"The basic findings were explained but there were a lot of technical terms which we did not understand until the counsellor explained them to us in layman terms." (38, miscarriage)

"A covering doctor took the session. ...the session was rushed... And carried out with insensitivity and an inappropriate attitude." (age missing, termination)

"I do not think you are emotionally ready to take in what is being said to you. It would probably be better to go back again ...and have it explained again." (29, neonatal death)

"The report was not easy to follow, but it was explained simply. I am glad I received the report despite some of the terminology used in it." (40, miscarriage)
 

Reasons why respondents did not regret their decision to have a postmortem examination on their baby (maternal age, outcome of pregnancy)

"The postmortem report helped us understand exactly what was wrong with our son. It also enabled us to take positive steps to try to avoid it happening again." (33, stillbirth)

"[It] helped me to come to terms with why it had happened and that nothing I had done was the cause of the abnormality." (31, termination)

"Although I wasn’t given an answer to why the baby died, I had the knowledge that there was nothing I had done wrong to have caused it." (31, miscarriage)

"Clarifying the cause helped erase the presence of guilt. It is important to establish the cause to prevent recurrence in subsequent pregnancy/birth." (35, neonatal death)

"[The diagnosis] was confirmed as we’d thought, which was a huge relief." (age missing, termination)

"Although the postmortem did not explain why we lost our baby, if it had not been carried out there would have been another unanswered question: would it have provided an explanation?" (37, neonatal death)

"I felt a need for more information about what had happened and although the postmortem threw little further light on the reasons, it was worth doing it in the hope that it may." (44, termination)

"If the loss of our son could help the doctors understand more, then they could save more babies, then it is worth doing." (28, neonatal death)