much mom is in you by the way you hold the baby despite them being dead, it’s so loving and supportive of the head.

Bless you, popping babies with an adult in the cold store. The final act of care. That has really touched me.

I loved that the babies are treated so gently and being held like a normal living baby

In January 2023, I lost my daughter Idalia at 36 weeks and 4 days to stillbirth... I always hoped and prayed she would be treated with the utmost respect. Thank you for the video.

I requested no embalming for my 1 month old preemie. He had been through so much in his short life, I didn't want anything else done. Bathed, onesie, socks, soft blanket wrap. 💔

Lost twins at 22 weeks gestation and I was given pictures of them in little hats and cardies and the hospital had them buried... I wish I'd been given the chance to choose their funeral but I was in so much pain at the time. Good to know that you take good care of babies

I lost a baby girl at 22 weeks - it was the way the funeral home and beautiful people like u who gave me her little pink urn and the funeral home director personally came to give her ashes to me - this inspired my degree for a funeral home director here in the US

Hi Sweethearts !! I gotta tell ya Tracy, you put me in tears describing how you place a baby with another body while in cold storage. What a wonderful sweet thing to do. Where i had worked at didn't have a cold storage unit. But prepping children in general as you know can be very mentally and emotionally draining. The first child i assisted was a 15 month little girl. She was a child of a friend of mine. I was an emt. at the time of her death. She was hit by a big vehicle. I was on the call with the ambulance. She died instantly. I held her all the way to the hospital. I also assisted in the prepping of her. You see, her daddy would bring her to my home to play with my toddler son. Tough all around. Take care and God bless.👍🏻🙏💚

I had the privilege to watch my granddaughter being born and dress her. Seeing my daughter go through that was the worst experience of my life because I couldn’t help her and couldn’t save her beautiful little girl who was born sleeping but just so perfect. It still breaks my heart to this day, as a mother you want do take that pain away but I couldn’t. She had already a little boy and he got us through it because it was the 19th of December and we had to keep going for him. New year we had a private funeral and then she fell pregnant later in the year and I had another beautiful grandson and feel so privileged to have been in on the birth of all 3 of them. She will always be my first granddaughter and never will be forgotten. I now have 4 grandsons 2 with my other daughter & one born just weighing 1lb 9ozs emergency c section and a healthy 20 month old and his baby brother born in January this year weighing 5lb by c section and is a healthy 14 wk old happy little boy 💙❤️💙💙💙

Oh my goodness . . How sweet of her to keep the babies with adult. Never left alone that is the sweetest thing to kno that your baby is with SOMEONE while they're waiting for the final process. Omg. How precious

I would be honored to spend my last moments before cremation with a baby one last time. I think that is beautiful that they dont leave them alone.

My sweet baby was born at 24 weeks. My husband worked for the funeral home. I was so lucky to be able transport her to the funeral home, my husband was able to dress her. It was nice and comforting.

Imagine being the departed soul who is tasked with watching over the baby for the moments they are in cold storage

I lost my son at 2 months 15 days and I have so many questions. Thank you for helping with that.

We buried our 2.5 yr old over 40 years ago. The mortician did a wonderful job. You all do great work. ❤

My late mother lost and prepared her 7children for their final rest at different intervals and every time i face challenges in life i come down and keep her courage in mind. Much respect and RIP sweet mother💚💚

I'm getting comfort from this, my son was born asleep at full term 16 years ago x

I just found your channel. My grandson passed at 11 weeks. I helped my daughter dress him and he received an angel gown. The care he was given while at the funeral home was very comforting. Thank you for these videos. They’re great educational tools for people who haven’t experienced death and the process of dying. I will be showing these videos to people I help with the process. Bless you ladies!!

i lost a little girl at 21 weeks. hardest thing i ever went through. i like that you lay them with another so they aren't alone. that's a soothing thought. that's to me is respect to the tiny human they are.

I don't remember when I've been so touched. Small mercies mean a lot.

Prayers for any parent who lost a child. May God wrap you in his loving grace and mercy. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

My son Liam was stillborn at 28 weeks and I bathed him in the hospital but then he went to autopsy and once the funeral home had him they wouldn’t allow me to see him. I had to just leave his clothes and stuffed bear with the front desk. It broke my heart and I’ve always wondered if he got thrown away by the hospital and maybe we had just spent a small fortune on an empty casket and cemetery plot. I really really really hope I’m wrong. It was back in 2003 and it still bothers me.

Decades ago my ten year old was killed in a car crash. The mortuary helped us so much. They did a closed casket due to the massive head trauma she suffered. Once the funeral was over and everyone was outside, i insisted that they open the casket. I wasn't prepared for what i saw. They had put so much filler and heavy makeup on her face that i almost didn't know she was my child. So there are valid reasons that they have the casket closed.

I crochet blankets and Angel gowns for my hospital’s NICU. It’s my way to honor one of my older sisters who was stillborn.

How sweet that they’re not alone.❤ What a thoughtful gesture.

I think that this demonstrates how special people have to be to do this.

One of my co-teachers her foster son passed away due to complications of being a micro-preemie…he was 16 months old & constantly in & out of the hospital. His funeral was yesterday & I just couldn’t go & see a baby that I had cared for at work…seeing him smile whenever I walked into his classroom & hearing his little voice saying hi to me. It’s so heartbreaking!!

I just wanted to thank the comment section for sharing their experiences so openly. My deepest condolences. I also wanted to contribute my care through the funeral industry because it called me to it but unfortunately it never came to fruition. My utmost respect to you for being in this profession. Rest In Paradise Sweet Little Angels.

I just found your channel. My best friend’s 34 day grand baby died. It’s been just horribly tragic. We are in USA. Some funeral homes allow the family to assist with preparation, but we were too traumatised to do this. The funeral directors were all so kind and lovely. Here, in USA, we are just this last decade or so, have many more female funeral directors. This experience really showed me that you care for the body of the deceased, but for the hearts and souls of the family left grieving. I have already subscribed and will watch more of your videos. Your sweet manner and soft beauty must be a comfort to the grief stricken.

This subject breaks my heart. I lost a child through miscarriage. You guys do an amazing job that I don’t think I could do.

I think it’s absolutely beautiful that you place the baby next to an adult so they are not alone. I use to find it sad to see a small baby alone on a big tray

I worked in L and D and Newborn nursery. The hardest thing was taking one of the little angels downstairs and handing them off.

I live in the US, and I'm donating my body. Maybe the congenital issues I suffer from could help others in the future.

It takes a special person. And I do not have the heart to do it. Makes me cry just watching. I cried when I lost my parents & Im so thankful someone did that for us.

I like the way you held the baby 🐥 when u were getting her ready for preparation looks like you were telling the child that everything gonna be alright because mama loves you. I never saw anything like that I almost Teared this 65 years old man up. You both are Excellent 👌.

Thankyou ladies. Our little girl passed at 2 weeks old in the NICU. We were given an angel gown and she was dressed in it shorty before she passed - had some lovely photos taken by Heartfelt. I never knew what happened to her little body after we said goodbye in the private room and before we got her ashes back. Even 9 years on, it is a comfort to now that she was likely not left 'alone' - depending on if Flinders Hospital does that or not.. It was such a whilrwind of a time and we were told very very little of what was going on.😢 Thankyou again for filling in some of the blanks. ❤‍🩹

So sad little babies ! Thats lovley that you put them in care with an adult and teddy . ❤️

My younger brother was missing for 4 months, until I saw a news report that someone found human remains .In my gut I knew it was him and I was right. He was in his 40’s this was last year and it is still so hard. I was asked to attend a baby’s funeral 10 days ago but it really hit me hard and I just couldn’t attend. I pray that things will get easier maybe I expect too much of myself and just need time 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻😢

As a person who worked in a casket company, it was hard to deal with the baby casket. I was always more careful when dealing with these little caskets. God bless them!

Great video, Tracy, you are a special kind of person, when you said you put the baby with another person so it would be alone brought tears to my eyes. what a caring person you are Take care both of you, best wishes from NZ

I lost my son 15 years ago he was born at 24 weeks he was a twin i feel grateful he passed away at royal Brisbane Hospital because they seem so kind there they did photos for me as I couldn’t go see him myself I wanted to remember him alive

❤🙏 that's sweet putting babies with an adult so they aren't alone. Something I never thought about.

My preemie baby who died, we had cremated because we didn’t know if we would always live where we lived (that was 28 years ago) and we have moved out of state twice. So… his ashes are with us 😊

I think that putting the baby with another person is just lovely. Thank you for that.

Thank you for this. My grandbaby died at 29 days. I’m thankful for the respect

Back in 1973 we lost my little 1 month old nephew to SIDS. Unfortunately, because of living out of state I did not get to see him when he was alive. He was such a beautiful baby lying in his little coffin. He just looked like a sleeping doll. I have always wondered in that decade here in the states if they embalmed a baby or used something to preserve them to make them look so lifelike? I love the way you take care of these precious little ones.

Omg it broke me seeing how extra loving and carefully they handled the baby.

God bless everyone who has a special calling to do this type of work🙏

So caring and such compassion shown towards the babies..... am so happy to hear babies are carried out in someone's arms

I cried about babies not being alone

This is a really beautiful post and I am so moved that you would be so kind and respectful to keep a baby with another person despite them dying alone 😞 this had never occurred to me and frankly I think this is an incredible gesture 😞💙 one of the hardest things I ever had to do as a trainee nurse (we are talking 30 years ago) was being taken down to the morgue by a senior nurse and dressing a baby to be viewed by a family, it was heartbreaking and I remember to this day the physical things we had to hide (in the end though I think she looked beautiful 😞☺️💙) I was 18

Putting them snuggled up to someone else, although a stranger seems such a lovely touch. I'd want my baby with someone else too and not alone in a fridge 😢 ❤ xx

That so sweet that you put them with people so they don’t lay alone ❤️❤️😓

Its so sad but its nice how she still holds it with so much care as if it is still alive

Traci your so sweet not to let the little one be alone. Love you both

God bless you for your service and support given to the families. I was a funeral director for three years, and I loved it.

Omg I'm broken. How loving She is with the babies. And puts them with adults saw the baby isn't alone. Oh my God this lady's breaking me

every parents worst nightmare losing a child so soon it must be so hard to do

How caring of you to place the babies with an adult. That is truly an act of kindness and such a sweet, sweet thing for you to do for these babies and their families! I am amazed watching these video and they have answered so many questions I had after losing my husband. Thanks for all these great videos! Great job ladies!!

I lost my oldest daughter at 5 months to SIDS in 1989. I didn't have any more children until 2001 (boy) and 2003 (boy girl twins). I couldn't bare the thought of losing another child. They are all grown and healthy and know they have a big sister watching over them.

Hi both, I have just found your channel and am working my way through watching your videos, which are brilliant; especially for someone like me that has a fascination with this sort of thing. I have to say, I put off watching this video for a while, as I didn’t want to face that little babies come to you guys. But I am so glad I watched and you approached this subject. You really are a kind soul, having the little teddy and letting the babies rest with an adult while they are with you is just the most thoughtful thing, on so many levels - I have no doubt that the families of babies that are with you are so comforted by your actions that their little one isn’t alone when mummy and daddy can no longer be with them. Thank you for everything you do for the people you care for xxx

Thank you for helping teach the world about death: you explain in such a caring and compassionate way 🤗

You ladies are doing something I could never do. Thank you both for all of it. I personally may not like kids, and I won't have any of my own, but by the love of all existance, I wish children couldn't die.

wow..so sweet of you, and what a nice thought..about laying the baby with another body so its not on his own...

People in this line of work are truly Earths Angels. Thank you to all the mothers who have shared their stories. I always thought I did not want kids. I have grown to love them, and I hate that my fear of loving them too much if I had to do something like this scares me to try. I know I wouldn't be strong enough....

Such a difficult topic. You handle with such Grace. Thank you ♥️

WOW, I just happened across you lovely ladies. I live in the US and watch Coffee with Kari. Kari the Mortician. I just love her to pieces and you may too!! I lost my first baby girl right about 8 hrs after fullterm birth. I didn't even get to see her. My husband and in-laws kept the casket closed. My family nor myself couldn't see her nor could anyone hold her but them. He was controlling, he is dead now!!!!! I have 2 girls now🥰🥰. This was 43 yrs ago.

Well you do totally different than here in the states. Our son which passed at 2-1/2 years old, the funeral home did an entire embalming and they sealed his lips and eyes with glue. We paid a pretty penny for that and found out later that most if it did not have to be done. No refund but later on when we transferred his remains to another county, we found out they dropped the vault and busted everything and never said they were sorry for anything.

So kind and respectful and absolutely thoughtful. It must be one of the most difficult things to do as a mortician. You are an amazing lady. ❤

Oh, I hope I get a baby to hold after I pass! Let me be of use at every phase of my time on Earth, beginning to end. Let my body regenerate the soil after some student learns what they can from my remains.

❤ In all the comments you've responded to, my heart breaks for each and every loss but is warmed by the comfort you offer to these parents and families. Thankyou.

My grandson was born in May and only lived for 5hrs, it's a heart wrenching situation 😢😢😢 he was such a beautiful baby ❤❤❤

This is something I could never do I’d be a mess

This is your most touching and endearing video. The tenderness you showed and spoke about shows what a truly special person you are. Just rewatched this one again.

So sad but beautiful that you store a baby w an adult. Brought a tear to my eyes. Kind that you tell the family, but do you tell the family of the adult that their loved one had a final special job too?

It's nice to know how both my stillborn babies were looked after I delivered them .,...thanx

Your compassion for the little ones has me in tears. Thank you. 💖💖

I worked in labour ward and caught the NICU babies. Some parents did not want to see or name their deformed or dead babies. If the babies lived for a short time and parents wanted nothing to do with them, we used to Christen/ Baptise them with Holy Water before death, only believers could perform this. Babies were treated with so much respect after death, they were bathed and dressed, swaddled and carried to the Mortuary where they were also treated very gently and respectfully.

I was so touched that you will put the babies in with some one else. I think that is just so sweet and special. Thank you for doing that for angel babies

My baby was stillborn at 35.5weeks, she wasn’t embalmed however we did have an autopsy, we were able to spend a day and a half with her..her body was deteriorating pretty quickly sadly….I wasn’t able to have more time…I’m so grateful to have had that time with her. She would have been 13 at the end of January 2024.

You are a very special lady! Love that you put infant with an adult so they are “ not alone”. Very touching. Bless you!