Memorializing: Bringing Ryann Home

In this episode, Erin shares the story of her daughter, Ryann, who was stillborn in 2010 reflecting on the choices her family faced and the journey of bringing Ryann home from BC to Manitoba. Funeral director Nathan White joins the conversation to explain how funeral homes can support grieving families after stillbirth. Together, Erin, Jaime, and Nathan highlight the importance of memorializing babies who are stillborn and ensuring families receive the care and compassion they deserve.

Episode Notes:

[8:59] “We got a phone call to come in shortly after supper time to be induced”.

Inducing labour means a healthcare provider uses medical methods (medications) to start contractions and begin labour before it starts naturally.

[12:47] “So I did actually have a Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep photographer…”

Since 2005, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep has gifted families experiencing the loss of a baby volunteer photographers who conduct intimate portrait sessions to capture moments between the baby and family. The professional-level photographers are present in over 40 countries worldwide.

[16:15] “So after Ryann was born, we had found out that she had died because of the cord wrapped around her neck four times. We pretty much had to be in the perfect situation of being in the hospital, the proper doctors around everything, and maybe nobody knows what would have happened. So, complete cord accident”.

The term “cord accident” is often used when a baby dies before birth and the umbilical cord appears to be involved, but it’s important to understand that this is a non-specific and informal term, not a clear medical diagnosis. The phrase “cord accident” refers broadly to situations in which the cord’s function may have been compromised enough to affect the baby’s oxygen supply, possibly leading to stillbirth.

Umbilical cord abnormalities, such as a tight cord around the neck (nuchal cord), true knots, or cord prolapse, can sometimes interfere with oxygen flow. However, many of these findings—especially nuchal cords—are common and usually harmless. A nuchal cord is found in about one-third of births and, in most cases, does not cause any harm to the baby. When the cord is unusually compressed, twisted, or positioned in a way that repeatedly cuts off oxygen, it may contribute to a rare but tragic outcome. It’s important to recognize that while the cord can sometimes play a role in stillbirth, most cord findings are not dangerous, and using the term “cord accident” can sometimes oversimplify complex causes of fetal loss that are not yet well

understood in the medical community.

[16:32] “There were no CuddleCotsTM in the hospital at that time”.

CuddleCotsTM provide continuous regulated cooling enabling families extended time to take photos, create memories, welcome extended family, receive support and make arrangements without feeling rushed. 

[18:44] “So I learned that Nathan had to get paperwork done up to transport a dead body between province to province to province to province…”

Air transportation of human remains

Transporting human remains in Canada

Ground transport of embalmed human remains in Canada

After a death: first steps after someone dies (British Columbia)

[31:51] “Actually the year that we moved home, her next birthday was actually her champagne birthday”.

A champagne birthday is the birthday when your age matches the day of the month you were born on, for example, Ryann’s champagne birthday was her 12th birthday on June 12.