A woman, Laura Corcoran, is advocating for improved care for grieving mothers after being instructed to transport her miscarried baby in a takeout box to the hospital. Laura, 33, from Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire, developed a device called the Miscarriage Collection Cradle to offer dignity to women experiencing recurrent pregnancy losses.
The device, which attaches to a toilet seat, allows women to collect fetal remains for further examination at the hospital. Laura, an engineer, conceived the idea following her third miscarriage in February 2024 when she was informed of the absence of a heartbeat during a scan. She described feeling numb and devastated during that moment.
After choosing medical management for her miscarriage, Laura faced challenges when the hospital had no space available and asked her to return in two weeks. This led Laura to carry her deceased baby with her, feeling the emotional weight of the situation. She expressed the anguish of having to store her baby in a takeout box in the refrigerator over the weekend.
Following this ordeal, Laura designed the Cradle device, which is now accessible through 13 NHS Trusts. Jo White, Laura’s local MP, is supporting the expansion of the device’s availability within the NHS. Ms. White highlighted the need for better support for women experiencing miscarriages, emphasizing the lack of dignity in the current process.
Recommendations from a 2023 Pregnancy Loss Review included providing baby loss kits for families in both home and clinical settings. Laura, along with her husband Ronan, welcomed their daughter Cora after their struggles, but they endured three more miscarriages, during which Laura utilized her own collection device.
Laura expressed frustration at the lack of proper guidance and support for women facing miscarriages, emphasizing the need for improved care and respect throughout the process.
