Gruesome Q - bringing RPOC home if miscarry abroad?

[Toucanet]

Hi, does anyone know if the worst happens and you miscarry outside the UK, where you stand re bringing the foetus back for analysis? Not like you can put it in hand luggage - I imagine in some water-tight container it might be possible to bring it back in your main luggage - but would that be illegal/picked up on some scan? Can't find an answer from customs or the miscarriage association website, or miscarriage practicalities thread here.

(I'm 7 wks, OH was about to book a med villa after ages choosing for the one week that suits us both, when had the bfp. Would only be 10/11 wks then and had 2 mmcs already - one natural wks 11-12 of a 6-wk embryo, one took med management at 12,6 after finding at the 12-wk scan the foetus was only 9 weeks (then bled >9 weeks including embarrassing flood on our 'fresh start' holiday when I thought it should be over, 7 weeks after mm)! I was 38, then 39, now 40, so the odds of a 3rd mc must be v high. If I had a 3rd my local EPU would examine it, for what it's worth, so would want to bring it back. Suppose best to forget any holiday or swap the villa for a UK break, but am going to the EU for a couple of days for work soon too. Anyone know if/how to bring things back if you need to?

[Erica21]

Hi toucanet,
I can't answer about what happens when going abroad, but had a mmc 6 weeks ago at 12 weeks preg and passed the foetus at home. Took it straight into the hospital that afternoon (the only way I could know it had been 'dealt' with if you understand - didn't want to bury it at home etc) and nurse used formaldehyde to preserve the baby straight away to send off for histology. She said if I'd waited to bring it in to hospital on the Monday that I had an ERPC they wouldn't have been able to send off for histology as it would have been too late, perhaps it deteriorates. Was told to keep anything in the fridge also. Would think that you wouldn't be able to bring it back on the flight in time? Obviously fingers crossed for everything going well, maybe a uk break might be better? X

[Toucanet]

Hi Erica,
Thanks for replying, I never thought about them having to do that (my 6-wk mmc I took the sac in 6 hrs later but as my 1st, that was 'incinerated with respect', the 2nd foetus again I took in during the day but was buried in a communal monthly service for recognisable remains

[Erica21]

Hi toucanet,
You're right about the DNA thing, I guess that could still be ok? Only going on what the nurse said, hoping she was right! As you say, fingers crossed that everything will be ok, I'm sure it will. Keeping everything crossed for you, have a nice mini break here and then travel abroad once you know everything is ok xx

[Toucanet]

Cheers Erica. Asked GP this pm, he didn't know, if it's still ok on Thu will check if EPU know anyway on the chance we make it to the 2nd trimester then have a break. Not a conversation you'd really want to have with a customs officer! Hope you find your histology helpful - not sure if it's better or worse to have a clear answer xx

[Toucanet]

Was ok on Thu apparently 8,3 :) But EPU didn't give a clear answer. Did say that they (Uni Hospital Coventry) don't use formaldehyde. Apparently also don't routinely send tissue for investigation 3rd time around, only if requested by a consultant (though CRM reception had told be they did). Anyhow EPU nurse said it doesn't get put in formaldehyde but does get sent to Birmingham double-quick, apparently, so time must be critical. (So you'd have to get agreement from a consultant before an mc that if you did it could be examined, I guess)? Fingers crossed it doesn't come to that.