Pregnancy Tissue (Products of Conception)
After an abortion or pregnancy loss, you have choices about what happens to the pregnancy tissue. This page walks through those options, including the option to take the tissue home, which some patients choose for cultural, spiritual, or personal reasons. Whether this is meaningful to you or not, the information is here for you.
What is the pregnancy tissue?
The pregnancy tissue is medically referred to as the "products of conception" (POC). It includes the embryo or fetus and the placenta. The appearance varies with how far along the pregnancy is — at very early stages, it's a small amount of tissue that may not look like anything recognizable; as the pregnancy progresses, more identifiable tissue develops. Your provider can give you a more specific sense of what to expect at your stage if you'd like to know.
A note on language: "Products of conception" is a clinical term and it won't fit for everyone. You might prefer "the pregnancy," "the baby," "the remains," or another word entirely. Tell your provider what works for you — we'll follow your lead.
Your options at a glance
There are three main pathways for how the pregnancy tissue is handled. There's no right or wrong choice, and our staff will not pressure you in any direction.
Disposal by the clinic or hospital — most common; the tissue is incinerated according to medical waste guidelines. Ashes are not available.
Transfer to a funeral home — for cremation or burial. If cremated, ashes can be returned to you or scattered by the funeral home. Usually available for pregnancies of 14 weeks or more. Some funeral homes offer pregnancy loss services free of charge; others charge a fee. Ask the funeral home directly.
Take the tissue home — available for pregnancies under 20 weeks, with a signed Release of Liability. For pregnancies of 20 weeks and over, additional legal requirements apply (see below).
You don't need to decide right away. We'll talk through your options at your nursing call and again at your assessment, and you can take time to think.
Testing
Separately from what happens to the tissue, you can request testing.
This is most often considered after a spontaneous pregnancy loss (miscarriage) to look for an explanation, or when there is a suspected genetic or developmental concern. Testing options include histopathology, embryopathology, and genetic testing such as karyotype. Your provider will explain what's available and what may be most useful in your situation.
Testing is optional. Most patients having an elective abortion don't request it. Testing is not available in every circumstance, but please let us know if you are interested in further testing.
One important note: if you take the tissue home immediately, further testing is no longer possible. If you'd like both testing and to take the tissue home, testing happens first, and the lab will contact you when it's ready for pickup.
Taking the tissue home — under 20 weeks
If your pregnancy is under 20 weeks + 0 days, you can choose to take the tissue home. To do so, you'll sign a Release of Liability, which lays out the following:
What you'll receive
A sealed, leak-proof container holding the tissue
The container must not be opened on hospital or clinic property
Storage
Keep the sealed container in a refrigerator, separate from food, for no longer than 48–72 hours
Wear gloves and wash your hands after handling the container
Burial guidelines
Burial must take place on private property — public spaces like parks are not permitted
Bury at a depth of at least 3 feet (about 1 metre)
The burial site must be a safe distance from any water sources
Other
The tissue must not be eaten or sold
You may choose to take the tissue to a funeral home for cremation or burial instead of burying it yourself
Once you take the tissue home, testing is no longer possible
20 weeks and over — what's different
If your pregnancy is 20 weeks or more, BC law requires formal cremation or burial through a funeral home. The remains cannot be released to you informally. You have two options:
Option A: Use a funeral home (most common) The hospital will arrange transport of the remains to a funeral home of your choosing. You can choose between cremation (with ashes returned to you, or scattered by the funeral home) and burial. Some funeral homes offer pregnancy loss services free of charge; ask the funeral home directly.
Option B: Transport the remains yourself This is possible, but requires two government permits before the remains can be released:
A Private Transfer Permit from Consumer Protection BC
A Disposition Permit and Acknowledgement of Registration of Death from BC Vital Statistics
Obtaining these can take several days. The remains will be held in the hospital morgue until both permits are in place. Once you have them, the remains can be released directly to you for transport to a cemetery or crematorium.
Our staff — including the hospital social worker, where available — can help you understand and start the paperwork. If you're considering this option, please let us know as early as possible so there's time to arrange everything.
There are also legal requirements around how remains must be transported (sealed container, enclosed vehicle out of public view, supervised at all times). The staff will go over these with you, and we can provide written instructions.
How to request your products of conception
If you'd like to take the pregnancy tissue home, let us know as early as possible.
We might ask you about this at a few points during your care:
When you call to book your appointment
During your nursing call before your assessment
At your assessment visit with the physician
The earlier we know, the more time we have to make sure the right forms and containers are ready. For pregnancies of 20 weeks or more, please make your request at or before your assessment — the permit process takes time.
This conversation is confidential. Your choice is recorded only in your medical chart for the staff providing your care. There's no expectation either way, and you can change your mind right up until the procedure.
Why some patients choose to take the tissue home
Reasons vary widely. For some, cultural background or spiritual tradition gives the practice deep meaning. For others, it's a new idea that feels supportive or healing in the moment. For others still, it's a way to mark the end of a chapter, grieve, or gather with loved ones.
Whatever your reason — or even if you don't have one you can put into words — this option is open to anyone who requests it.
Choosing not to take the tissue home is equally valid. It doesn't make your experience any less meaningful, and it doesn't change your care.
Indigenous teachings on taking the tissue home
The content in this section draws on materials developed by The Fireweed Project. We share it here as an opportunity to respect the traditional teachings of the Indigenous patients from whom we learn.
For many Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) across Turtle Island, burying the pregnancy tissue is a form of ceremony. It offers connection to land, ancestors, and family, and is sometimes understood as completing the circle of life — returning the tissue to the land and the spirit world.
Burying the pregnancy tissue after a loss or termination honours the significance of place. Some people choose to bury the tissue with sacred medicines — sweetgrass, cedar, sage, or tobacco — as an offering or act of respect. The ceremony can be an opportunity for closure, prayer, grief, and gathering with loved ones.
The diversity of Indigenous experiences. Not every Indigenous person will resonate with these teachings, and not everyone will want to take the tissue home. Being Indigenous does not automatically mean engaging in ceremony in this way, and choosing not to does not make someone less Indigenous. Protocols vary widely by Nation, and we encourage you to follow what feels right for you.
We also recognize that, because of the ongoing impacts of colonial violence — including residential schools and religious influence — some Indigenous patients may not have had access to traditional teachings about pregnancy and abortion. This information is offered as one possible support; please let us know if we can support you in any way.
