In order to prevent the panic of searching through the toilet each time you go to the bathroom, you may want to use a strainer (not a colander).  A strainer, at least 4 inches in diameter, can be placed below you but above the toilet water each time you go to the bathroom.  You can clean the strainer after each use and keep it in a container right next to the toilet.  One would usually start using the strainer after you start spotting until you pass the baby.  This can take several days or even a couple weeks.  Urine and liquid blood will pass through the strainer while clots, placenta, and the baby should not pass through the strainer.  Discern strainer contents and separate the baby (which is sometimes still in the sack) from the placenta and blood clots.   You may want to refer to a baby/fetal development website to help you learn what the baby will look like (see our Links page).  You may have carried the baby for a while after he/she died, so refer to the age of your baby from your ultrasound when looking up what you baby should look like.   Remember, gestational age is usually two weeks more than weeks from conception so, be sure to know what reference the book or website is using. 

      Often the baby comes out whole but, occasionally the baby has already started to disintegrate and may not be whole.  If the baby is whole, you may want to place him/her in a jar of water to better see his/her beautiful features.  Once placed in water, the baby may look more like published fetal development pictures from in the womb because he/she is suspended in water as he/she was in the womb.