Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Support Group

I haven't gotten the complete autopsy yet, they told me it will be available for me whenever I want it. I think when I do get it, I will let it sit in the envelope unopened and one day, even if it's years down the road I might be able to open it and read it. It's hard enough for me to look at her death certificate, let alone read in detail what they did. I think whatever decision you make is a good one. You know how much you can handle. With the NSIDS, I am confused about that too, we had a descussion on this last year I think and it is a very confusing subject..I wish I could help you more with that one. Luv & Hugs-Julia

We are saving money right now for her death certificate. Its $20 which isnt alot..but we are having money problems right now so when we're finally caught up on bills I'm hoping to get it. At first the funeral home gave us one, but that wasnt a real one. That was just a stand in I guess you could say until they had the COD.

It was a little hard for me to read. Just the fact of them making incisions on my baby. But at the same time it was good for me to know that there was nothing shown in the report. We had our report sent to our pediatrician who explained what everything meant to us. Some of the wording is hard to understand. I think it is just a personal choice.

We got Austin's and I read it as soon as it came in the mail. It was very emotionally hard to read. For me, it was the first page that was the worst... that's where it described his eye color, hair color, weight, measurements, what he was wearing, everything about his physical appearance, and that his body was "cold." Mine didn't go into a lot of detail about where they cut... but it did describe each organ, in medical terms. I called the Medical Examiner after receiving the report and she walked through the whole thing with me... word by word, told me what it meant and answered any questions I had; she was a wonderful medical examiner - I wish everyone here could have had the same experience I did with the Medical Examiner. I was on the phone with her for over a hour. We are also meeting with our pediatrician next week to discuss the report.

Like the others have said, I think it is a personal decision. You can always get it and keep it in a safe place until you feel you are ready to read it.

I just got a copy of Kendal's on Wednesday... and I did write it line by line several times. I suppose it helped a little... it made me feel good because they said she was well nourished, well taken care of, and had perfectly trimmed nails! It is hard to read because it is our own child they are describing, but that is our new reality now. I think the difference is that in NSIDS babies they are able to bring their heart back ( I have that diagnosis).

I got a copy of James' autopsy. The main reason I wanted it was because he died at his babysitters. It was hard to read but I'm glad that I do have it.

We read ours the day it came in the mail. It didn't say anything about where they cut and all. It did go line by line about her eye color, hair color, etc. It was hard, but good to read!

Just make sure if you do decide to get it, don't be alone. I was alone when it came in the mail and dumb me opened it when I had no support around. It's very hard to read and think/imagine what they were doing to our babies. I'm glad we got a copy just to show us that he was well taken care of and how healthy he actually was. Never something any parent should ever have to deal with!

We got ours and I waited for my hubby to get home to read it. It was hard but I'm glad we did. I don't think it said where they cut but it did say where the hospital had put in all the IV's and stuff. The ME said Kaitlyn was in pristine condition when she came to them. That made us feel good.

all i know is the COD is SIDS. i have no desire to know what they did to my little boy. i don't think i will ever be able to read it. i know i wouldnt be able to handle it. hell its almost a year and im still in a fog and that is something i do not need to know.